Sculpt-along 2: The Greenstuff Strikes Back - Newbie Sculptors welcome :)

[Goblinho]

Hey everyone, last month we started a monthly sculpt-along with the aim of helping each other develop our sculpting skills. As with last months thread there would be no commitment in terms of if you don't like the monthly subject or don't have the time you simply sit this month out.

Although the initial idea is to develop our skills it is also about having fun! We will have a few house rules for Sculpt Club, the first rule being no one talks about Sculpt Club! . . . . ok bad joke

Rules:

The owner of the current months thread will chose the owner of the next months thread from the list of participating members. This will be posted in your topic intro.

Anyone participating puts a quick post up saying if they plan to join in (On this post drop in any links that might help with the monthly subject)

On the last day of the month we have to post a pick of our figures finished or not

Throughout the month if anyone has any ideas for a following monthly topic post these in red text.

Normal forum rules apply



You can find last months thread here: http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums/showthread.php?54708-Sculpt-along-Newbie-Sculptors-welcome-)



The topic for this month will be HALLOWEEN!!!! Now some of my sculpts are pretty shocking but this month we need it to be intentional I would also ask that if any of us dress up for Halloween then costume pics must also be posted

Personally for subject matter, over then next few days I will be thinking along the lines of a monster in costume as a human.

Good Luck, Have Fun! Oh and Moonmin has the honour of being lord of the thread for November

 

[moonmin82]

I thought that the first rule of Sculpt Club was "you must talk about Sculpt Club until everybody around you glazes over and slumps into a boredom induced coma", or at least that's what I've been doing... :drool:

I am in, although as with last month, I may not finish during October!

...and as for November, challenge accepted!

 

[Ninja_Butler]

I'm in, but the chances of me finishing by October 31st (or ever) are slim. Still I'm gonna have a go.

 

[moonmin82]

I have at least one of two ideas I'd like to try this month. If time isn't on my side I will use the time to sculpt some spooky bits and pieces for practice... skulls, pumpkins, cats etc.

 

[Chrispy]

I'm in for October as well.
Well, I think my Sculpey experiences are following a similar pattern- try something, hate it, and then start all over again. That's where I am right now. I intend to do a "Dracula's Bride" 54mm in Sculpey firm, as time allows. I also have 2 quizzes this week, so this shall be fun in trying to start.

 

[Goblinho]

Anyone else see that the thread isn't bumping as it normaly would and it has a weird yellow icon to the left of it on the forum?

Also my plan is a work in progress but I wanted a scare crow with a pumpkin head dressed as a basket ball player and using his head as the ball . . . .

 

[Goblinho]

Ahh, never mind. I see what has happened, we have been evicted and sent to the actual Sculpt-along section that I never knew existed oops

 

[moonmin82]

Cool idea Goblinho. I've been wanting to sculpt a scarecrow for some time, since seeing a few cool sculpts on Troll Forged. Maybe one day... Maybe next year!

 

[wargamesculptor]

Going to join in this month with a werewolf mini, shouldn't really with time constraints but what the hell can always add it into the collective pot

 

[Ninja_Butler]

Okay, work begins! (TBH I started two days ago)

I think I'm going with a big, chubby bunny girl, which probably makes more sense for an Easter theme but it qualifies as a Halloween costume. I've got two armatures made one chunkier than the other, I haven't decided which one is the better shape yet. Here's where I am at now:

(please excuse the darkness of the pictures)



scale is 28mm - I put the coins there to stop the corks rolling but they also give a scale comparison.

edit* I might do her with a bunny mask rather than the Playboy-bunny look.

edit#2 I made a slight mistake with the feet. I've lengthened the lower legs to allow for heeled shoes.

 

[Chrispy]

Is anyone else thinking of the Venus of Willendorf at this point?
...
I'll wait while people Google it for themselves. I'm supposed to know these things as an art major

So, I started out roughing in shapes:

Sculpey is totally different from GS or any other epoxy putty. Obviously, I don't have to worry about it drying out, but it REALLY doesn't want to stick to bare wire. So, I put aluminum foil over it, but that still kinda bulked out the shapes underneath the clay. I don't know how people can do minis in this stuff, even the "Firm" stuff feels too movable. The plus side is it's always 'wet" so I don't have to worry about my mix drying out or rushing. Oh, well- it's a learning expirience.

 

[Ninja_Butler]

View attachment 22920

Is anyone else thinking of the Venus of Willendorf at this point?

Yeah, they weren't very good at it either. Have faith, these are only the block-shapes.

 

[moonmin82]

it REALLY doesn't want to stick to bare wire.

