Liam Hook (aka ChemicalFencer)

[ChemicalFencer]

Hi y'all,

I too have never sculpted a figure in my life. I have tried a few items here and there, made a few heads a while back and a few armatures.

I'm planning on sculpting a musketeer - one for all etc. I have found many pictures on t'internet for reference, boots, hats, fancy dress costumes etc, perhaps I'll post some of them up along with some of my own drawings (I say drawings but I really mean is scribbles).

I have been to the dentist and nabbed all their old and used (but sterile) tools, and a while ago I bought some green stuff and brown stuff, so I think I'm partially ready. I did order the putty shapers recommended but I'll probably not see them until 10th Jan 2010 as they have to travel to Bahrain. A while ago I got hold of some rigs (axe handle split in half and held together with a couple of nuts and bolts) which will hold my armature.

I will post pics when I can understand how to use my camera :camera: properly.

TTFN

 

[cybersquig]

Woohoo! flouncy silk shirts etc. Wonderful! tbh it sounds like you're pretty set, and you'll find you aren't seriously disadvantaged by not having he clay shapers at the beginning, as we'll be making and bulking out the armature. Those stages are going to provide us an awesome opportunity to just get used to the tools, but you'll be able to do that on some putty when you get them, so that's cool Nice work with the dentist btw, I've tried that and been turned down before, so nice score!

James

 

[ChemicalFencer]

My ideas on paper

Well I have spent the day (shhh don't tell people at work) finding more images of people and items for my musketeer.

My idea started with a very simple sketch (aka bad stick man - see attached 1).
View attachment 241



I then looked on www.magicsculpture.com and they have wonderful poses which are 3D and rotatable (please check it out). I downloaded this naked elf (see attached 2). The black box I added because I didn't want to offend anyone.
View attachment 242




I then traced the outline of the model and photocopied it giving my base model (see attached 3).

View attachment 243

Finally I added to the model here and there, poet's shirt, boots, cape, tunic etc (see attached 4 and 5) to finally give me my weaponless and faceless image.

View attachment 244

View attachment 245


Each time I added enough detail I traced the image onto another piece of paper and the added again. I hope this can show you the process I used so that you might do the same if you are unable to draw (ref - my stickman).

So there you have it for the front of my musketeer for now. I hope over the weekend I can do the sword and the back of him (remember that the original model is rotatable so its easier).

I'll add the final one on the next post.

 

[ChemicalFencer]

And here is the finished(ish) sketch.

View attachment 246

I'm rubbish at faces, but will try and add one this weekend before we start. I'll also be doing the back.

What do y'all think?

I have a question about armatures - will this be something we're going to have to work out for ourselves?

 

[cybersquig]

Loving the sketching thing Liam! what a great way to get your concept down! Also, those 3d models are pretty cool, and the elf you've chosen has great musculature, so when you're looking at that, you've got some really great reference material. Nice!

 

[ChemicalFencer]

Here is my armature.

I got carried away with the putty and continued down the legs . . .

When making the armature I used milliput to hold the joints in place after the superglue refused to work to my liking. Once I added green stuff the joints were secure.

Really looking forward to the next part.

 

[cybersquig]

Cool! The putty on the legs doesn't matter, it's thin enough. I see you have a bit of an ankle and knee going on there, nice! The arms are a bit long, might be worth clipping them back before you move on so that you keep the proportions. As a guide, on a man standing normally, the thumb should be at the same level as the bottom of the testicles. Sorry for the intimate description, but it's a guide line I've found really helpful. Bear in mind that you're only making armature for the arm up to the wrist at this point. Great work though dude, hope you enjoy the next installment!

James

 

[ChemicalFencer]

I was going to leave them until I had a little putty on them so I had the proportions right. I can see that the right arm of the mini is waaaaaaaayyyyyy too long. Will do a little trimming for the next instalment.

 

[ChemicalFencer]

Clay Shapers

My clay shapers arrived last night and I'm well chuffed with them. :victory:

I can see me using these a lot.

I spent some time flashing out some of my figure and I'll post some pictures when I have fleshed it out totally.

TTFN

 

[cybersquig]

cool! glad you like them

 

[ChemicalFencer]

Fallen Behind

Hi All,

I have fallen behind with my project. I did flesh out my mini's legs and then had to cut some putty off (I had to castrate him) as he looked rather wrong.

The reason I have fallen behind is that I had some surgery to remove a bezel cell carcinoma from my forehead. I now have a ? on my forehead. The lovely people at work are now calling me Harry Potter (Grrrr).

