Sculpey's Biatches: the Mike Mignola sculpting club [Archive] - Page 2

Ming

01-17-2005, 07:25 AM

he s made up of a mixture of sculpty and cernit and some colored sculpty.cernit is used to make doll heads from what i understand. i just happened to come upon it one day and mixed it with sculpty. it strenghtens the sculpty and it holds a little more detail.gotta mix it right if not you get a flaky mess(which has happend a couple of times)you gotta have big forearms to mix it by hand or just get a spaggetti machine.
i'm gonna give him some hands today.i was gonna put some bolts but the ones i have are too small-gonna head out sometime today to home depot and find some that are comprable. ;) thanks for the compliments!!! :D

Johann

01-17-2005, 05:24 PM

Awsome, real bolts, -is gonna be one kickass mother love'n monkey... gorilla.

Ming

01-18-2005, 05:04 PM

here is an update:

http://sculptureunderground.com/albums/album76/DSCN0307.sized.jpg

petriacce

01-18-2005, 05:12 PM

WOW! :eek:

That is brilliant. Very nice Ming.

DannyBoy7783

01-18-2005, 05:14 PM

It's a pet peeve of mine: it's sculpey not sculpty...sorry! I couldn't resist!

That looks totally awesome though. It makes me really fiend for some pictures of the one that Mezco is doing. Great work man, can't wait to see it painted. I envy your skill with an armature. I haven't used one yet. Does anyone know of a good armature FAQ or "How To" online? I mean, I can always search google but if anyone knows of one in particular that's good, please let me know.

JohnThompson

01-18-2005, 06:05 PM

Moses, I saw the progress pics you posted at the Clubhouse today, and again I just gotta say its looking great! This is some damn fine monkey sculptin'! The head is dynamic, the fur texture is very realistic, and the bolts really add to the character. The body language is perfect. I can't wait to see how this turns out.
Does anyone know of a good armature FAQ or "How To" online? I mean, I can always search google but if anyone knows of one in particular that's good, please let me know.
Danny, there's a couple of good links on armature building earlier in this thread.

DannyBoy7783

01-18-2005, 06:26 PM

Oh well isn't that handy! Thanks John! This is a really long thread and I haven't been keeping as close attention to it as I should. Thanks.

Maija

01-19-2005, 11:43 AM

here is an update:
:eek: He's going to bite my face off!

That's pretty damned cool. I can't wait to see the finished sculpt.

Ming

01-19-2005, 11:44 AM

too many bolts or not enuff?? :confused:

http://sculptureunderground.com/albums/album76/DSCN0309.sized.jpg

JohnThompson

01-19-2005, 11:52 AM

LOVE the bolts. I can't remember if Mignola draws him with a few going down the spine or not, but that would be cool as well. The new detail on the feet is looking great as well.

Tad

01-19-2005, 12:43 PM

I'd lose the bolts around the mouth. They should have the feeling of being drilled into bone and mouths are too flexible. They shouldn't feel like piercings.

Yes to bolts in the spine and giant mechanical hands. It's too late now but it'd be cool to have his arms back in a typical Harryhausen type pose. It'd accent his roar.

It really looks to be a magnificent piece. Thanks for the progress photos.

Ming

01-19-2005, 12:47 PM

top or bottom?i was iffy of the top ones when i put them.which is why the mouth is a little closed.i see what i can do.... :)

JohnThompson

01-19-2005, 12:47 PM

Just a little inspiration, courtesy of Rick Cortes

http://www.rickcortes.com/kriegaffe_flat.jpg

Ming

01-19-2005, 12:51 PM

i was looking for tha pic!thanks JT;)

Ming

01-19-2005, 12:54 PM

It's too late now but it'd be cool to have his arms back in a typical Harryhausen type pose.

there is always time to sculpt another one ;)

Tad

01-19-2005, 01:41 PM

Yessssssssss!!!

Avelino

01-19-2005, 03:42 PM

I've thrown this pic arond this forum before, but since this IS a scultpure thread, I thought...what the hell!

Avelino

01-19-2005, 04:01 PM

I've been flipping through the thread and I'm surprised to see that even with all these amazing sculptures contributing thier work and pointers, no one's mentioned about other materials one could use to sculpt with. I'm kind of new to the sculpting world myself. I actually started with Super sculpy, but I found over time what a pain in the ass it was to work with. The stuff pics up everything is touches and the only way u can get some serious detail is by baking it a bit or let it dry out a while before using it. Now I know a lot of u like to work quick, sculpt it, bake it and paint it. But for those of u who r more serious and patient about doing a decent sculpture may I suggest a few other materials that handle a LOT better. CHEVANT, it's a Plasticine, which means it NEVER hardness, so once your done with your original, the only way your going to be able to paint it is by molding and then casting it. This takes money though, so unless u want to dish out a couple of hundred bucks then I would just settle with not painting it. The pay back: U don't need a wire frame body to support it. This stuff can hold it's own, it's very dense(a lot more than sculpy), which is also great because u can get a lot of more detail in there . The other material, the one that most professionals use is called Castaline. This stuff is gold. It's a mix between wax and Plasticine. Again, it's the same as chevant in which u can NOT paint it unless u mold it and then cast it. But this stuff is so cool. If u don't touch it it's as hard as a rock, but 1 or 2 minutes in the microwave and this stuff turns as soft as sculpy. As the air cools it off it start to get hard again, but if u want to soften it up again, just repeat the process. One could also use a blow dryer too, this way u can effect only certain areas. Anyway, I got tones a more info if anyone is interested. later- Avelino

Maija

01-19-2005, 05:00 PM

I think most folks aren't using Chavant (http://www.chavant.com/index_main.shtml) clays or other wax-based clays for casting because of the reasons you've just described: you have to have the resources, both technical and financial, to mold and cast your final work. You have to have that additional level of skill, additional tools and materials for casting, and the appropriate vented space for it, or the big money to pay someone who has those skills and resources. Meanwhile, you can't just paint your final work, you have to mold and cast it.

