CLAY CREATURE (updated)

[Scotty]

I decided recently to try my hand at clay sculpting. I found that I love it. I respect your opinions on this forum, and would like to hear your thoughts on what I've done so far. I hope to move on to Full body creatures, BUT I have never done this b4.......so I decided to start with just busts. What do you think? Should I keep it up?
http://scotty.craigfoster.com/albums/sculpture/DSCN0008.jpg

http://scotty.craigfoster.com/albums/sculpture/DSCN0007.jpg

[Bjorn]

dude...you are a new h.r. giger...
very cool...

[Scotty]

Now that's a compliment...thank you. I have done some sketches too I guess I should post for crits. Feel free to peruse at your leasure. :)

http://scotty.craigfoster.com/gallery/

[Bjorn]

your sketches are sketches and when you transform them to clay it's when stuff happens!
to me it seems like you have found your new medium in the clay...your sculptures are really cool and I would like to see what happens if you paint them or whatever the next step is to refine them...they are not completely done are they?

[I.was.ink]

Awesome stuff! I don't see why you even asked us that question. Of course you should keep this up. Have you seen the clay models in the episode 2 special features? Your stuff reminds me of some of the stuff from the move. Great stuff, keep on posting more!!!:thumbsup:

[Sadclown]

Definitely keep it up man. If these are your first sculptures I am in awe. You definitely have a future doing it.

[Scotty]

Wow...many thanks!! I have never had any art training of any kind actually and just do my best to create what I imagine. I'm my worst critic, and am very hard on myself. (Very Picky) I am not sure where to go from here with this, so any advice would be great. :) They are as done as they are gonna be right now. When it comes to painting them, I am afraid of ruining them. I agree that from drawing to sculpture, I prefer Sculpture. I find I get my ideas across better with clay than I do with pencils. Like I said.......advice would be great on where to go from here. I DO have more sculps done, and will post them when I get the pics taken. Thanks again.

[Bjorn]

i had a teacher that warned us from falling in love with our art work... (i know i would if i would have done those awesome sculptures)
you just have to experiment even if you risk to destroy it...it'll only make you better...or maybe.... make a mould out of your favorite and do 10 out of plaster and then paint and just fuck around with them, you'll be surprised of the result...

[Lono]

nice work!

toothpicks? :)

-Lono

[Scotty]

Hehehe yup......toothpicks.

Bjorn- I will try elaborating with paints and stuff soon. Gotta grow somehow right?;) The plaster mold idea is good, but I gotta figure out how to do it I guess.

Iwasink- Cool that you would compare my stuff with ILM maquettes for Starwars. I sure wish I could work for them doin this stuff.:)

I will post more soon...........thanks everyone for the encouragement!!:chug:

[Scotty]

Been busy (since I had such positive feedback).....here's some new ones....Let me know what you think. :)
http://scotty.craigfoster.com/albums/sculpture/Aquatic_Trio.jpg
http://scotty.craigfoster.com/albums/sculpture/Back_Aquatic_Trio.jpg

[MindCandyMan]

These are awesome man...great work. I don't know much about sculpture but I know what I like and these are cool and are anatomically believable (if that makes sense)...great job.

[Bjorn]

hell yeah dude... the new ones are rad!!
if you go to an art store they know what you need or where to get it, it's a kind of latex-rubber-shit stuff, and the stuff i used came of pretty easy without destroying the original...

[Scotty]

Bjorn- I will check into that for SURE. Thanks.:)

MCM- Glad you like them, and I know what you mean by "anatomically believable" Thank you. (I'm tryin hard):cool:

I will continue to Sculpt, and post them when I'm done.;)

[redehlert]

Well....I have to say that I really like the work, hoss!
Definitely shows a love for detail and realism.
I tried to check out your web site and got bonked, but then I checked your profile and saw why - you have a double http:// in your url link.

Should be this: http://scotty.craigfoster.com/gallery/

One quick inquiry - how big are these things?
Okay...one more - did you have an idea in your head and start with sketches, or did you just go to town and let the clay create itself?
Damn....one more - how long did these take you to do?

