Marsh Goblin (image heavy)

[cityrose]

Okay, I was working on a mermaid sculpture, but I have to put that on hold for a few weeks. I've been offered a job to teach basic sculpting classes to the community (If only they knew how new I am to all this!!) :oops: . So, I began to work on a smaller piece. I decided that picking an 'ugly' subject would allow me to show how to sculpt details and textures that I wouldn't be able to show if I'd done a pretty fairy creature. So, without further ado, meet my Marsh Goblin! ^___^

Marsh Goblins are largely misunderstood to belonging to the Orc family. However, they truly belong to the Dwarf family, and are quite docile in nature. Female Marsh Goblins give birth every month during the winter to a batch of tiny foetus-like infants. They then take the infants to the swampy waters and drop them in, where the infants grow to maturity, much like tadpoles in a pond.
This Marsh Goblin is helping another female in her tribe by taking her babies down to the swamp water. She will be carrying them in a leather sack. She is also late in pregnancy, and someone will soon be doing the same for her.

Here's the basic steps:

First I formed an armature out of a thicker gauge aluminium wire. I tried to get the proportions roughly where I want them by using references, and bent her into the basic pose.



Then I used some Milliput to make areas of the armature stronger.






I started to rough in the shapes. I also used some Copper Wire (the thin gauge stuff you find in networking cables) and Milliput to form the ears and tail.



After that was all done, I started to refine the forms. I added the hands at this stage too (I leave them until later so I'm not constantly bumping them during early sculpting) using the same process I used to make the ears and tail.







I came up with this concept and design and will (hopefully) be able to teach my 'students' how to do the same.
This sculpture isn't terribly far from completion- the anatomy needs tweaking, then it's just a matter of adding details. I'll add more pictures as I get them!
I'm still really new to all this, I'd really appreciate any tips or critiques you can offer me! Thanks!

[drummingpariah]

This looks awesome! I especially like the expression of the eyes. Smaller hands might suit the overall look of the character, in my opinion.

Did you do any sketches of this before going directly to 3d?

[DeadlyFreeze]

It looks to be a good start. Personally though I don't think the pose if very flattering, kind of looks like shes about to pop a squat or something.

[cityrose]

drummingpariah: Thanks! I noticed the hands after your comment and downsized the hands and wrists as much as I could. I stupidly limited myself a bit with the armature I made (still trying to work out how to make a sturdy hand armature without adding bulk), but hopefully it's an improvement! ^_^ I did a couple rough sketches on A4 paper before going to the armature, but I didn't do an ortho. I have to pump out these sculpts quickly in time for my classes! ^_^ In the future I'll be doing some better drawings to try and avoid running into some of the problems I'm getting.

DeadlyFreeze: ROFL Love the terminology. I'm attempting a 'burdened' pose, she'll be carrying a heavy sack on her back. But ya, I think you're right- I'll alter her pose a bit more when I've got the sack stitched up and in place.

Thanks for the comments peoples! I'll post some new pics in a couple days. ^_^

[mosskat]

is she carrying a heavy basket or something? :3 because that pose would be perfect for it...

[DeadlyFreeze]

Ah that makes sense. Definitely be more interesting when it comes along a little more, keep on it.

[Blahism]

Now come on, madam... I know you've a class to teach - but where are our updates? Hanging us to dry like this is a little cruel. I'll be bugging you at the clubhouse also.

[cityrose]

LOL, yaaaaaa well your bugging stopped me from procrastinating too much.

I've just been cleaning her up a bit. I've experimented lightly with texture, I'm relatively pleased with her leg, but not so much with the face. The nose and cheek has some notches in it from when I bumped her against my lamp while working on her (oops!) that I'll have to fix up.









Not a great deal more to do, really. I've done a bit of work on the hands, but I don't think they're ready for showing yet

It's really hard to say how long this is taking me in real sculpting time. In between work, putting together a claim for industrial relations, caring for my mother (just came out of hospital) and everyday life fodder............probably roughly 2 days work? The initial stages were really quick- it's all the tinkering that takes the time

Thanks for the lovely comments! I'll try to improve my speed. ^_^

[Ashkitty]

Oooh, what a lovely sculpture to come across!

I really enjoy her pose and form, also (from what I can see) how you toned down the hands; they fit much better now, still appropriately large but more feminine.

The only two things that really bug me at the moment are about the face. The lips are gorgeous in profile, but the line separating them is very harsh and deep from head-on. I would suggest perhaps curving the upper lip in more with fine tools or just sort of smushing them down to achieve a finer line.

The other thing would be the lack of hair, or skull texture. I know you're still working on that, and it's largely personal preference of mine, but I think she would look great with some sort of short, tribal hairstyle.

Oh, I adore the feet, too . Good job on making the funky two-toed look work out well. As I look more at the ankles, it seems they can be moved forward a little bit to give her a more defined transition between calf and ankle, which would give her less of a "cankle" (lol ) look in that area. The skin wrinkles on the thigh show a great start, too.

Overall I really like your piece, she's very cute and coming along nicely. I hope to see more progress soon and can't wait to see it finished.

Good luck in your class!

[pijay-brown]

Gonna be a great one

Funny pose, waiting for texturing and details

congrat