I don't know what you mean about Sculpey not being able to take detail. I've managed very detailed work with it. Ming's Kriegaffe looks detailed to me. Check out the sculpts in John Thompson (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=12029)'s thread, particularly Luke Skywalker and the custom action figure head of our man Ron Boyd.

I've no doubt Chavant has modelling advantages and being able to cast an edition is certainly an attraction (and has been done by some here). It's good that you bring it up so that other people are aware of it. But for what I'm doing right now Sculpey's just fine.

Maija

01-19-2005, 05:04 PM

Incidentally, I think there are special techniques and finishes for "painting" Chavant clay, but you can't store the finished piece near any source of heat or it will mellllllllt.

Avelino

01-19-2005, 05:55 PM

Wow, u weren't kidding, Johns stuff is crazy!!! I guess what I meant wuz that with Chevant or wax based material u can get a lot of detail with LESS hassle. I just hate that when your working on a sculpy piece and u want to get into those impossible to reach areas, u just have to do the best u can, but with Casteline or chevant u can cut the piece of with precision and then put it back on later with none knowing the wiser. On that note, I'm just going to stop bitching. Bu in case anyone is interested in trying out those other products and u leave in the toronto (canada) area, try Sculpture Supply Canada. They got anything a sculpture needs, and then some! And speaking of Ron Boyd, I lost the dudes business card, u know an e-mail address or some other way I can get a hold of the guy?

JohnThompson

01-19-2005, 07:17 PM

I don't know what you mean about Sculpey not being able to take detail. I've managed very detailed work with it. Ming's Kriegaffe looks detailed to me. Check out the sculpts in John Thompson (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=12029)'s thread, particularly Luke Skywalker and the custom action figure head of our man Ron Boyd.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Maija, but when Avelino talks about Chavant or Castilene holding detail better than Sculpey, he's talking about this kind of detail: http://www.sculptorscorner.goregoregore.com/Bergholtz/BIGs14.htm

This is the work of Sideshow sculptor Andy Bergholtz. It would be near impossible to get this kind of detail with Sculpey.

I like Sculpey because I can end up with a permanent piece (after baking), and the clay is ready to work almost immediately out of the box. It has some of the features of an oil-based modeling clay, as it stays workable for a long time before baking, giving me enough time to sculpt until I'm satisfied with the results.

This is a sculpting thread first and foremost. Any sculpting medium is welcome, so Avelino, post as much as you'd like!

By the way, you can reach Ron Boyd through his website, http://www.ronboyd.com

Johann

01-20-2005, 02:10 PM

MING- Hell! thats amazing, I'm inspired..again.

more!

Bailzzararco

01-20-2005, 05:30 PM

I Still don't have a camera and I keep forgetting to ask my friend to borrow theirs, so I just tried scanning in the figure, and it's not that bad. You can see where the figure sank and broke away from the base at the right paw, but it's not really so bad. I think I can still fix it, it will just look like maybe Sammy's trying to see where that screw driver rolled to under his truck. Um, there should be a picture here, I hope I did it right.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/Bailzzararco/frontviewsammy.jpg

JohnThompson

01-21-2005, 09:54 AM

Cool Sammy! Laying the sculpt down on the scanner worked pretty well, it gives the piece some nice depth. Can you scan him at some different angles? I'd love to see it from all sides.

Sorry about the sagging. Sculpey gets soft in the oven before it cures, so its important to have an armature under the clay. Obvious to you now, but if its any consolation, it happens to everybody who sculpts with this stuff at some point. The white Sculpey you used is much softer than the pink "Super" Sculpey, so I'm sure that you'd have less trouble with future sagging if you switched clays.

Johann

01-21-2005, 03:48 PM

To continue with what john said... I found reg sculpey breaks really easily, I took me a long time to finally switch, And its a whole lot better. Nice sam, Keep it up.

And On another note...

http://www.culttvman.com/tommy_allison_s_hellboy_sculpt.html

Bailzzararco

01-21-2005, 04:12 PM

I knew about how sculpey gets very soft for a while while in the oven. You can see the toothpicks that I used to keep him stable (or was supposed to keep him stable). I was actually counting on the slouching, but the toothpicks were meant to stop it from happening. I think the trouble might have happened because I used very old brittle sculpey after kneeding it until it was soft enogh to use. I was going to remove the tooth picks after baking it. It worked for me before, so I was guessing it would work again. I just didn't do a good job of it. I know about super sculpey, but it's hard to get, because as soon as an art store gets it, it's gone. Here's another angle of the figure from the side.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/Bailzzararco/sideviewsammy.jpg

Ose

01-22-2005, 05:30 PM

Sammy looks pretty good Bailzzararaco!

I figure this is the best place for my in-progress stuff rather than my art thread, so here's the rough sculpt I'm working on right now:

Rough Misshepezhieu Bust (http://www.dragonfyredawn.com/sculpture/misshepezhieurough.jpg)

Ming

01-23-2005, 09:04 PM

It's a pet peeve of mine: it's sculpey not sculpty...sorry! I couldn't resist!

:p SCULPTY :D

DannyBoy7783

01-23-2005, 09:15 PM

ARRRRGGGG! :evilangry

:D

JohnThompson

02-17-2005, 10:03 AM

HEY MOSES!!

Have you had a chance to do any more work on your Kriegaffe? I'm goin' ape here!