Peace.

D

[Scotty]

Ok...first of all thanks for pointing out my "link prob" I fixed it.:)

Now to the answering of questions....

1. Size....roughly 4-6 inches tall and 3 inches in diameter. (depending on what it is)

2. It depends on how I feel. Some just happen, some are totally pre-conceived in my head, and I haven't really gotten into sculpting from a sketch. (I may use ideas from sketches I have done.) Some things start out as pre-conceived, but I think of things halfway through that I like better.

3. Each have taken me no more than a 2-3 hours from start to finish. (including the minute details...I do however wake up the next day and make minor changes)

I have only begun, so it's hard to say exactly how I go about it. (I haven't had ANY training in art, so I'm figuring it out as I go) I imagine something, I create it. (whether on paper, clay, or both) I hope this answers your questions sufficiently.:cool:

[John P.]

You should definitely keep this up!

As has been said, they remind me(us) of the clay figures they used when deciding what some of the characters for Episode II should look like.
These are really comparable to the professional work done by those artists.
If you haven't seen that special behind-the-scenes feature on the DVD, you definitely should.

I remember when I saw it I felt bad for the artists who had probably spent hours and hours and days making all these clay concepts, and then one day George Lucas steps in the room to pick one out, he finally finds one, and all the others are rejected! :D

But I guess that's what it's like being a concept artist. To throw out lots of pieces and hard work, to have most of it criticised, asked to be changed and/or rejected.

Oh, look at me; I'm rambling! :crazy: :D

I guess you're probably just gonna keep those for yourself, or perhaps sell them.

Sorry for the "essay" above, I guess I should have just said I think those are great! :thumbsup:

[Scotty]

Thank you, I own StarWars Ep.2. (I've grown up on SW and have always loved the creatures in those films) BUT never really got into the supplemental disk. I checked it out AND...You ALL are right......those sculptures that George looks through are amazing!! :) It makes me think I can actually DO this. Thanks for getting me to check it out sooner than later.;)

Please don't feel like you guys are sayin too long of posts to me. I WAAAAY prefer a long post that tells me what you think, and gives advice. I don't learn anything from posts like..."that's cool"...or..."I really like that." (Not that I don't appreciate those posts, but you see my point):cool:

My goal is to make money doing this...(Creating creatures from my imagination for a living is my dream) so thanks for the encouragement. Now that I have just written a novel of a post myself......hehehe...I will now go back to creating. I will post more as I get them done. Thanks again. (sorry for being so long-winded):)

[Scotty]

Alien insect larva-

http://scotty.craigfoster.com/albums/sculpture/Alien_Larva.jpg

[facezero]

oh~ it's cute! good work~

[John P.]

You certainly have the imagination, and the skill to put it into life. :) If you want to, I think you should pursue a career in this.

I'm not a pro though, so the praise I give you may not count for much out in the real world, and I suspect you may get shot down a couple of times if you try.

But in my opinion, any idiot can see that these are good. And I think they are as good for concepts as those used in SW Ep. II.

[Scotty]

Again...thank you everyone for the encouragement. I do enjoy creating very much, and will continue to do so. I have some wicked ideas in my head comin up.......hopefully I can pull them off adequately.:)

NG- Here's hopin.

Facezero- Hehehe....thanks.:cool:

[redehlert]

Hey Scotty!

Just thinkin' of your various works and thought it may be a good idea to invest in some black cloth to use as a backdrop to your work. The molding of the desk and wall is a bit conflicting with the foreground space. Follow? Set up a nice display that will work for you for future and current projects and will aid in your shots in various angles.
Also, it may be very worth while to get a lazy susan or some kind of wheel that you can spin and shoot very quickly to keep the same distance for each shot.
: )

Hope this helps in your progression as a fine artist!
And I hope I haven't stepped on your toes in anyway.

