Basics Challenge Hands!

[Garyo]

Hey gang,
Another basics Challenge, this time hands. Time frame a month, so nobody should have any trouble finishing. This is aimed at honing basic sculpting skills and plan on crits and comments during the progress, that doesn't mean some of you at higher levels can't play too.

So create a pair of human hands. Clasping, clawing, clapping, clinging, caressing, comforting... as long as you do a pair from the same person.

WIP Shots are a must. As well as a refernce picture, even if its a shot of your own hands. I want to see at least one WIP before we post our finished results. I would recommend posting at least one a week.


In October we'll do a poll for the entries and I'll post the next Challenge

Garyo

[Cat]

If i can finish my current sculpt in time, i'm in.. hands are tough so this would be a very good lesson for me :O

[Garyo]

Just do both Cat, or are you toying with us ;) I'll be putting up my concept art and armature this weekend. At the same time the paying gig I got last month has been added on to... Which is good in that it mean extra $$ but I really want to be done with it. LOL I'll prod you more if you like.

Garyo

[Rink]

I'll try and give this a go. Working on my first ever sculpture at present, but I guess these "basics" are something I should try.

[Garyo]

Well finishing the paying gig is proving more troublesum than it should. So I'm behind, but I'm going to post a little about hand proportions to get us started...

On average the proportions of a hand are tied to Phi and the Fibonacci series of number which are part of the Golden mean as you may or may not know. If you'd like to know more follow this link (http://goldennumber.net/). The image attached is from a medical site I painted over so ignore the blue lines....

So some proportions:
Length of hand from tip of longest finger to wrist is ~3/4 Head and the forearm is ~1.618 (Phi) the length of the hand.

Each finger follows the Fibonacci (0,1,1,2,3,5,8...) sequence from 2 to 8. So the tip of the finger is 2 units long, the next knuckle is 3 units long, then 5 units long and the last bone to the wrist is 8. For a total of 18 units long. The thumb however is 2, 3, 5. This also means that you can do curve where the radius is from the wrist to the knuckle for each finger. In the diagram you can see the first knuckle on the thumb is equal to the first to second knuckle of the index finger.

The width of the hand is equal to the 8 unit section of the middle finger.


More to come.... I want to see some WIPs!!!! ;)

Garyo

[zenichi]

thanks for the useful info, as for the wip reference, can it be sketch studies instead of digi-photo? will give it a try as a quickie.... maybe not a detail sculpt, but just to see how to add to armature....

[KonstantinZ]

I'll do my best to do this. I am not sure if I'll find time, but I need to do it, that's for sure. Thanks for this challange Gary, it's apreciated.

K

//Just got more clay so I should have some progress on the other challange
//this weekend.

[Garyo]

That's cool guys. I'm running behind on this too. Drawings, even a picture of your own hands is good :)

Garyo

[Garyo]

Bad Gary! Well finally out from under my paying gig. Last minute additions by the client dragged things out, but it meant more $$ for me. Now back to the Challenges.

Sooooo, hands: I've been working on something that will be getting bronzed so the pictures you see posted are in a red wax they use for foundry casting. I had left the clay hands rough on and wanted to refine them in the wax since its harder and I won't be hindered by the armature wire which was blocking my efforts to clean them up a bit more. The only work I've done so far is adding a little wax to the places that didn't mold well. You may notice they are not attached to the figure. I find this advantageous, with them separated you can compare them to each other and helps keep them in proper scale with each other. I hope next week I'll have the more refined and corrected anatomy shots to share as I think they need a lot of work yet.:zzz:

For those interested the foundry wax is easy to work with but softer and stickier than the Azbro styled waxes you've seen me use in the past.

I know many of you have been as time challenged as I have, since this challenge has been quiet since the 11th. I hope this lights a fire for you and we can see some posts of hands and critiques for growing.


Garyo

[Rink]

I feel really bad but this challenge just isn't happening for me. I haven't had enough time to start. Sorry guys.

How long is this challenge due to run for? If I can possibly find the time then I'll keep my word and give this a shot.

[Garyo]

I'll keep it going for a couple of more weeks. So go ahead and make a pair of hands ;)

Garyo

[Rink]

Hahaha. Ok cool, I'll make sure I get something started this weekend.

[OMB]

Garyo,
Will there be any more challanges like the pirates one that we did because i had a blast doing that.?

Ollie

[Rink]

I'm having to cheat a little. I know the challenge said hands plural, but I just don't think I'd have time to learn the skills and do a half decent job if I did two.

So I'm only doing one hand. Sorry folks.

Anyway, got a little bit done. Here's some ref shots and the armature. I've managed to get some clay on there now but haven't taken any more photos yet.

http://bp3.blogger.com/_dSb6OR1458s/Rv-6zf2Jc9I/AAAAAAAAABg/UIYxCYmoxLs/s400/Hand.jpg

http://bp2.blogger.com/_dSb6OR1458s/Rv-6-P2Jc-I/AAAAAAAAABo/7Mz0RbjeoJs/s400/Photo00007a.jpg

[Garyo]

Pushed my hands just slightly further take a look a the pics and tell me what you think. Starting to resolve the fingers a bit more and fixing the wrists. Theres a bit more to go for the fingers and a problem with the palms.