Ming

02-17-2005, 02:03 PM

JohnThompson

02-17-2005, 11:42 PM

hey...sorry for not posting any pics, i've been dealing with some family/personnal issues-yet to be resolved. lately i've been a lurker but posting here and there tho.i haven't been able to finish him even tho he's half done.whats taking so long is sculpting the hair,i'm such a detail freak that if one part looks off i gotta start over.-what started to be "boy oh boy i can't wait to start on this peice! " has become "Jeez when will i finish this thing :mad: ".i decided to finish it with out the bolts on the legs i'll just sculpt the rest of the body leaving the bolts in the upper body.it won't have the weird arms just its regular arms and hands-one arm with 4 fingers.as crazy as it may sound i even tried putting a hammar to it and ending my ordeal :confused: -don't worry he's still here-staring at me with that mouth open.ain't sculpting fun!! :D
I hope your personal issues become resolved soon. Don't give up on the big ape yet, you'll figure out the fur. Please don't take a hammer to it! If you get too frustrated with it, please consider letting me adopt him before you result to more drastic measures. :D

Here's a little tease of something I started a while ago. Once I have Jakob's sculpts finished I'll be getting back to this one.

JohnThompson

02-17-2005, 11:54 PM

Just found this: an excellent tutorial on sculpting those notoriously difficult ears! http://www.planetfigure.com/articles/simpleears_eng.pdf

Check out the teeeeny little head this guy is sculpting! He's mad, I tell you!

Grim Tim

02-18-2005, 12:41 AM

God damn, John - that Emperor Zombie is very cool!

Petersen

02-18-2005, 07:30 AM

That emporer zobmbie is amazing. When will the full ASoH set be done John?
will it have an 'airship parlor' display diorama??

fitzroy

02-18-2005, 07:36 AM

Very, very nice. When did my mum pose for that?

Cool

JohnThompson

02-18-2005, 07:47 AM

I'm glad you like him so far, depite only seeing a teaser image. He's sculpted in "paper clay", and still needs a lot of work before he's finished. This piece is intended to be a gift, but I have an idea for a mini-diorama with Emperor Zombie pointing a gun at SOH, who is busy chomping some wires. ARARAR! :D

Maija

02-18-2005, 07:52 AM

Crap, JT! That is the bee's sculpting knees.

Good ear tutorial too.

I really wish I had time for sculpting. :(

morna

02-18-2005, 01:37 PM

John he's beeeeutiful!

Johann

02-19-2005, 01:58 PM

oh! my... Fantastic emperor Zombie! -made of paperclay or sculpey? great avatar also ;)

Hellsaint

02-19-2005, 06:52 PM

Woh! I miss this? Great stuff! Its amazing how a 3D figure is sculpt from a 2D picture, good luck with your ASOH :)

DannyBoy7783

02-20-2005, 09:33 AM

Hey John, you gotta show us a better picture of Emperor Zombie. That way I can use it as reference for my own :p

JohnThompson

02-20-2005, 10:55 AM

Hey John, you gotta show us a better picture of Emperor Zombie. That way I can use it as reference for my own :p
No more pictures until its finished-- I'm trying to keep it as much of a surprise as possible. ;)

JohnThompson

02-22-2005, 09:00 AM

I know I said I wouldn't, but I really like the way this picture turned out!

After this, NO MORE until its done!!

http://www.indeestudios.com/hellboyweb/zombie6.jpg

DannyBoy7783

02-22-2005, 09:20 AM

MAGNIFICO!

I love the texture it looks just like dried skin or bone. This is that paper-based clay, right? What is it called?

petriacce

02-22-2005, 09:27 AM

Dang John! That is awesome. It's like he stepped off of the page. I can't wait to see the finished bust.

JohnThompson

02-22-2005, 09:31 AM

I love the texture it looks just like dried skin or bone. This is that paper-based clay, right? What is it called?
Yes, its a "paper" clay called Hearty (apparently its marketed towards crafters who make fake flowers).

Other types I've heard of are "Creative Paperclay", "La Doll", and "Luma", and I'm sure there are more. I found this stuff next to the polymer clays at my local Hobby Lobby.

Excellent for bone effects. I used a coarse hair brush to stamp in some tiny pitted texture. Also, the original eye sockets I sculpted looked too smooth to me, so after the clay dried I used a knife to pick out some bits of pulp. A little pushing around with a wet brush, and voila! Decayed, maggot-eaten flesh!

Petersen

02-22-2005, 10:43 AM

John, you are an absolute tease! and I really hope you do a series of these guys.....on the vicorian era parlor zeplin-airship cabin

gary bolt

02-22-2005, 11:53 AM

I know I said I wouldn't, but I really like the way this picture turned out!

After this, NO MORE until its done!!

But you're gonna be done soon, right? ;)

Awesome, John! Can't wait to see the finished piece.

JohnThompson

02-22-2005, 12:20 PM

But you're gonna be done soon, right? ;)
When is SDCC? I have to be finished before then!

Tad

02-22-2005, 12:47 PM

Uh.......... I think it's tomorrow. Yeah, tomorrow! Let's have those pictures! :)

Johann

02-22-2005, 01:31 PM

Again, great work John! You are amazing, can you re-post that skull you did awhile back- that too was great. I still havn't gotten a hang of paperclay- it just doesn't seem to be workable as Sculpey...meh maybe its the brand... i dunno.

MORE!

