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Translation :
Daniel Serrano
Hello, My
name is
John Rosengrant was
born 1958 in New Jersey, USA. I now
live in Canyon Country, California
which is near Los Angeles. I work in
the film business as an Effects
Supervisor for Animatronics and
Special Make-up effects. Some of my
credits are all the Terminator and
Jurassic Park movies, Aliens,
Predator. Edward Scissorhands,
Constantine and Doom to name a few.
I’m married to my lovely wife
Suzanne and have a son and a
daughter, Derek and Ali and a
stepdaughter Kristen.
My
first experience with miniatures was
with the old Aurora Monster models
when I was 5 years old. I must have
built and painted those over and
over for years trying to get my work
to match the box art. I then started
building aircraft models and armor
models. I discovered Tamiya models
(along with their figures) and
started building dioramas. I also
stumbled across Shep Paine’s work
about this time and it transformed
my thinking about figures and
dioramas for ever. I started
converting figures which then led me
to begin scratch building my own
figures.
Basically I’m self taught as far as
miniatures go, but I was an Art
major in College, but I left before
getting a degree to pursue working
in film Special Effects. My job
sharpens my artistic skills daily
and I find the challenges of
sculpting full size (1:1) actually
help when I turn around and sculpt
in the miniature world. You face all
the same problems: proportion,
volume and detail.
Shep Paine was my earliest
influence, but I also admire Bill
Horan’s work both as a painter and
the dynamic energy of his
compositions. While not a
miniaturist per say, Ron Volstad’s
paintings have also always
influenced my work. It’s amazing
how many great artists are sculpting
and painting figures today from all
over the world, many who I’ve had
the pleasure to meet and enjoy their
work.
My
favorite subject matter happens to
be WWII, but I do dabble in other
time periods. I do buy various
figure kits more or less to check
out and admire other sculptor’s
work, but I don’t usually paint
them, as my time and energy goes
into my own original creations. My
goal when sculpting and painting
figures is to create characters
which evoke feelings and mood, while
historically accurate.
I
usually sculpt the head of the
figure first in Chavant P-40 clay.
The clay allows me infinite amount
of working time (as it never
hardens) to get this most important
aspect of the piece correct. I then
mold the head, pull out a resin
copy, which I attach to resin body
buck pieces I’ve made and armature
wire and finish the sculpture
primarily in Magic Sculpt.
My
painting technique involves a mix of
paints Humbrols, Vallejo acrylics
and some oil paint. Whatever paint
best helps me achieve the effect I’m
looking for.
Some of the awards I’ve won that
stand out in my mind: A couple of
Best of Shows and Master at SCHAMMS,
Gold medals at the two World Expos
I’ve entered in, Grand Master at
MFCA along with Best in Show special
award to an Individual Artist at
MFCA. I’m proud of the Gold medals
I’ve won at various shows, but it’s
my fellow artists who inspire me to
push myself creatively and
technically in order to become a
better artist.
I’m concerned about our hobby’s
future as I don’t see lots of new
young people entering into figure
painting /sculpting (at least in the
U.S.) as they seem to have video
games, the computer and many other
things to keep them occupied. Maybe
the web and websites like this one
may entice some new young artists.
John Rosengrant Work´s Area
Gallery
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