Cheers!
D

[Scotty]

Hey....:) .....Yes, that is a good idea. I want to have my photos look more professional for displaying my creatures. I will take your advice into consideration strongly. Thanks.:chug:

[Scotty]

Here is my first ever "Full-Body" creature sculp......thoughts?
It actually looks better in real life, but I wanted to get a pic up...so....bear with me. (I have some tweaking and a bit more detail to do, but you get the idea)


http://scotty.craigfoster.com/albums/sculpture/Full_Body_Sculp_2.jpg

I loosely based the design on a sketch I did a while back from my imagination.......here.....

http://scotty.craigfoster.com/albums/drawing/horny.jpg http://scotty.craigfoster.com/albums/sculpture/Full_Body_Sculp_1.jpg

[ODIN SIX]

Bravo Scotty!!!!

I almost failed sculping class in High School...LOL
that was with really horrible clay and stuff..

Your Designs are Outstanding... I am really digging your eye
for detail!!!!!!:chug: :chug:

Do you paint them too????

I used to help my grandmother paint ceramic sculptures she make with molds...
These will turn out Awesome I think once there Painted!!!!!

Be that machine That works in Your Head:cool: :cool:

[Scotty]

Hehehe....thanks man. I haven't painted ANY of my creatures yet. I hope to make a mold out of them, and then paint the ones I make from that. Thank you for the response!!:) I'm glad you like it.

[Scotty]

Here's updated pics of my clay creature.......(ADDED A LOINCLOTH AND MORE DETAILS TO THE SPINE AND HANDS)

http://scotty.craigfoster.com/albums/sculpture/DSCN0054.jpg
http://scotty.craigfoster.com/albums/sculpture/DSCN0061.jpg
http://scotty.craigfoster.com/albums/sculpture/DSCN0062.jpg
http://scotty.craigfoster.com/albums/sculpture/DSCN0051.jpg

[MindCandyMan]

awesome man...looks really cool. I love the pose...great work man

[_Mario]

Scotty you probably should take a lookhere (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/1listSculpting/)

it´s a yahoo list for sculptors (mainly for wargaming miniatures, so the stuff is mostly max 30 mm)

but there are some good people there who probably could help you with some tips and links

and your stuff looks really nice and organic, just some places look a little bit too fluid and a little bit like you didn´t know what to do with the "free space"

but it´s really SW-style and some MIB stuff

and for painting miniatures you could try this (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mini-painter/)

hope that helps a little bit :)

Mario

[Scotty]

Thank you, I will definately check those sites!! I don't know what you mean really about "free space" or about it being too "fluid". (I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN SO I CAN IMPROVE) I am a fast learner, but because I am learning as I go, I don't know some of the terms. I'm sure those sites will help me. Thank you for your time.:chug:

Please elaborate on those points if you get the time (IF YOU POINT OUT SPECIFICS I CAN RECTIFY THEM) ....I really appreciate it.:)

[redehlert]

Well Scotty,
I'd have to say your full length pose is either:
A) one constipated alien.
or
B) a bootie call.

[shake your rump-ah.....]

Cheers!
d

[Scotty]

Redehlert- I'm not sure how you mean that, but.......thanks....I....think?:confused::)

[redehlert]

all in good fun, hoss....all in good fun.
i just couldn't help myself to the comments i made based on the pose, but it was probably ill of me to assume you'd take it with a grin. my apologies.

don't sweat it - i think the creature rocks!

peace.
d

[Scotty]

:) Oh ok.......Thank you for clearing that up. I am hard on myself when it comes to my work, and I get down easy. (I know I shouldn't, but I'm just not very confident with this stuff....At least not yet) Thank you for understanding, and I am glad you like it.:)

I just want to get my imagination out there in front for all to see, and I am glad it is being received.

[redehlert]

Not a problem, Scotty.
I'm in the same boat so I'm sorry for not being aware of how someone else would take it. For me, it's a gemini artist thing....hahaha.
Keep up the dedication and the good work!

d

Here's a little quote for the day:

The things that we so often attach importance to are important, but it's a question of degree.
Success, perfection, achievement, money, recognition—you can have them all, but they're not everything. In fact, without a passion and appreciation for life, they don't amount to much.

[Scotty]

:) Cool man. Onward and upward! ;)

[wilson jr]

I'm from Brazil!
awesome art!
What kind of material do you use to make yours sculptures!?