I hope to catch up this week and post up some more pictures.

TTFN

 

[cybersquig]

aww, sorry to hear that . Now mr. P, get sculpting I'm looking foward to seeing your progress

James

 

[ChemicalFencer]

A Bit Behind

Hi All,

I did get to add putty here and there to flesh out the mini and realised that his hips are a little . . . child bearing.

Also I managed to make him rather well endowed and so I had to castrate him.

His legs/trousers are going to be a tight and so I'll just have to play with cloth markings and boots. Really looking forward to the boots.

I think my smoothing could be better so I'll have to add a thin layer to make it look better.

I have left the arms where they are as his hand is meant to be resting on his waist.

Hope you like where I'm at.

Comments and criticisms please (but not too many as I may cry)

TTFN

CF

 

[cybersquig]

Looking good CF! You've kept him nice and slender, so you can add the tight clothing using a full layer of putty still. Nice! Either the calf muscle is disproportionately large, or the thigh is disproportionately small, I would suggest maybe the latter. Also, one of the legs seems to bend slightly sideways at the knee - sadly knees don't do that under normal circumstances. I wouldn't mention it if he was getting baggy trousers now, but if they're going to be tight, like leggings or something, then you have to think about it now. Overall this is looking great, you haven't hampered yourself with any part of the armature for the next stages, which is good

You'll have to wait a little while for the boots, i tend to do hands and feet last. It's cloak and further bulking out of the head this week, ready for the face week next week! woo! face week!

James

ps. I don't think his hips are too childbearing right now, i think that it is more that he has such a slender waist That'll help when it comes to working on the torso I reckon. Watch his neck doesn't get too wide though. Great work!

 

[ChemicalFencer]

I think I might be catching up with 2 posts this evening.

I had a problem with the trousers. I had 3 attempts to get them to what I'm happy with.

I think my first mistake was using freshly mixed putty. Instead of using talc I put the putty between 2 pieces of grease-proof paper to roll it out. I did also learn that you need lubrication, so I used my saliva.

Like I said the first trousers where not right, they were too thick. So after they cured I peeled them off. I was relieved that the peeled off pretty easily.

I tried again and they just didn't go on right, again I think it was an issue with the putty being too freshly mixed. I peeled them off again, but with the calves I did during the fleshing out.

Attached is the 3rd attempt, which I think has worked rather well. As the lower leg was destroyed I played about more and I think it works better than before - ready for the boots.

I also added to the torso a bit and played about with muscles (badly I'd like to add).

Tell me what you think.

 

[ChemicalFencer]

Now for the vest.

Using the same techniques for the trousers I did the vest, rolling the putty out between 2 pieces of salivaed grease-proof paper. I did try and make sure the putty was a little more cured than the previous times.

I also tried to be fancy and add buttons, but I have mixed feelings about them.

I'm a little unhappy with fact I seem to have left the left shoulder (his left) a little unfinished. I'll add to that before I attempt his sleeves.

Does anyone think he's beginning to look like a dentist?

His vest is a little short and there is no belt, so when I add the belt I'll be able to hide his extension.

Comments and criticisms are welcome.

TTFN

CF

 

[cybersquig]

This is looking cool dude! I don't know what you mean about the buttons, I think they look great, you've got a hint of the button holes beneath them, which is great. The proportions of the figure are good, and you have smooth clean lines which is really nice. His waist is still a little slender above the hips, and therefore a little more feminine. That doesn't hurt though given your subject matter, think orlando bloom in his floppy hat in pirates of the carribean The other thing I'd pick up on are the folds in the back of the knees. The angles are sharper in the negative than the positive, (the dents rather than the rises in the cloth) and for these sorts of folds they should be even. Also, they can be blended into the rest of the trouser leg by smoothing the contours gradually at the sides of the knee. Just a couple of things to think about. I love this concept and i'm looking foward to seeing how you go about the next stage, I think he's going to be a good mini, and I think he has the potential to be one I would buy a copy of if he was cast. Great stuff!

Hope that helps,

James

 

[ChemicalFencer]

Eleanor is keeping me away from sculpting - but I'm not mad

Hi Y'all,

Sorry I've not added anything in a while. This is due to my daughter being born on 5th March.

She was a very healthy 7lb 13 oz (3.55 kg). We have called her Eleanor Ffion Hook.

She is taking up all our time at the moment so sculpting is on hold for a little while. As soon as she is settled and in a routine I'll add more and update this thread.

TTFN

 

[BPI]

Congrats guys :good:

Cheers & good health to you all B.