Sculpt-along? Newbie Sculptors welcome :)

[Chrispy]

Have to write quick, and can't really upload pics- been raining like crazy and internet gets sporadic at times like these. So far It's great to see everyone chugging along. I had a suggestion for future months: maybe have just have a subgenre vs. a specific model. I still like vampire for next month- but mebbe in the future we can say "Non-human Steampunk" or "Female Scifi".This is a double edged sword, it gives people a chance to go wild, but at the same time those that don't have an idea may get "sculptor's block". Well, 'twas just a thought. Hopefully I can upload something tomorrow if the farging 'net would work more than 5 minutes at a time!

 

[wargamesculptor]

goblinho no problem mate glad to join in and thankyou, at least reminding you of sunny is cool i'm always reminded of matchstick men.
demihuman good use of the plasticard scraps, progressing nicely.
moonmini you know i can't resist a good sculpt, actually like the current topic (would have gone for hugh jackman as van helsing )

 

[moonmin82]

I won't be sculpting tonight following an unfortunate incident with a chopping knife yesterday!

Demihuman: Looking interesting so far, especially the proposed claw. May I suggest re-sculpting the teeth over the existing mass? Currently they look a little recessed. You could also add a little putty to the bridge of the nose?

Goblinho: Similar suggestion really! Don't forget the neck (I often do!) and to ensure the face isn't too flat. Find some good references online (particularly from the side) and always check your work from all angles.

I've found my work improve massively since I started to rely more on reference material. The Art Models series of books is great (as long you don't have a problem with full frontal nudity) and features a series of poses, each photographed from 4 key angles. The accompanying discs also contain each pose in full 360 degrees (I think 24 photos each). I have two of these books and can usually find something relevant to whatever I'm working on.

 

[Demihuman]

IDemihuman: Looking interesting so far, especially the proposed claw. May I suggest re-sculpting the teeth over the existing mass? Currently they look a little recessed. You could also add a little putty to the bridge of the nose?

Yep! that's my plan at least. I also need to bulk out his lats and chest a little more I think. We will see how things go.

Are we still thinking Vampire for October? Have any of you guys read Gene Wolfe's Whorl series? There is a sort of mosqito/vampire species in it that I think might be a great subject.

 

[moonmin82]

Are we still thinking Vampire for October?

I think in the beginning of this venture it may be cool to keep the monthly themes loose. I guess the more possibilities the more likely people are to be inspired enough to participate :jump: If we set Octobers theme as Halloween, the sculptor could pick anything creepy, including the vampire!

[Edit] I'm hoping to sculpt a Vampire, but depends as October will be a super busy month for me!

 

[Chrispy]

Yeah, I know pic is a tad blurry but BEHOLD!

Jesse Garon Presley in all his vampire slayer glory! I realized a little late the plastic rod I used was a bit large as a stake, so the hand was a bit strange. Though I tried giving him the poofy Aloha Elvis hair, he looks more like Niel Diamond IMO. The pants were giving me trouble because even after freezing to extend the Aves/GS mix I made it started firming up. I'll just have to make some more today and hopefully get done.. It occurred to me- How was trying to sculpt a tiny Elvis face the EASY sculpting project out of all the ideas I had? Oh, well- I can mebbe try my other idea too since we're still relatively early in the month.

 

[Chrispy]

Aaaaaaaaand:

Done! Whoo hoo! My first ever scratch built mini!.. Now if I could just get a good pic. I'm convinced it's the lens now cause I was tots still and under good light, etc, etc.. and the face is still blurry. Oh, well. I plan on casting him in resin tomorrow after I get him molded up, hence the base tab. There's gotta be a slightly better way of doing those than to eyeball the base thickness like I did. I did put it in a base for dry-fitting, but it was a bit big so had to shave some down. Overall, I feel pretty good about it and hope these sculpting thingies give me more practice in the future!

..And I know I'm not off the hook- on to the next slayer!

 

[Demihuman]

Chrispy: NICE!

Ok, Technical Issue Time: I am having trouble getting the greenstuff to stick to my model. Do i need to keep the model dry then stick the stuff then work it? It sticks to my dry fingers or tools great but I am really having trouble getting it to stick well enough to my sculpt to be able to work it. Do i need to attach bigger pieces then work them down? Glue? Sacrifice another goat to CMON?

 

[wargamesculptor]

demihuman yes keep the model dry when adding the green and wet the tool, size of the piece of green does not matter. of course sacrificing a goat to cmon couldn't hurt lol

 

[Chrispy]

Tanx Demi! You may also want to rough up your armature with a file so the putty has something to stick to. And depending what type of wire you have around, you can wrap some tiny, tiny gauge (I have some jeweler's wire) around the armature to create a bit of texture to hold the putty too. Hope this helps!