Ivar_L

02-22-2005, 05:24 PM

Hi all, this is my second message in this forum...
:)

I'm in the process of making my own Hellboy statue.
I have 3 Mezco figures (HB, AS, S). They look very good, but of course they are based on the movie. As I want to have a Mignola comic book style sculpture, the only way to have it is to try to make it myself. And when I found this forum and saw the pictures... of course I wanted to do my own version!
:)

Polymer clay I can have here is called Cernit and it's made in Germany. I have no idea how it compares to Sculpey. There are many colors availabe, so it's possible to make colored sculptures. In fact, i made a couple of Sandman ones some years ago when I found Cernit and wanted to see, do my childhood "plastiliin"-skills are still there - (Little Sandman (http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/gallery/endless/sandman.gif)) Anyway, this Cernit is probably a little harder and a little more gum-like than Sculpey. The colored ones are 2.3 oz/65 g, but there are also bigger ones - 17.7 oz/500 g, basically white and special Doll Collection skin colors. I'm using white for my Hellboy.

And now a couple of pictures.
I made four full screen (1280x1024) reference images out of the Hellboy pictures I had on my hard disk. And I must say it's almost impossible to find good profile or back view pics of HB... The small version with all 4 pics is here:
http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_refpics.jpg

To be continued...

Ivar_L

02-22-2005, 05:30 PM

Ok, too many pics for one replay.

About my tools:
I've read in interviews that there is no special sculpting tools for miniature sculpting, so people make them themselves or, for example, get some tools from familiar dentists etc. Strange, but I've never read about anyone using the tools I have and love. I found at home a couple old Soviet era manicure kits. There were several tools there and they're just perfect for sculpting! Here is the picture with my tools, including the manicure ones I confiscated (I think green ones may even be from sixties, the second tool from top (leaf-like) is my absolute favourite).
http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_tools.jpg

Ivar_L

02-22-2005, 05:40 PM

And here are a couple of photos about how far I am at the moment with my Hellboy. As everyone can see, it's heavily influenced from the John Thompson's HB bust... :)

http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_01.jpg http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_02.jpg http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_03_logo.jpg

Hellboy is very rough, basically only armature. It will get ca 5mm clay to each side. I want also make some logos to every side of the base and will cover it up with thin textured layer of clay. Of course as I know today I was a little stupid when I started this - I should had used wooden cube as the base and not some wire armature thing. It was b****y complicated to make it square... As was to try to make the logos look like they should. I used little screwdrives in final stage.

Anyway, now as I posted the pics and "burned the bridges" it looks like I must really finish this thing... Tomorrow I will post my sketch with how the final Hellboy should look.
I hope there was not too many spelling errors in my messages...

Ming

02-22-2005, 05:43 PM

hey i use cernit pretty expensive 15 bucks a bar ,it comes in little femo size bars 7 bucks a pop tho.i mix a little of it with sculpey(not sculpty :p )makes it pretty strong,but ya gotta have popeye size arms to mix it :D even tho i own a pasta machine :confused:
i'm back on the sculpting saddle again i just had to take care of some things 1st but all of that is resolved .im gonna have some pics later tomorrow all i can say is "the doctor will be in...."
hey JT pretty inspiring i love the texture on the zombie-i still havent tried that paper clay, looks fun to try.

Ivar_L

02-23-2005, 07:37 AM

Here is a clean-up version of the sketch I made for my sculpture:
http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_00_sketch.jpg

And here is, after two hours of sculpting this morning, my Hellboy as it looks at the moment:

http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_04.jpg

It's very rough, absolutely no final form or texture, temporary horns, no eyes and one ear, too small boobs etc etc. But I really like how looks. Like night and day when compared with the one I started today... Now I must to remember not to owerwork it and lost all the nice roughness it has now...

JohnThompson

02-23-2005, 07:47 AM

And here are a couple of photos about how far I am at the moment with my Hellboy. As everyone can see, it's heavily influenced from the John Thompson's HB bust... :)
Well, how could I not love this bust? :D

Seriously, you've got a great start. You did a fantastic job with the logo! I cheated on mine and had a rubber stamp made of the logo. I glued it on, then sculpted the surface of the base up to meet it.

Please post more of your progress as you get more done! By the way, nice job on the Sandman character sculpts!

Edit: I originally wrote this as you were posting updated pictures. He's really coming together now! Definitely keep him rough, HB looks better that way. Your sketches look great too-- when you get some time please post some of your drawings too.

Ming

02-24-2005, 10:00 AM

First off i'd like to thank JT for hosting these pics!!theres more coming....

so here is my Dr.Von Klempt-hope you guys like 'im

http://www.indeestudios.com/moses/hvk1.jpg

he's made from sculpey and a little cernit mixed in -i'm still working on that base .the base shown here is my second attempt.the next one will have tentacles

http://www.indeestudios.com/moses/hvk5.jpg

i'll have some more pics later.i've made some changes since this pic i've added more brow and kind of made his feature a little longer also i've added the bolts

http://www.indeestudios.com/moses/hvk3.jpg
here jsuta comparison of the bases which i'm not gonna use any morehttp://www.indeestudios.com/moses/hvk2.jpg

Ivar_L

02-24-2005, 10:10 AM

John, thanks for your kind words!... :) I'd like to stress that I'm not a professional artist. In fact, this Hellboy may be first finished sculpture I make and I'm satisfied with... I started a couple some years ago - Major Kusanagi and one another, but they were heading the wrong way, so I didn't finish them. I made 3 Little Sandman scultures - Sandman, Delirium and Death, but only first of them is almost OK. (Although I'm thinking... now when I'm again messing around with Cernit I must sculpt to Sandman a new robe from the waist down. Then it may become a nice little sculpture.)

But I must say sculpting on the last days is one of the most enjoyable things I have done in a long time.