[MindCandyMan]

hey Scotty have you ever considered doing stone carvings? I'm just curious

[Scotty]

Wilson Jr.- I use a brand of modelling clay called Sculpey. It's amazing stuff. By the way...your website is crazy. Very cool.:cool:

MindCandyMan- Nope, I haven't thought of carving from stone. I really have no idea how to go about that if I wanted to. hahaha ;) Never know...one day maybe.

[MindCandyMan]

sculpey is awesome...

check it out...they even have this stuff that you can carve really easily that looks like stone...

http://www.dickblick.com/itemgroups-s/stonecarvingtools/

http://www.dickblick.com/zz331/13/products.asp?param=0&ig_id=1971

[Scotty]

That "Soft Stone" looks to be very cool.
"Carves easily with a pen-knife"
I may have to check into this a bit more. ;)
It would be useful for some things.

[_Mario]

all teh following comments are based on the newest pix of the guy with the lioncloth, as some don´t fit the other sculpts:


the loincloth (or what i think it to be) looks like it´s twisted clay, i don´t know how to explain it but the pix don show it in 3d so it always looks different but from my point of view it looks somehow too regular and it´s missing the perfection of imperfection (in real life nothing is perfect or 100% regular but the twisted part somehow look so twisted perfect but if it´s a lioncloth and it was there when the creature moved it should some this perfect composition) to be just a piece of cloth that has been wraped around and it looks like too clean

the "too fluid" part is the whole creatue a little bit, if you take a look at yourself or srobably some animal when it´s moving and there is a tension in a staqnce then there are more places taht look edged because of teh bones and muscles that are there it´s not relaxed and fluid and smooth
but the pose the creature has looks more "non-relaxed" and somehow taht looks too relaxed although the pose is not relaxed IMHO

and the "open area" and "free space" is based on the fact that all areas on something 3d interact with each other so if you have one part that is moving (for example: some part of the skin) the other parts will eact and that give s some tension on the whole surface but there are places on the
sculpt that look like you just added some texture or surface for filling the area or free space that would look boring if not worked on
for example: on the uppermost pix of the last post thee is teh area over the lioncloth with that looks like you pushed you finger tehre to create some surface but IMHO it´s missing something like a "why" to be there
it seems to be just a space filler

my comments are just my opinion, so if you disagree or if you know that it looks different in real life then i have to can only say, that this is what i see and i just try to help and nothing more
these comments are based on my opinion and my ways of thinking and i hope that you can take them as useful and not as "bashing" :)

[Scotty]

OK, I think I get what you mean. I know it's not "perfect" but, I am trying. I will work on those areas. (Some apply, and some don't) I see what you mean to a degree where muscle and bone will cause other parts to react, but this IS my first EVER sculp like this, so don't expect perfection yet.;)

The loincloth is actually a BIG leaf that it tore from a large plant, and just rolled the ends and tied it around its waist. So it's actually supposed to look like that. Maybe I need to make it more leaf-like somehow. I am still learning to convey my thoughts across.:cool:

Your opinions are dually noted, and I will remember such ideas as I work towards the future.:)

[MindCandyMan]

Hey Scotty I thought you might find this page inspiring. It is on Scott Robertson's website...his other stuff is amazing too.

http://www.drawthrough.com/sculpture/index.html

[MindCandyMan]

Hey Scotty I thought you might find this page inspiring. It is on Scott Robertson's website...his other stuff is amazing too.

http://www.drawthrough.com/sculpture/index.html

[Scotty]

Thanks for linking me to that site man. Wicked stuff. I will definately be looking at those images for inspiration.:)

[MindCandyMan]

anytime man...you see that huge one in the parking lot?...insane or what?

[eldorian]

Can I wonder what sort of clay you are using and what sort of tools? I wanna do it too! (They are awsome...)

[Scotty]

MindCandyman- Yes...that one is INSANE. hahaha

eldorian- I use Sculpey Brand Clay, and butter knife, a toothpick, and a pen with no ink in it. (seriously);)

I plan to buy REAL tools when I get the cash.:)