Nightmare Before Christmas sculpt

[NippleMilk Milkshake]

This is my first post and been looking at this site for awhile, so many great artists here.

I had this idea for a Christmas gift for my girlfriend since she is addicted to the movie.

This is my first completed sculpt and first attempt at painting, and since I wanted to make this gift extra special, the moon is a touch light, and I got a yak talk ( recorder) which plays a part of Jack's Lamnent.

I used super sculpey and painted with acrylics, ( did not know I needed to use an undercoat) And then two wood bases for the bottom and back. I think it turned out well.

Please let me know what you guys think because sculpting it was fun, and any pointers I can improve on in the future.

http://img2.putfile.com/main/12/36023150540.jpg
http://img2.putfile.com/main/12/36023150538.jpg
http://img2.putfile.com/main/12/36023150534.jpg
http://img2.putfile.com/main/12/36023150548.jpg
http://img2.putfile.com/main/12/36023150530.jpg
http://img2.putfile.com/main/12/36023150534.jpg
http://img2.putfile.com/main/12/36023150650.jpg
http://img2.putfile.com/main/12/36023562427.jpg
http://img2.putfile.com/main/12/36023562445.jpg
back of sculpture, light and recorder and a secret message
http://img2.putfile.com/main/12/36023150633.jpg

[Eveningkiss]

That is really cute. Interesting use of the touch light. How long did it take you?

[jlamarche]

That's really, really nice, especially for a first piece. Your girlfriend is bound to love it.

About the only advice I could offer is that you might want to spend some time sanding the sculpey after baking and before painting, which will give it a smoother, more polished look. That translucent pink color of the SS makes it awfully hard to see imperfections in the surface, so either mix in some black, use SS firm, or else use spray primer before sanding. Doing one of those things will make it much easier for your eye to see small surface imperfections that will become more obvious when you paint it later.

3M Sanding Sponges work great for this purpose - I usually start with an 80 grit, then move to 150, and finish off with a 330. You can also use steel wool, sanding sticks, sandpaper, and metal files on the dried sculpey to smooth sections that you want smooth, and to cut in crisp edges where you want them.

[studiostaub]

just lovely

[NippleMilk Milkshake]

to Evening Kiss

not sure how long it actually took me cause it wasn't I wasn't working on it constantly just here and there cause I had to put it away when she was over.

to jlamarche


Just got a box of super sculpey firm to try out, I didn't even think about sanding it, but now looking at it parts of they do look rigid that were not intended to be, so on my next sculpt will spend just as much time on post production sanding and priming.

[jlamarche]

Just got a box of super sculpey firm to try out,

I have mixed feelings about the stuff. I find it a little crumbly, but it's definitely better than SS for doing fine detail work, but it doesn't blend as well. I usually use one of the following blends:

1 box Super Sculpey
1 package Fimo white
1/2 package Fimo black

or else I mix 70% SS Firm with 30% SS, though I may try doing 50/50 and seeing if it makes it blend better. For faces and fingers, I'll use the SS Firm by itself.

I've never been a big fan of using automotive primer, but I know some people use that method with good results.

I didn't even think about sanding it, but now looking at it parts of they do look rigid that were not intended to be, so on my next sculpt will spend just as much time on post production sanding and priming.

Y'know, I only recently started doing it myself. There's a lot to learn with sculpting and you shouldn't expect to learn it all with your first piece :). I used to use isopropyl alcohol or turpenoid to smooth the surface, and let it go at that, but the Shifflet Brothers really turned me on to the power of sanding Sculpey. You can get it really smooth with sanding sponges and also get nice crisp edges with files and dremels.

[NippleMilk Milkshake]

a lot of good tips there thank you. I've read about the mix in smellybug's tutorial I'm waiting for the Massive Black Sculpture dvd, ordered it just waiting hopefully will answer anymore of my questions. I was weary about trying alcohol to smooth, with all the fumes and heard about people using a heat gun to make it easier to detail.

[Kinjiru]

Yeah, really cool! I love it!

[Whitevillage]

Funny, I just watched this movie with the making of earlier this evening and I spotted this thread. :teeth:

With that said, a lovely diorama display for your first finished sculpt.