Been a while since I was in this thread with some pieces. One from imagination, and one from nature.
Both done on a pieces of wood I found on walks.
Sculpted in Apoxie with wire armatures.
Thanks for looking!
The Bannerman
A Samurai standard carrier for his clan, meets an interesting new friend between battles.
Octo
(still a work in progress...need to beef up the arms near the head, add the suction cups and fine details)
I'm not sure about painting them, I kinda like the porcelain look, but we'll see. I wouldn't want to ruin a sculpt by messing up the paint.
I get my wood from anywhere. I go for walks down paths near my home, at the beach, or in the woods and come across them. I dry them out, seal them with a glaze and then create something to place on them.
Sometimes I get an idea right away, but I can hang onto a piece of wood for months before something clicks.
NZ, yeah I've used Super Sculpey grey on a lot of pieces, I just find that apoxie is more sturdy once hardened. (especially for thin pieces like the end of the octo arms) Wait 'til you see what I have in mond for my next piece, gonna be pretty different, but I'm going to be using more mixed media.
TS, sure have, I did one kit but I ended up just breaking even on it in the finance department.
It was a lesson learned. I've been really getting into just doing one-off pieces, and if a company wants to produce something I sell it to them. (been working for me so far)
If I were to get into molding and casting things myself it'd be more economical, but you need the cash to get started there too. Ah, what do you do right?
As long as I'm creating and selling I'm happy.
I just sold a piece I sculpted in castilene wax to a company in the UK, sold it to them outright for 'x' amount of dollars plus I get 2 copies for myself. So I do get my stuff out there, but it's finding the right hands to let them go into, know what I mean?
Ah, yeah, I do my own molds.
(I teach mold making, so it'd be more weird if I didn't)
Kits are challenging-- really you need to have a number of pieces in rotation to keep the interest up.
And they do have a base cost of production that can be prohibitive.
I was just curious because I know laypeople tend to view painted work as "more finished", but frankly if you are making sales and not getting stuck with shitty contracts, that's the part that matters most.
first off, thanks for posting this stuff.
second, thanks for going on walks. i think it is important to share that step in the creative process.
and thirdly, not only was in loving the work you showed us, but the photography was well thought out and i appreciate that.
your detail of the octo arms could be a wallpaper. i hope its your wallpaper.
Each suction cup is done individually.
A small ball of apoxie, flattened out a bit with one of my tools, and then hollowed out with another.
Takes time, but worth it in the end.
The flag says 'peace' or at least as close as I could write it out, and YES, get back to sculpting! What is wrong with you!?
Yeah, I like the white too. I think for this one, I will leave it white, and just sand it as smooth as possible, give it that porcelain look.
I've been wanting to get into painting my pieces this year, try learning it, we'll see. There's nothing worse than doing a sculpt, being pleased with it, and then ruing it by painting it badly.
Perhaps you could practice painting on your sculpting material, as little balls or simple shapes that you don't invest any time in, just to get the hang of how you want to use the paint without endangering one of your lovely pieces? It would probably help you get the hang of it so then when you do want to paint your pieces you can be more confident of how it will turn out.
On Sculpey, I find stripping the surface with nail polish remover and following up with light washes of watered down acrylic tends to be the best way to get natural looking color. You can also use that technique on epoxy putty, too, I think.
Woaaaah! I took a sculpture class back in community college, I grew an appreciation not just because it's a fascinating realm of art but because of how utterly incapable I am at it. You have impressed me good sir!
I really love the octopus.. can't wait to see it done. The white of the octopus against the rich wood is incredible. I've been wanting to get into sculpture, this is definitely inspiring me!
Thanks all! Means loads to me.
Finally done, at least for now...I sometimes come back to pieces and add to them, as they say...no piece is ever complete, only abandoned.
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You're the one who got me started on sculpting, you know.
Also incidentally, I love your bits of wood. Where do you get them, and how do you prepare them?
I'm not sure about painting them, I kinda like the porcelain look, but we'll see. I wouldn't want to ruin a sculpt by messing up the paint.
I get my wood from anywhere. I go for walks down paths near my home, at the beach, or in the woods and come across them. I dry them out, seal them with a glaze and then create something to place on them.
Sometimes I get an idea right away, but I can hang onto a piece of wood for months before something clicks.
I LOVE both of these. MORE!!
Have you thought about getting into resin kits at all?
Also, re: paint, you could always try to link up with someone who paints kits or minis professionally, if you are not inclined to paint yourself.
Uncanny Magazine!
The Mad Writers Union
TS, sure have, I did one kit but I ended up just breaking even on it in the finance department.
It was a lesson learned. I've been really getting into just doing one-off pieces, and if a company wants to produce something I sell it to them. (been working for me so far)
If I were to get into molding and casting things myself it'd be more economical, but you need the cash to get started there too. Ah, what do you do right?
As long as I'm creating and selling I'm happy.
I just sold a piece I sculpted in castilene wax to a company in the UK, sold it to them outright for 'x' amount of dollars plus I get 2 copies for myself. So I do get my stuff out there, but it's finding the right hands to let them go into, know what I mean?
Also...thanks for the responses guys/gals!
(I teach mold making, so it'd be more weird if I didn't)
Kits are challenging-- really you need to have a number of pieces in rotation to keep the interest up.
And they do have a base cost of production that can be prohibitive.
I was just curious because I know laypeople tend to view painted work as "more finished", but frankly if you are making sales and not getting stuck with shitty contracts, that's the part that matters most.
Uncanny Magazine!
The Mad Writers Union
second, thanks for going on walks. i think it is important to share that step in the creative process.
and thirdly, not only was in loving the work you showed us, but the photography was well thought out and i appreciate that.
your detail of the octo arms could be a wallpaper. i hope its your wallpaper.
How did you go about making the suction cups? Those must be very small!
INSTAGRAM
Each suction cup is done individually.
A small ball of apoxie, flattened out a bit with one of my tools, and then hollowed out with another.
Takes time, but worth it in the end.
Out of curiosity, what does the Bannerman's flag say?
Rrgh I really need to get back to sculpting soon.
facebook.com/LauraCatherwoodArt
The flag says 'peace' or at least as close as I could write it out, and YES, get back to sculpting! What is wrong with you!?
Yeah, I like the white too. I think for this one, I will leave it white, and just sand it as smooth as possible, give it that porcelain look.
I've been wanting to get into painting my pieces this year, try learning it, we'll see. There's nothing worse than doing a sculpt, being pleased with it, and then ruing it by painting it badly.
Updated photos soon! Almost done.
facebook.com/LauraCatherwoodArt
Uncanny Magazine!
The Mad Writers Union
Finally done, at least for now...I sometimes come back to pieces and add to them, as they say...no piece is ever complete, only abandoned.