Looking good Rink. I can't force you, but part of the learning is to make hands match. It's harder I know, still learning will happen either way.

OMB, yes we'll do a more free form Challenge next. I'd like to mix them I know this academic stuff isn't always as much fun, but doing them will help make the fun pieces stronger in the end ;)

While we are on that thought what would you guys like to do next as a group project?


Garyo

[Rink]

Looking good Rink. I can't force you, but part of the learning is to make hands match. It's harder I know, still learning will happen either way.
I know mate. If I get time I'll try building another to match it...

But I'd feel bad if I didn't take part after saying I would, so better one than none right? ;)

I'm still a total noob so even looking at the anatomy of one hand will teach me a lot anyway.

[Cat]

Just do both Cat, or are you toying with us ;)

I would never :^^;:

I haven't even been able to start i'm too busy at the moment, working on another sculpture with a deadline and then there's my homework for my architecture class.. i realy like this challenge so i feel bad about missing out on this.. hopefully i'll be able to join the next challenge, whatever it will be :^^: Maybe sculpt your favorite game character or comic book character or something, that would be cool.


Your pair looks great Garyo!! :)

[Rink]

Managed to continue a little in blocking out the armature. Just to prove I'm doing my best to find time to work on this. :)

I've had to straighten out the pose a little to get clay on the underside of the fingers; will correct it shortly. Ja, the thumb is too small at the minute, I know.

And apologies for the poor quality image, there wasn't enough light in the room when I took this.

http://bp0.blogger.com/_dSb6OR1458s/RwF1GP2JdBI/AAAAAAAAACA/66TyNevnoXk/s400/PICT0558.jpg

[Garyo]

Try drawing the bones and joints into the clay and keep redrawing them as you go. At the moment some of the fingers look a bit dislocated. I'd also add more to the wrist and give a bit of forearm. Great progress keep it up :)

Garyo

[Rink]

Try drawing the bones and joints into the clay and keep redrawing them as you go.
That sounds like a great tip. Cheers Garyo, I'll give that go.

I think it's vaguely heading in the right direction... will post another photo tonight if I can.

[Rink]

Hopefully this is slowly getting better. I'm still bulking out the back of the hand (much as you suggested Garyo) and shaping the fingers etc.

Drawing the bones on was useful, although I didn't redraw them as my all-too-short sculpting session came to an end tonight.

http://bp2.blogger.com/_dSb6OR1458s/RwVgzv2JdCI/AAAAAAAAACI/AjH-wai7CWc/s400/Hand041007.jpg (http://bp2.blogger.com/_dSb6OR1458s/RwVgzv2JdCI/AAAAAAAAACI/AjH-wai7CWc/s1600-h/Hand041007.jpg)

[Garyo]

Looking much more blocked in now Rink. I'd straigten out the bones on the back of the hand and the pinky in your reference picture is not as curved as your sculpt, if you are going for accuracy ;)

Garyo

[Rink]

Hahaha yeah, still plenty to be done. I just noticed the pinky thing - can't seem to bend it like my other fingers. No idea if its just me or if everyone is like that. :)

[KonstantinZ]

Sorry for taking so long to post, but I've been actually working on this even though I had no time for the internet. I am not enetering into a challange as such, but sharing my study progress.:)

This is 2x life sized study of my own hand in a paintful expression.

It's going to be a part of an abstract sculpture that I am doing for school.

I'll post the end of construction next weekend (if it works out)

K

[KonstantinZ]

Rink, it's looking very good. Very expressive. Keep at it and I am sure it will look terrific.


Gary, these look very Roden inspired. And Roden is my favorite artist, so it means I am loving the hands. Please post the bronzed pics too. I am not sure whn I'll get a chance to use the internet next, but I'll be watching for the pics.


Cheers

[Garyo]

Very nice KonstantinZ. I'd watch that pinky though, it looks a bit massive.

I'd say a mix of Rodin and Degas are part of the inspiration. Here are my final pictures before I let the foundry at them. Enjoy and if you see anything before next weekend I can still touch it...

[Rink]

Hi guys,

Both of those are looking very cool. I've not had a chance to sculpt anything for a couple of weeks but should be back on this in the next day or two.

[end_the_apocalypse]

Evening!

Guess I came late to the party, eh!? Anyways, this challenge looks like a good one and caught my eye, as it is my naturalistic figure work I want to focus on developing at the moment...spent the day scavenging for armature material and am about to begin fitting the pieces together for a pair of hands making the 'Trinity' sign in terracotta clay. I have a sneaking feeling this challenge will time out before I finish, but I'd like to post my work up all the same, if that's ok, just for any feedback. All the work so far looks good, and it's great to see a range of materials being used as well...btw, would love to see some pics of the finished bronze casts as and when Garyo.

