Krampus

Festive Freaks

Let's hope you've been nice this Christmas...

A couple of years ago, I painted up a rather muscular version of Santa to go on my mantle piece at Christmas.  The miniature is Santa Boris from Heresy Miniatures (I urge you to go and buy one of these minis, they are a joy to paint!) and I made a little display for him a 'make your own Christmas ornament' container from a craft store.

Hench Santa!

Even though I was really happy with Santa, I decided that Christmas could get lonely for the big guy and so I decided to make him a friend (nemesis)!  I'd ben wanting to sculpt the Krampus for a while, so making a companion piece to sit on the mantle next to Santa seemed like a good opportunity!

Krampus - the OG Grinch

Krampus, is a popular central European mythical creature often depicted as a half-goat, half-demon monster that is effectively the other side of the coin from St. Nicholas, punishing naughty children by carrying them off in a sack and beating them with a birch tree branch.

He's a real looker

If you look at older images of Krampus, there are some very notable themes.  Normally a dark furred monster with a long tail, horns and tongue.  Although I wanted to make him recognisably Krampus, I was also happy to make some slight adjustments so that he looked a bit more imposing (especially as he would be standing next to beefcake Santa!).

I often wonder whether the Grinch was inspired by the Krampus myth

I started by sketching Krampus as a more muscular sullen creature. I wasn't keen on the licky tongue (it felt a bit too comical) so I left it out of my design

Sculpting Krampus

I didn't capture the whole sculpting process, but I did take a few pictures from the mid-point of the sculpt.  I measured out a rough armature to make Krampus roughly the same height as Santa but hunched over.  I made the armature from aluminium wire and the vast majority of the miniature was just sculpted in plain old Greenstuff.

I think I nailed the pose I wanted pretty early on while I was roughing out the proportions and musculature

Right from the off I was keen to give him a stooped posture as if the sack was really weighing him down!

Instead of a whip-like goat tail, I decided to go with a more reptilian one which would drag along the ground behind him

The hunched posture makes Krampus look a bit world weary which was exactly how I feel a Demon who spends the happiest time of the year punishing naughty children would be!

I kept comparing sizes to make sure the two miniatures went well together

The Yin to Santa's Yang

I decided early on that I wanted Krampus to be wrapped with chains, hooks and blades. I imagine that Krampus would use these on anyone that resisted his festive judgement...

Adding to the posture, I sculpted the face to look old and worn

The crossed chains across Krampus' back imply that he is as much a slave to his fate as a punisher 

The hook hanging from Krampus' belt felt pretty sinister!

I bulked the tail to make it feel heavy and ponderous

I was pleased with the shape and heft of the sack - I wonder how many naughty children are inside...

Finished Krampus

I kept to the established black fur for Krampus although I did give him lighter horns and hooves

I deliberately added some matted snow to his legs and tail to tie him into the base

The rusted silver chains contrasted nicely with his dark fur

Carrying his birch tree branch, Krampus looks ready to punish some little brats!

The duet everyone was asking for is finally complete!