You asked about my drawings... Unfortunately I don't have as many of them as I'd like. What I like to draw are pictures I call "humorous pin-ups". Here are a couple of them:
*Ariel (http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/gallery/pics/mermaid.jpg) (caution/adveraisment: nudity! rapidograph+texture from digiphoto+Photoshop)
*Werewolf (http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/gallery/pics/werewolf.jpg) (pen/ink+Photoshop)
*Bang! Bang! (http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/gallery/pics/goodbadugly.jpg) (Leone-inspired pic, latest one, scanned and vectorized line art, Freehand)

Ivar_L

02-24-2005, 10:17 AM

Sculpting Hellboy bust, second day of working on the Hellboy itself, 4-5 hours:
http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_05.jpg

http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_05b.jpg

3-4 more days to go!

JohnThompson

02-24-2005, 10:26 AM

First off i'd like to thank JT for hosting these pics!!theres more coming....
I'll have you know, I almost didn't host these-- your stuff is so good, you make me look bad!

I love your interpretation of Mignola characters. They have a "real" look to them, but also have those defining Mignola features. Just look at the mouth on Von Klempt!

Keep 'em coming!!
...I must say sculpting on the last days is one of the most enjoyable things I have done in a long time.
Great website you have there, Ivar! You take some gorgeous photos, too. Have you ever thought about taking some photos in a cemetary? Your eye for composition would lend itself well to some haunting images (pun not intended!)

The Hellboy bust is fantastic! Damn, you work fast!

Tad

02-24-2005, 11:03 AM

Beautiful work. Are you going to leave the word "Horns" on it so you don't have to explain them? :p I suggest smoothing out some of the lines next to the beard on his lower jaw. Makes him look too old. Thanks so much for posting and glad it's so fun for you.

DannyBoy7783

02-24-2005, 11:10 AM

I feel kind so bad! I see all these sculptures that I never even thought of and then I want to do them too. My only really original one has been my Seed of Destruction alien. John's emperor zombie and now Ming's Von Kleept and his kriegaffe!. So much to do! :eek:

Ivar_L

02-24-2005, 11:23 AM

The Hellboy bust is fantastic! Don't know about that, but it looks like I too can get this specific "Mignola-texture" to my sculpt... It's not only you...
:)
Damn, you work fast! Fast? Usually I'm extremely slow. But yes, here I sit at the work (although it's national holiday here and tv shows "penguin parade" at the president) and think that I'd like to be at home, watch another Deadwood episode from my new DVD and work on those eyes and chins and hair. I think I got some sort of addiction already...
:)
Have you ever thought about taking some photos in a cemetary? I think our protestant cemetarys are not as interesting as yours there, with all the sculptures etc. I have a couple of nice pictures from Scotland but they are not very morbid...

Tad -
I saw from the photos that it's too hard to read but there are 2 words there - "TEMP" and "HORNS"... :) And the lines on the jaw are basically just from the tool when I was fixing the form. There is no final textures or muscles yet, at the moment I'm just trying to get the face right. But I like those lines and I think I will let some there. The bigger problem is the haircut - I can't figure out how to make hair to look like detailed hair and a little angular at the same time...

JohnThompson

02-24-2005, 11:38 AM

...I'd like to be at home, watch another Deadwood episode from my new DVD and work on those eyes and chins and hair.
Deadwood is great, isn't it? I want to do a sculpture of the guy who plays Al Swearingen- he's got such a devious face!

Ivar_L

02-24-2005, 11:57 AM

Yes, that's why I have this expensive DVD...
Have you seen British TV series Lovejoy? The same actor there, it was one of my favourite shows ca 1990.

JohnThompson

02-24-2005, 12:25 PM

I've never seen Lovejoy, I'll have to keep an eye out for it.

Johann

02-24-2005, 12:55 PM

Nice sculpture Ivar!

-and Ming, Nice work on Von Kempt. I love the jar and platform, What did you use to make them?

Ming

02-24-2005, 01:03 PM

i found the dome in 99 cent store thats the smaller size- they also have a bigger size too.the platform i'm using a 3/4 pipe holder i don't know whats it call but you find 'em in the plumbing dept in home depot.

Johann

02-24-2005, 01:20 PM

Thanks, I need one of those domes.

jnapper

02-24-2005, 03:12 PM

jnapper

02-24-2005, 03:15 PM

so here is my Dr.Von Klempt-hope you guys like 'im

http://www.indeestudios.com/moses/hvk1.jpg

WOW! Fantastic!!!

jnapper

02-24-2005, 03:18 PM

http://www.indeestudios.com/hellboyweb/zombie6.jpg

Gasp! I didn't know that's where your avatar was from!! I am being blown away by my "catch-up" read!

jnapper

02-24-2005, 03:22 PM

I've thrown this pic arond this forum before, but since this IS a scultpure thread, I thought...what the hell!

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=12078

I have your two earlier posting of this-- fanatastic, Avelino. Man, I am so in awe of all these sculpts.

jnapper

02-24-2005, 03:23 PM

Ivar_L

02-25-2005, 07:44 AM

4 hours today and not too much progress... Fine tuning here and there. But there are more things I don't like now. Final hair will look nothing like this (I hope), eyes are too close and too low... There are a couple lines on the cheek I love, but overall they look wrong... But I know what to do next, basically I need to remove a lot of clay from the outer corner of the eyes and below. And maybe it's time for permanent horns?

So, there is really not much point to post todays picture... But as I myself love this kind of making-of and work-in-progress type things (in DVD, book or net), here is the bust as it looked today:

http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_06.jpg

Ming

02-25-2005, 09:07 AM

Thanks, I need one of those domes.

pm me your address i'll send ya the 2 sizes...

i'll have more pics tonight :o

Ivar_L

02-26-2005, 08:09 AM

Ok, another 3 hours yesterday and 4 today... Symmetry is not my friend. No idea why the beard is out of center...
http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_07.jpg
Next: horns, eyes and nose. Still don't know what to do with the hair, there is almost no detail on the one side and it looks better than the other...