The pro's use add a layer of green stuff to the armature wire and (while still fresh) add the sculpey over the green stuff. The GS gives the putty something to key to.

 

[Chrispy]

The pro's use add a layer of green stuff to the armature wire and (while still fresh) add the sculpey over the green stuff. The GS gives the putty something to key to.

Yeah, I'd seen that before and tried it with the Daria sculpt for last month, but I let it dry before trying to put on Sculpey.. Oh, well- like I say, it'sa learning experience!

(Editing because I dislike following my own posts)

Got in details all over. If this keeps up I'll either have a really good sculpt or something horrible will happen:

I was mainly inspired by the "heaving" ladies of Hammer films, but Morticia Addams and Elvira are in there as well. Trying to get the open mouth with teeth is HARD! I rolled out some GS/Aves mix that was in the freezer into tiny cones, so maybe using those will help. It is actually getting easier- I believe the other day when it was a bit more yeilding may have been because I was kneading it then slapping it on so the heat from my hands warmed it. Now that it's sat overnight, it's a bit less softer. I had to take a long break while I dunked my metal tools in Acetone- the old caked on epoxy putty was making burrs that are REALLY noticeable on this stuff. I also found out Sculpey doesn't really like the silicone shapers' textures. Once this is done, I have the daunting task of trying to seperate from the cork for baking.. The freezer may be involved at some point.

 

[Chrispy]

Aaaand I went ahead and roasted her:

Her teeth look a bit big and there may be some texturing issues here and there, but nothing the old sandpaper and hobby knife can't finish! It doesn't feel like I rush things.. I dunno. I think there's a point where you know you can keep going but to do so seems superfluous, so I just stop. Or maybe it's just my laziness kicking in.. who knows? I'm now kinda tempted to do a 1/8th scale figure of the vamp from Rosario + Vampire.. but that's a bit too over my head at this moment.

 

[Ninja_Butler]

Rosario + Vampire? What's that? Never heard of it.

"Humongous snowman!"
"Breast missiles!"

 

[Goblinho]

Liking the work so far

@Moonmin thanks for the tip with the gs over the wire first, gave it a wee try and worked pretty well

@wargamesculptor great minds mate, after spending about an hour banging out quick sketches and messing about on Google trying to get inspiration I stumbled across a still of the old M.J. Fox film Teen Wolf. So now my mini is also a werewolf but it will still be playing basketball with a carved pumpkin

@ninja_butler Nice curves so far man, not sure why but for some reason I am thinking Silent Hill when I look at what you have so far

@Chrispy Hey man, really getting the Elvira thing in the mini! I think the dress works really nicely and the chest looks good to (tried to type that in a non pervy way but there was none). The hair looks a little squared off at the back, how thin was the sculpting tool you used? I tend to use a sewing needle that I glued in to an old ruined fine detail paint brush. It does sometimes pull the putty too much but when that happens it isn't always a bad thing as sometimes it gives a more natural look.

Anyway, I have the basic armature down for my mini, will try and get some progress over the next few days.
View attachment 22989View attachment 22990

 

[Chrispy]

Rosario + Vampire? What's that? Never heard of it.

It'sa "Harem" anime/manga where a totally normal guy ends up going to a high school fr monsters. He meets a cute girl wearing a cross necklace and it turns out she's a vampire whose full powers are locked away unless the rosary comes off. I really like the sexual innuendo comedy- the manga is a tad better than the series IMHO. I think the first season is on youtube if you wanna check it out.

Good work so far everybody! I'm off to shoot more digital zombies!

 

[Ninja_Butler]

@ninja_butler Nice curves so far man, not sure why but for some reason I am thinking Silent Hill when I look at what you have so far

That's a coincidence. I just downloaded Silent Hill (the movie) an hour and a half ago - about half an hour before you posted this.

I'll post another photo tomorrow, I've started fleshing both of them out, adding bulk to the bellies and thighs. It's the first time I've tried a "fat chick" sculpt and I'm finding harder than sculpting slender female bodies because I have to put a lot of extra bulk over the points where there would normally be clearly defined curves and joints. If I get it wrong - which I have done about ten times so far - the curves are lost.

edit*

three more pics:




And just to prove I can do them skinny!

 

[Ninja_Butler]

It'sa "Harem" anime/manga where a totally normal guy ends up going to a high school fr monsters. He meets a cute girl wearing a cross necklace and it turns out she's a vampire whose full powers are locked away unless the rosary comes off. I really like the sexual innuendo comedy- the manga is a tad better than the series IMHO. I think the first season is on youtube if you wanna check it out.

Good work so far everybody! I'm off to shoot more digital zombies!

Ah yes, now you mention it I may have watched it once or twice. And read the manga.