Right...back to work

[end_the_apocalypse]

Ok, the ref. is here: my own hand sketched out and photographed, with a little bit of skeletal work to help with laying out the armature structure in my head...

[end_the_apocalypse]

Right: armature knocked together from old copper piping, steel coat hanger, masking tape and florist's wire at roughly life-size. I've focussed on following the lines of the main bones of the fingers with the armature wiring, although I am beginning to wish I had put some kind of webbing between these narrow piecs to give the clay something to bite into for building up the palm.

Anyway, on with the terracotta, building the forearm roughly for strength and stability...everythig else can wait for a day or so. If anyone can see any proportional or technical flaws in these pics, I'd be grateful if they could post back I would very much appreciate it.

While I'm on, I'd just like to say thanks for putting up challenges like this, and for the variety of work that's on this site: I only joined yesterday morning and already I've been inspired to knuckle down and work with enthusiasm on this piece...fantastic to see a constructive art community online!

[Garyo]

Hey for 3 hours of work that looks great. Welcome aboard. I'm not sure when we'll close this one, but probably keep it for another week or so and close it with the Halloween thread.

Garyo

[end_the_apocalypse]

Cheers man: the blocking-in seemed to come fairly easily, but, now that I've got down to building the final masses of the hand I have the problem that everything just seems to keep getting bigger: this was intended to be a 1:1 lifesize piece, but it will probably end up 1:1 1/2 or something. I have this problem with a lot of my modelling, in that, whilst I can keep proportions reasonably accurately, this seems to come at the expense of an ever-growing sculpture. I guess the answer is more careful / regular measurement checks, but I was just wonderig if anyone else has the same difficulty, and if so, how they dealt with it?

Another hour on the first hand tonight...muscles of the thumb, palm and the first finger. Glad to hear this one is open for a few more weeks though: still got a fair way to go on these.

[end_the_apocalypse]

Right: things are coming together! This is the first hand and forearm almost completed with only some refinements to the sinews of the back of the hand and the shapes of the two curled fingers to go before the texturing starts, although I will probably leave that untill I have added the secnod hand (which is going to be formed round an armature that will grip the forearm of this one so that I can play with deforming the muscles of the arm as they are squeezed).

As ever, all comments and crits welcome!

[end_the_apocalypse]

Here are the images of my finished sculpture in crank and terracotta for this challenge. Overally, I am quite pleased with the proportions of the forms (though perhpas the fingers on the outstretched hand are a little thin?); the texturing never got as far as I would have liked, but I did find a pretty good method for knocking back the distracting shine/smoothness of the clay to something a bit more subtle and skin-like. Mixing up a thickish slip and simply painting it over the roughly smoothed piece with a stubby bristle brush gives a slight texture and a hint of direction in the surfaces, which worked really well on the palm of the hand. Also this method seems to fill any slight cracks or depressions in the model and leaves a pretty natural-looking surface.

I was aiming for the sense of one hand thrusting above a crowd or out of some deep pit etc. etc. being grasped strongly by another from belowand being pulled down...any comments as to whether this has come across well are welcome, as well as all crits of this piece: I value any input and help you could pass on.

Thankyou for taking the time to look at my work, and thanks Garyo for organising the challenge in the first place.

[Garyo]

That is a really nice pair of hands. Very porwerful and expressive. I really only have two minor crits... I'd say the wrist and forearm on the upper hand could use a wee bit more definition as I don't get the sence of the lower hand gripping and pulling as much as I think you are intending. The fingers should press into the flesh. Take a look at the Berninni vid that was posted in the main sculpting forum the other day. The other is the thiness of the fingers which you already felt. I think it might just be the middle finger needs a little extra beef. I really like what you have done and the piece has emotion for just being a pair of hands.

Garyo

[Rink]

Ooooh, that was an excellent choice of hand pose. Really liking the work there.

I can't believe how hard its becoming to find a few moments to work on my small effort. :nohope: Its something I really need to finish, just for my own learning/development.

[end_the_apocalypse]

Cheers for the positive responses guys: glad I could make soemthing you found interesting :) btw hope you've found some time to pitch in on your hands since your last post Rink.

Garyo: Yup, the fingers need some work, and a bit of detailing would not go amiss on the rest of the piece so I have kept the clay moist in the hope of being able to return to fix these issues. Unfortunately, work seems to have a nastsy habit of taking up all of my free time lately, so this has been on the backburner for a while!

On a slightly related topic, I've recently got my hands on some firm Super Sculpey and have been working on miniature (about 1:5) sets of hands for one of my college briefs. I am really enjoying the work and feel as if I am improving gradually, but was wondering if any of you guys have any tips on specific techniques for modelling on this small scale, as I have never tried anything this small before, and find forming 2-3mm diameter fingers etc. slightly tricky :)

Regards