JohnThompson

02-26-2005, 10:14 AM

It looks like you've got a good grasp of symmetry to me! I can't for the life of me understand how you're able to sculpt without any tool marks-- what are you doing to get such a smooth surface?

Whatever you're doing, keep it up! Its looking great! Who's next on your list to sculpt?

Ming

02-26-2005, 10:36 AM

cernit is good like that...its really smooth.it keeps the form and the times i used it with out mixing sculpey the marks seem to diappear.there may be some indentation but you just smooth it out.

Ivar_L

02-26-2005, 11:21 AM

You know, the secret is to sculpt the wrong way...
:)
If you remember the picture with my tools (http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_tools.jpg), then you see that I don't have this typical loop-like tool. I think I made one once, but I don't know where it is. I think the way I sculpt has something to do with how Cernit feels. It's quite hard and somehow bouncy material, so it's easier to try to add right amount of Cernit and then shape it instead of removing... So, basically I add small "balls" or "very flattened balls" of it to the sculpture, trying to get the right shape. Then I use my favourite tools (2nd and 4th from the top) and kind of push and pat the material with them. Of course sometimes I use exacto knife or another tool (#7 from top) to remove excessive clay.
This method works well with little sculptures.

Another problem with Cernit is that it's hard to make the line between two connected chunks of it to completely disappear.

What next? You know, I'd like to use this Hellboy sculpture to go through the full cycle. It is, to try to take a mold from it and to try to make some acrylic-colored copies. I have a couple of friends who are Mignola/Hellboy fans and it'll be nice to surprise them... :) Problem is, I don't know where to get silicon rubber. It's long story but at the moment it looks like I need to find a shop in Helsinki, Finland (less than 100 kilometers from here) or some internet shop. Or to try some silicons made for building...

Of course I'd like to make some other sculptures. Your Swearengen idea is tempting btw :) (however my favourite character from the "Deadwood" is Doc Cochran). BUT - in fact I have another plan. There are 2 sculptures at the moment I'm thinking about - this Hellboy bust and 1/8 Leeloo from "The Fifth Element". It will be pretty complicated thing to try... I made some sketches and I think I have enough Milla/Leeloo reference pics by now. And maybe then the third will be Neil Gaiman's Death made in the style of "Batman Animated" cartoons.
That's the maximum plan at the moment.

JohnThompson

02-26-2005, 03:19 PM

Of course I'd like to make some other sculptures. Your Swearengen idea is tempting btw :) (however my favourite character from the "Deadwood" is Doc Cochran).
Yeah, that's Brad Dourif (One Flew Over the Cuccoo's Nest, Alien Resurrection...) His Deadwood role is the only time I've seen him play a sane character.
...maybe then the third will be Neil Gaiman's Death made in the style of "Batman Animated" cartoons.
You should do Death based on this piece by Moebius!

http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/moebius2.jpg

Ivar_L

02-26-2005, 04:50 PM

You should do Death based on this piece by Moebius!
Oh, I'll try to finish this Hellboy first... Maybe YOU should do some Sandman scultures. Or maybe you already have some?...

In the ideal world there should be a line of cool female characters sculptures - Leeloo, Mathilda, Nikita... Also there are several actors who's roles could make some great sculptures - Johnny Depp, Vincent Cassel (Brotherhood of the Wolf), Jean Reno...

Also, in the ideal world there should be a Preacher movie with Ron Livingston as Jessie Custer. (That's a great idea for a sculpture!)

Yeah, that's Brad Dourif
Yes, he was in Lord of the Rings too. His role in Deadwood was very surprising, one of the best I've seen in TV series. And somehow I have a feeling like I saw him first time lo-o-ong time ago in a music video - Toto "Stranger in Town"... But maybe not.
Yes, he was - Google -> "Brad Toto" :)

Ivar_L

03-01-2005, 05:32 AM

Ok, skip over the weekend, several hours of sculpting and some work in progress photographs... and here is my sculpt as it looks now (except some strange shadows):
http://alex.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_10.jpg
I'm trying to add some Mignola-like lines to it. I worked mainly on the left side on the Hellboy's face, but when I started to make him more angular, I moved to the other side. So, at the moment the "master sculpt" is seen on the first view from the left on the photograph. Now I need some pictures where I can see how Mignola draws ears... Also make slimmer nose. And also I must figure out what to do with the samurai-like "pigtail". And somehow I don't like the front view...
But looks I'm on the right track.

Johann

03-01-2005, 09:28 AM

-It's really coming along there, looks fantastic!

I agree the front view does look a bit off. The area between his Cheek bones and jaw could use some shaving down, and i think the sideburns stick out some more than they should.

otherwise top-notch!

Tad

03-01-2005, 09:37 AM

While I agree on the sideburns I gotta say this looks pretty dang good. Thanks for posting the progress.

JohnThompson

03-01-2005, 09:56 AM

It looks amazingly good! The only comment I have is that I think the lower part of the face below the cheekbones could be narrowed in the front view. All other angles he looks perfect! I did a Photoshop manipulation to show what I mean:

morna

03-01-2005, 10:02 AM

That's IT! I was wracking my brains trying to figure what was off with the frontal view, and JT nailed it. Really looking great though Ivar!

Ivar_L

03-01-2005, 10:22 AM

Thanks!
:)
About sideburns - Mignola draws the Hellboy in 3/4 view (is it the right term?..) so that both sideburns are showing. I was trying to get that look but I must think a little abut it...
Those photos are actually quite big a help for me. When staring them, I can see more errors than when I'm just admiring my heap of clay...
By the way if somebody is wondering - the Hellboy bust part of the sculpture is 12 centimeters high (20 cm with base).

