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MikeLoh
May 24th, 2009, 08:03 PM
HI Everyone! Its my first post and I'm pretty new here. Everyone is pretty amazing artist and a constant inspiration to me.

Intro:
All my life I've been an artist and painter and I have done mediocre work to get by and make a few bucks. I worked for years in the Advertising Industry as a Designer switching to Agencies until one day I was laid off due to the sour economy. Its was sad that a steady paycheck was gone but it was also a revelation!

Now I realize that I was doing work I had little interest in until I discovered the Art of Sculpture and Mask Making (not to mention Concept Art for movies and games which is one of my dream jobs).

I practically "learned" everything I could on mold making and casting overnight and I started sculpting over a year ago. I watched all the supplemental DVD material for many big budget superhero and monster movies such as Predator and Aliens and Iron Man etc. many many times as a source of information and inspiration. I am obsessed with Steve Wang who a great sculptor on most of these monster movies. I love sculptural works of any kind, the creature design and maquette being one of my favorites.

Now I am still making masks everyday and I also am making my own Predator costume including designing in Concept Art and sculpting. I will also be molding the hard parts such as the Blade gauntlet, Helmets, body armor and Leg gauntlets!

In addition to making FX style costume designs I am also a writer at heart.
I usually develop my own story and character background when designing a character. I feel this way the life of Character design is more "360 Degrees" as the Ad people would say. This will help me "flesh-out" the character and give it more details on costume ideas and why the character looks the way it looks and not just visually stunning. I'm sure most of you know this already :P

I have already started a thread on my fav Predator forum:
http://www.thehunterslair.com/index.php?showtopic=11820&hl=

Cosplay fans will be happy to see my thread here and on there cuz I'll be sharing some secrets on making costumes the hard and professional way.

Here's a story I've written on a Predator Character named "Bone-Hunter"

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p199/UratzLoh/Bone%20Hunter%20Bio/BHLegend.jpg

MikeLoh
May 24th, 2009, 08:10 PM
Designed some chest armor today. Basically its bone pieces from various prey he has hunted.
I kinda like the Pelvic piece for simplicity sake. What do you like?

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p199/UratzLoh/BH%20Armory/Bhchest.jpg


I also did a Clay Pour of my Punisher Skull Mold seeing how the skull is similar to the Predalien it can give me a head start to sculpt a variation of the Predalien inner skull.

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p199/UratzLoh/BH%20Armory/clapo.jpg
PredAlien Shoulder Bell:

3 days for this sculpt. Looks something like Steve Wang but of course I'm not that good. Anyway No Two Species Are Alike right?
Sculpting Chest and Leg Armor next.. Oh wait gotta draw them up first... :(
I'm a Wang Wannabe

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p199/UratzLoh/BH%20Armory/Preda5.jpg

Oh Yeah I was on Local Shanghai TV making masks: http://vimeo.com/3831765

MikeLoh
May 25th, 2009, 08:18 AM
Its ok folks I can take a beating. You can say whatever you like.

Today:

I slaved all day on these. Finally trimmed and painted them. Tired :(
Gonna put about 4-5 of the spinal rings plus the Alien Tail Tip when I wear for real. The weight is a OK considering you're not wearing a head full of 3 dread Rings per dread.
I can just accentuate the "dreadcorations" with a few dread rings here and there and this will solve the weight problem.

Pics:

He's ready for the Hunter's Prom
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p199/UratzLoh/DreadedSkullSpinal.jpg

Spinal Dread Set
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p199/UratzLoh/SpinalDreadSale.jpg

Se7en Skull Set
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p199/UratzLoh/Se7enSkullsale.jpg

sculptingmonsters610
May 25th, 2009, 11:24 AM
looking good im a huge pred fan

TeaMonster
May 26th, 2009, 03:34 AM
I really admire those who can put a whole costume together and have the patience not to skimp on the details!
Yours is looking good so far, and it's nice to see a new take on it.

Will you be wearing it when it's finished?

Lostindespair
May 26th, 2009, 05:01 AM
wow, total pwnage. You're quite good at what you do mate, im looking forward to seeing more.

MikeLoh
May 26th, 2009, 09:26 AM
Thanks guys. I'm still learning and making stupid mistakes here and there. But I start to plan out my projects well now. I make mold construction schematics before starting a sculpt even to ensure that I can mold the damn thing. More soon!

taurn7
May 26th, 2009, 09:55 AM
daaamn, this is awesome stuff, the bone hunter story was really nice too. Can't wait to see more.

Piranha Clan
May 27th, 2009, 08:42 PM
That bone-ish bio mask is clutch! I like the spinal chest armor, personally. Great sculpts. Did you make the pred mask as well? You should post your work on this predator fan site, http://www.thehunterslair.com/ . They'd appreciate your stuff. You might also enjoy http://www.theeffectslab.com/forums/index.php .

Keep posting!

MikeLoh
May 28th, 2009, 12:50 AM
That bone-ish bio mask is clutch! I like the spinal chest armor, personally. Great sculpts. Did you make the pred mask as well? You should post your work on this predator fan site, http://www.thehunterslair.com/ . They'd appreciate your stuff. You might also enjoy http://www.theeffectslab.com/forums/index.php .

Keep posting!

Thanks mate! I'm already on TheHuntersLair and I'm aware of the effects lab but I hardly post there cuz I'm a noob compared to those guys. :lol:

I make all the masks, armor and etc. the "Hollywood way" by spending huge amounts of my own money on Clay, silicone, plaster and resin.

I'd hope that someday I get to work for Stan Winston studios or (dreaming) have my own Special effects studio someday :)

Aris Kolokontes
May 28th, 2009, 02:28 AM
Awesome work Mike!!