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.