Thanks for comments and the manipulation, it looks like I have something to do today evening. I just got Incredibles artbook but I can watch it tomorrow... :)

Tad

03-02-2005, 10:42 PM

Snapped these at the high school art show. I give you Cthulhu by Brenna Stones.

JohnThompson

03-02-2005, 11:13 PM

Cool Cthulu! You said it is a mask, didn't you? Do you have any shots of it being worn?

You're obviously raising your daughter right!

Tad

03-03-2005, 12:07 AM

Nope, not a mask. It's actually a head mounted on a plaque.

Ivar_L

03-11-2005, 08:36 AM

Hi,
is this thread dead without me?
:)

Just to show that I'm still working on my Hellboy sculpt -
here are the pictures I took today:
http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_12.jpg
Some progress but it's still far from ready. I finally got nostrils almost right, but there are still many details to modify...
Better looking pictures tomorrow.

By the way, is there a good place in the Internet to buy silicone rubber for molds? In EU (Finland, Sweden, UK) would be nice - material and posting will be quite expensive and I'd like to get it without paying 18% VAT in customs...

Edit: I already saw so many details on this photo I don't like and will modify today that I already regret I posted it...

DannyBoy7783

03-11-2005, 08:58 AM

Hey man, I love the sculpture. It looks really great but you don't improve by getting compliments :) So in light of that I marked two areas on your sculpts neck I think should be blended a bit more at the edges and made a little less pronounced. They look like 2 rolls of sculpey stuck to the front of his neck to me. I realize they are muscles in his neck but they seem far too pronounced to me. Just my thoughts. Still, either way it looks great. I really like the scratchy appearance that mimics Mignola's style.

JohnThompson

03-11-2005, 08:59 AM

Hi,
is this thread dead without me?
:)
We were just politely waiting for your next update! This is shaping up to be my favorite 3D rendition of Hellboy (damn you!):D

The way you handled the cheekbones, for instance-- brilliant! The surface detailing is great as well.
By the way, is there a good place in the Internet to buy silicone rubber for molds? In EU (Finland, Sweden, UK) would be nice - material and posting will be quite expensive and I'd like to get it without paying 18% VAT in customs...
I'll do some checking and get back to you. Please sign me up for a cast if it gets that far!
Edit: I already saw so many details on this photo I don't like and will modify today that I already regret I posted it...
:rolleyes: Some people are never satisfied.... sheesh!

Ivar_L

03-11-2005, 10:29 AM

DannyBoy7783:
Yes, they (muscles) look a little odd. But at first I must finish the hair, only then I can see the final and correct positions for those muscles. And I need to find a good reference picture... I hope the final muscles will look more massive and angular.

By the way, the sculpt itself looks quite different when "in flesh" than on pictures. Cernit is very shiny when not baked, so it's complicated to get good photographs. I tried with 2 lamps, but it looks very weird with them. Most pictures are with natural light from the window.

I have more work-in-progress pictures than I posted here. Sad thing is, I can see several nice details on them that I should try to re-sculpt now...

I have a paper in front of me with the list of changes I must do when at home at evening...
:)

I have another question about statues - if I will try to sculpt some head to toe scupts, which will be better and more common scale - 1:6 or 1:8? At the moment I'm thinking about to try 1:8...

And:

JohnThompson wrote:
I'll do some checking and get back to you. Please sign me up for a cast if it gets that far!
Of course! Your Hellboy sculpt was the reason for me to try sculpting again in the first place...
:)

JohnThompson

03-11-2005, 10:35 AM

I have another question about statues - if I will try to sculpt some head to toe scupts, which will be better and more common scale - 1:6 or 1:8? At the moment I'm thinking about to try 1:8...
I think all of Bowen's "full size" statues are 1/8 scale, as are many garage kit figures now being done. The smaller size gives collectors more room to display several pieces.

That being said, I prefer 1/6 scale myself. Its just a matter of what you prefer.

Tad

03-11-2005, 11:00 AM

This may be selfish of me, but if you're going to do a full body Hellboy, think sculpture instead of collector piece. You've got great talent but I'd like to see a sculpt that captures an emotional moment, like HB contemplating his right hand or gripping his horns that are just breaking. There are so many busts and figures out there that only attempt to make a 2D character 3D and so few, if any, that cross over to a real piece of art that's trying to say something.

As a comparison on a humbler scale, when developing a new character, I usually draw them in a static pose over and over again. I'm playing with proportions or an attitude. But the character doesn't live until I put them in an action of some sort.

In any case, I'm anxious to see how your work progresses.

DannyBoy7783

03-11-2005, 11:46 AM

I'd love to see a sculpture or drawing of hellboy in the same pose as "The Thinker". His right hand would make it a very interesting piece.

petriacce

03-11-2005, 11:50 AM

Ivar_L

03-12-2005, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by Tad
There are so many busts and figures out there that only attempt to make a 2D character 3D and so few, if any, that cross over to a real piece of art that's trying to say something.
I'm not sure I'm the right person to try something like this... But yes, for example a sculpture where Hellboy is fighting some monster, captured at the moment when HB is hitting him and sculpted so that the only connection holding Hellboy up in the air is through his right hand and the face of the monster could be pretty cool...
The next one I will try is Leeloo from the movie The Fifth Element.
I'd also love to try Christopher Lee's Saruman...

Here are a couple of new photographs.
From the last evening, I like the lighting here. No sun, only lamp, background is computer monitor with one of my reference pictures:
http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_12b.jpg
And another one from today afternoon:
http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_13.jpg

I'm experimenting with sideburns. I like the first picture more, but they don't look enough Mignola-like... Anyway, I decided not to try to add too many details to the hair, I will try to keep them as simple as possible. Also horns will be bigger.
Also, I found a Spawn picture by Mignola. There is a nice statue on the background, I will try similar texture on my base.