Edit: After some searching around about armatures, I answered my own question- at Voodoo Boutique the guy shows how he has used super sculpey firm to a great result, so I may have to try this out with the block I got.

 

[Goblinho]

All looking good Sorry I haven't been on much, was away for the weekend with the wife and kids. Got a couple of hours planned tomorrow to do a bit of sculpting.

 

[Demihuman]

Okay guys, thanks. I think my issue may have had a lot to do with trying to do some quick work when I didn't really have enough time to sit down and be focused.

Is anyone using Vaseline or another lube instead of water? How about "non-stick" tools?

Hopefully I will have another progress shot this week.

Here is an interesting sculpting tool blog I found on the forums:

http://sculptingtools.blogspot.com/2013/03/sticky-free-ebook-download.html

 

[Chrispy]

Okay guys, thanks. I think my issue may have had a lot to do with trying to do some quick work when I didn't really have enough time to sit down and be focused.

Is anyone using Vaseline or another lube instead of water? How about "non-stick" tools?

Yep- focusing on one thing or another is NOT one of my specialties, I just kinda do whatever and don't really prioritize right..
Anyhoo- I love my silicone color shapers for the fact they are non-stick, and I like blocking in the major shapes and smoothing with them. Unfortunately, some shapes aren't available in the shapers, so I use the metal wax ones. I had tried vegetable oil in the past, but the problem is it doesn't dry (or you can't wash it off) until after everything sets up. This presents problems, because now the putty won't stick to itself and you really can't get some things to move right. I have heard of people using mineral spirits/ acetone/ alcohol since it dries very quick- but then there is the chemical reaction problem with some epoxies. My advice would be to use some on some leftover putty and see what works and what blows up!

 

[Goblinho]

ELVIS THE VAMPIRE SLAYER! Has a nice ring to it, really like the hands Chrispy. A nice symmetry to the mini too which I know I struggle with (end up with one arm bigger than the other) the further forward leg does look a little skinnier but it may just be the angle of the pic

Got a little done over night. Basic shape is where I want it and the head is done, I added hair and eyeballs.
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[wargamesculptor]

coming along goblinho the area that needs tweeking is around his shoulders and neck, the neck seems a little too far back and there needs to be more of a joint to the shoulders. keep up the great work

 

[Demihuman]

Ok, I have made some progress too. I got a hand on the weapon! It took a long time but still less than painitng! I think I am in 6 hours so far. When I did teh weapon hand and wrist I should have added either a styrene or wire armature first. I sculpted the hand then realized I had moved the orientation of the hand by 180º! So had to redo.

I fixed my sticking problem by using saliva instead of water mostly and had a damp towel on stand by. No more dunking the fig. I also made a plastic shaper and stuck it in an old exact-o handle it worked okay.

I added a Juju satchel to his back and a Mojo bone to his waist. I tried to make bone toggles on the satchel strap but they came out too chunky. I have replaced them with round bits of styrene that look more like buttons. The weapon hand is a pretty good size but the claw hand is too big. I might try to pare it down some or maybe just leave it. I added some bulk to the upper skull and nose but am a little scared to mess with his teeth. I added a left shoe/sandal and removed some material from his crotch.

He looks pretty scrappy but I am pretty happy with him for a first go. I need to do some work on the right foot and then I might call it finished. I do want to try and make a two part mold for him out of pourable silicon which will also be another first.

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[moonmin82]

I am having trouble getting the greenstuff to stick to my model.

I fixed my sticking problem by using saliva instead of water mostly and had a damp towel on stand by. No more dunking the fig.

Dunking the sculpt? Aha! That explains your problem: too much water! I keep a shallow dish of water to hand and employ the "dip & flick" technique (i.e. dip your sculpting tool in the water and flick off the excess). You only want enough liquid to just moisten your tools (although you can use a touch more as it begins to cure or more still if using MagicSculp in your Green Stuff mix). Too much water and nothing will stick... you'll often get fresh bits falling off too. Hope that helps!

If you start using vaseline make sure you give the sculpt a soapy clean once cured or nothing will stick. Like with water, don't get the lube on the underside of the fresh putty or it wont stick

Sculpt is looking good, especially the fingers!

 

[wargamesculptor]

like the head, it has a gooey feel like it still has fleshy bits. now your using saliva you can also use grease from your forehead for smooth glossy area's (a forgeworld sculptor taught me that one )

 

[moonmin82]

Still finding my success with faces is very hit and miss. I know what I need to do (and how to do it) but I just need (lots) more practice. I just find myself pushing the putty around in vain. To console myself I started work on the footwear. More layers still required for the face...

 

[Demihuman]

Moonmin, what do you not like about your face? Do you ever go back in with an xacto and just remove bits you aren't happy with? A new xacto blade goes through set green stuff in a most agreeable manner.

WGS, I guess I can really put myself into my work now. What do the forge world guys use ear wax for?