Oldies but goldies

This was the first ever sculpture I did. The men are made from green stuff, the rock from clay. 2003

This is a terran marine from Starcraft made in white clay. 2004

Bust of Eddie the Monster from Iron Maiden. Made in a combination of white and red clay. 2005

This is a bust of Angus Young, lead giutarist in AC/DC. Done in white and red clay. 2005

Small version of same guitarist. Done in green stuff. 2005

Angus the Devil. Made in green stuff. 2007

Spartan warrior. Made from green stuff. 2007

Sherlock Holmes: Finished piece

Here we go:

Before and after:

Got it finished just in time for christmas even \o/

Photos by Anders Clausen.

Sherlock Holmes: Sculpting part 2

I had the sculpture of Sherlock Holmes:

I'd made a violin and a bow:

The bottlecap was only intended as an size indicator, but pepsi, if you do want to sponsor this page just call me, awright. I drink pepsi max thank you. The strings on the violin btw. were made seperately with a glue gun and then glued to the violin. Swearing is allowed if imitated.

Here I've combined it all in one glorious mix:

I added a watchchain and corrected the arm a bit. One foot broke when I glued it to the base, but that was eaily mended with green stuff.

Hands were done in three stages: Palm first, then each finger positioned seperately. Lastly I'd make the hands and fingers actually look like hands and fingers. Now we're talking!

Last photo by Anders Clausen

Sherlock Holmes: Sculpting part 1

I had my pose, the outfit and the general look figured out. I also more or less had a plan of action. I'd sculpt the main body first, then the outfit and lastly the head, all done using sculpy. Then I'd bake it and add hands and violin, both made in green stuff. I'd have to make the violin first and then attach it to the neck before making the hands, as the hands would have to grasp the violin and react according to its size and shape and not vice versa.

I tried using a very thick and flexible wire this time instead of using many small wires. I'll say it now:. Don't do that. The sculpy will have a hard time sticking to the one wire and you'll hate yourself . On the plus side though, it is easier to cover the wire, but a well made skeleton using many small wires is always better. It takes time yes, but it is worth it. Sing a song while twisting the wires together. With a friend if possible.

I made him twist his upper body to give the sculpture some life and randomness. I also didn't want his left arm parallel with the left leg which would have made him look static.

This was the base for the violin. First I made a rough outline of the body. When that had cured I filled it out with some more green stuff. Lastly I cut, filed it down and carved the details into the body (the F-holes ( I'm not kidding)). Then I could concentrate on the neck.

The added pin would later become the figerboard. Finally I sculpted the fingerboard, tailpiece, bridge and scroll.

This was the last sketch I did before starting on the deatil. I made it just to make absolutely sure I hadn't any misconception of how f. ex. he should be holding the bow string, how he parts his hair or what kind of shoes he wears.

Sherlock Holmes: Sketces

I've always loved action figures, especially the old Action Force/ G.I. Joe range because you could pose them so easily. My brother also have an deep seated interest in action figures. This christmas I decided to give him a cool gift. It's said the best gift is the one you make yourself. Well, I didn't think a drawing or an ashtray would make him jump for joy, so I decided to do something a little more ambitious.

As well as having a common interest in minatures, we're both huge fans of Sherlock Holmes, epecially when he's played by the legendary Jeremy Brett. The answear was obvious; Make him a Sherlock Holmes sculpture for christmas! Here goes..

First off I wanted to make the iconic Sherlock Holmes, i.e. he should be doing something he's known for, examining a crime scene or smoking his pipe, but which? You always see him running round with his deerstalker and magnifying glass, but that was too obvious a choice for my taste. That is why I like Jeremy Brett's interpretation of Sherlock Holmes. He almost never wears a deerstalker. He's known for playing a violin in a robe though... hmmm, now we're getting somewhere.

 

Leasure suit and playing a violin it was then. Now I just had to figure out  his look. If I could pull it off I'd go for the Jeremy Brett version ( I may have mentioned before I liked his version of Sherlock Holmes) I opted to go for realism as much as my skills would permit me to.

As my Sherlock would be plaing the violin I wanted him to be wrapped in the music. This helped me a lot when figuring out his pose.

When I sculpt I aim for the model to be interesting from all angles. Again you have to balance this with realism. I remember once being told that the world famous skulpture of the greecian disc thrower was a bad sculpture because of his realistic pose. He looks good when viewed from the front or from behind, but when viewed from the side he looked, quote; "As a wounded soldier" That can't be good, can it?

So: Energetic movement, realistic pose and no "weak" angles to make it look uninteresting. OK THEN!

Woman and Dog: Finished piece

I painted the piece in Citadel colours. I always use citadel colours. They are easy to mix and are waterbased so they can be thinned down and they don't smell. They may be costly, but hey, I got a day job so that is no biggie. I added fake grass to the base and also some between the pavement tiles to make them appear old. Notice also the squashed can. I'm very pleased with the final outcome.

Photos by: Anders Clausen

Woman and Dog: Skeleton and sculpting

I stuck to my usual method of making skeletons: Get the correct measurement, then pose it, lastly you recheck the measurement against the pose and make it work together. This sculpture would become a fairly big piece. I did not expect that to begin with. If the sculpture is going to weigh a lot, I can recommed adding a supporting "leg" to the skeleton. This skeleton worked as it was, but only just.

Once I'd sculpted all I could in sculpy and baked it, I made the details in green stuff. I sculpted the woman and dog seperately from each other and then glued them to the same base. First then did I begin work on the leash. I sculpted it on a flat surface. I recommend a surface like wood, glass or metal. Don't use cardboard. It is a pain to remove green stuff from a cardboard surface without taking some cardboard with you. When it had cured, I cut it into shape and glued it onto the models.

The strap for the purse I flattened seperately, but applied it to the model before it had cured. The same method was applied to the small piece of dangling leash in the woman's hand.  

When I work with clothes, f.ex. the trusers, I'll sculpt all the muscles first. Then ill roll some small sausage pieces of sculpy and apply them wherever I want the clothes to fold. I use the same method when making sleeves or indeed any seperate pieces of the clothing. I do this so I know I'm not screwing with the muscles in favour of design.

The pieces of cardboard on the base would later be painted to resemble pavement. I would also sculpt a flattened soda can using green stuff.

I would later readjust the hand holding the leash with green stuff. If you got the option, make hands with green stuff as it can be done in stages and not necessairly all at once.

Woman and Dog: Concept sketches

It was suggested to me that my next project be something a little more down to earth. I wanted to do a female at this point as well. This was to better understand the subtle differences in the physiology of men and women.

At the same time I didn't want to make the standard pin up or damsel in distress. I wanted to make a woman who got it all under control (well almost in control) A cool person who knows what she wants. A buissness woman or doctor or something.

I had to make an interesting pose, a believable pose full of energy and motion. I thought of making her interact with something. At the same time it would have to be an everyday thing. A dog might fit the bill. Why not? It would be the random element I'd need as well as a good oppotunity to actually sculpt a dog. It would give the piece a story as well. DOG!

I'd let her talk on a mobile phone while walking the dog. A small commentary to the distracted mind through which modern man percieves the world. It would also be a good excuse to give a twist to her pose. Let her be carried along by the dog unwillingly. Could it be a metaphor for fate? Nah, better stop while I'm ahead.

Back to practical matters. What breed of dog should I make. didn't want anything too small or too large. I wanted something springy the same time, but also a dog a business woman might pick as a pet. I settled for a greyhound. Sleek, elegant and fast.

I found a lot of pictures on the internet, but I wanted to get the physiology into my head and my hands before committing it to form, so I decided to do a couple of sketches of the greyhound beforehand.