Ill-fated Sculpture WIP.

[Octave13]

Here's a sculpt that I wound up destroying, because I didn't like the way the proportions were turning out. It was my first attempt at sculpting.
http://nostr3m.homestead.com/files/sculpt1.jpg
http://nostr3m.homestead.com/files/sculpt2.jpg
C&C still welcome, however. :D

[battlemonkey]

hey, great sculpture!
when i work on the sculpture i make sure the porportions are the way i want them, from there i start working on the details, i know its tempting to jump right in with the details. another tip i might have, when i make the wireframe, i bake a thin layer of super sculpey onto it, that will give the wireframe some "meat" for the clay to stick to!
hope i was of some help:D

[Octave13]

Yeah, I made some mistakes with this first one. I did use a character sheet, intially, in the hopes that I'd have good proportions, but my constant manipulation of the clay screwed it up. You're right, I was eager to get the details and texture in there too fast. I'll use your advice, thanks for the suggestions and the compliment. I need to get started on a new figure sculpt soon. Thanks again, man. :)

[Octave13]

oh, I didn't post this last shot of the sculpt, before. (due to the fact that I forgot I had it. :p ) Here it is.

http://nostr3m.homestead.com/files/sculpt4.jpg

[battlemonkey]

geez man... those details are amazing, cant wait to see a finished sculpture of yours~, your sculpture reminds me of the McFarlane Spawn figures~ good stuff!!!:chug:

[leckronium]

so you wound up destroying it? that wasnt bad for being your first sculpture. heres a few suggestions when working on sculptures:
1.try not to hold the sculpture with your hands while working on it. the heat from yours hands will slowly deform what you have already finished.
2. set the wireframe into a sturdy base so that it doesnt move when you work on it. this keeps you from trying to hold it steady with your hands.
3. block in basic shapes then bake it. this will give you a sturdy reliable surface to sculpt the finishing layer. (hint: vaseline will make sculpy stick to itself. but keep it thin. rub some on the surface then gently wipe it off).
4. work in sections. you dont have to do this but sometimes it makes you focus on areas and prevents you from rushing details before they are needed. as long as you have your proportions correct in the wire frame you should be ok.and
5. get a set of good tools. this doesnt mean go out and spend a fortune, this means gathering utensils that aid you in sculpting. working with one tool throughout an entire sculpture doesnt give the variety of surface textures that help a sculpture stand out. ive made half the tools i sculpt with. heres a few of my sculptures that i have done.

sculptures (http://jamclark.freeshell.org/leckronium/custom.html)

if you havent already heard of it theres a great magazine out there for sculptors. its called Amazing Figure Modeler. it comes out every few months and reviews resin kits, model kits and contains helpful articles on sculpting and painting them. i think the website is:


http://www.amazingmodeler.com/

i hope this post was somewhat helpful for you! :D

[Octave13]

battlemonkey: Thanks again.. your words are very kind. A great compliment, indeed, if my sculpt reminds you of McFarlane Toys' stuff. It'll be a looooong time of constant practice, before I ever get that good. I like the work that the Four Horsemen do, too... the guys who sculpted the new Masters of the Universe series figures, in case you don't already know, which you probably do.

leckronium: I truly appreciate your advice. I'll deffinitely take it. I have a wood base for my next sculpture, now. I just need to go out and get some more tools, and see what I can gather that would be of use to me around the house. I only used two different tools, on my first sculpt. I've heard of an interesting technique of using aluminum foil as a filler around the armature, before sculpting with the clay. I think I might try that. I really enjoyed seeing your work, particularly the wolf man. I also liked how you sculpted smoke billowing out of the train. I've seen that amazing figure modeler magazine before, too.. I just have yet to pick it up. I might just go ahead and subscribe to it. Thanks again, your advice is very helpful.

[MindCandyMan]

I see you are a man of many talents octave. Give yourself more credit there are some really good things about this sculpt. Excellent.