Jakob Westman

03-12-2005, 11:01 AM

Wow, it's really coming along nicely!

/ Jakob

Tad

03-12-2005, 11:36 AM

Wow, looks fantastic. And don't sell yourself short on being ambitious. It's obvious that you're up to it!

Johann

03-13-2005, 08:40 AM

Sweet, this is great, i gotta get back to sculpting i have an unfinished AOD, Ash sitting around

JohnThompson

03-13-2005, 11:46 PM

Check this out, a great step-by-step photo tutorial on sculpting hands!

http://4dw.net/crisp/tuts/hand.htm

Ivar_L

03-14-2005, 07:33 AM

Okay, it looks like I'm almost there:
http://alex.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_14.jpg

New horns, slightly lower chest and many smaller modifications. Now I need to finish the sideburns (more angularity somehow?...), add the textures and re-model the backside of his head. And then to the base...

Last time I posted the pictures I re-read this thread... and I must say the most of my pictures look just awful. But maybe it teaches something... For example that something what looks like crap at start can look pretty decent when worked enough...
:)

gary bolt

03-14-2005, 08:22 AM

John, thanks for posting the tiny hand tutorial. There is lots of great info there.

Ivar_L, it has been great to watch the evolution of your Hellboy bust but I have to say that it never looked like crap.

JohnThompson

03-14-2005, 08:50 AM

It looks great, Ivar! I really like what you've done with the horns and the bridge of the nose. Outstanding work!

Ivar_L

03-14-2005, 09:19 AM

Thanks!
:)
Just flipping through the artbook and trying to figure out the hair...

Jakob Westman

03-14-2005, 11:11 AM

Wow Ivar,
that's awesome!!

It's been so fun to follow this bust from the very beginning.

If you ever get around to making a mold and casting this,
I'd SO want to buy a copy from you.

/ Jakob

JohnThompson

03-14-2005, 11:20 AM

If you ever get around to making a mold and casting this,
I'd SO want to buy a copy from you.
Jakob, Ivar was asking about a source for molding/casting supplies from a European source, and I was wondering if you might have any idea for a supplier?

Wolf Augustine

03-14-2005, 01:34 PM

Please, please, please make a mold of this monsterpiece! Cast it in resin and I will buy one from you -- and I am certain I am not alone. I'm thinking it'd make a great hood ornament for my Jeep. Traffic would part like DeMille's Red Sea for me!! Seriously, this is a terrififc rendering of Big Red, probably the finest one ever done (Yeah, Mr. Bowen, that includes you too!) and it would behoove you (pun intended) to share it with your fellow fans.

Maybe another poster here could mold/cast if for you. Either way...get busy! I wanna paint that sucker!

Johann

03-14-2005, 04:39 PM

Really looking great. ..More yet!?

Ivar_L

03-14-2005, 05:01 PM

I'ts 1:55 am here and I'm going to sleep...
:)
But before I must say that it's amazing how Mignola can draw Hellboy's hair so that for almost every line there are two versions, one in 90 degrees from other. I'm still trying to get the back of H's head right. I'ts not easy...

Thanks for all the kind words
and
Good night!
:)

Tad

03-14-2005, 05:31 PM

Just like his use of shadows, Mike changes attributes of Hellboy to fit the scene. There is no one version of Hellboy. Don't drive yourself crazy.

If you had it in front of Mike he might say, "I sort of bring his hair up to here... I think." It's like the palm of the Right Hand of Doom - he never figured out what it looks like. He also never figured out how Hellboy could put on a coat over that fist until the movie.

Don't sweat it. I think you're done. Bake that sucker.

Jakob Westman

03-15-2005, 01:12 AM

Jakob, Ivar was asking about a source for molding/casting supplies from a European source, and I was wondering if you might have any idea for a supplier?
I'll ask around and see if I can find anything for you Ivar.
Stockholm ain't that far away after all...

:) Jakob

Ivar_L

03-15-2005, 08:53 AM

Tad wrote:
There is no one version of Hellboy. Don't drive yourself crazy.Yes, of course, there are several different Hellboys in the books, also details differ from panel to panel. Usually if I like somebody's style I'm not trying to copy it line to line, I'm trying to find out the logic behind the style. But this time I'd like the statue to look as much as Mignola's drawings, so I'm trying to get as close to them as I can.
At the moment I'm sculpting neck, better ears and hair and I must say pictures are not much help. Specially artbook and all the pin-ups and covers, only the page with model sheet helps a little...
So I'm drawing sketches of Hellboy's head and will try to find the logic behind this haircut. I modified it quite a lot this morning, but I'm not sure when I will be satisfied with it...
Here a couple of pics from today, one of them is from the side I think I haven't posted yet. The backround is tpb. The "Ivar"-stamp on the back of the sculpture is kind-of experiment, I made a stamp like this from Cernit, first negative and then the stamp.
http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_15a.jpghttp://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_15b.jpg
Tad wrote:
I think you're done. Bake that sucker.No. Not yet...
:)
And Jakob Westman wrote:
Stockholm ain't that far away after all... Yes, it's almost here...
:)

JohnThompson

03-15-2005, 09:22 AM

Ivar, this just gets better every time you post an update. I love the changes you made to flatten the hair at the back of his head, and your signature stamp is a cool design in itself. If this isn't done, what's left to do? Its already the most definative Hellboy sculpt I've seen (damn you!) :D

Ivar_L

03-15-2005, 11:11 AM

What is left to do?...
Hair - they still look weird. Ears - more angularity and less details. Sideburns (need to kind-of rotate parts of them a little). Some neck and back muscles. Remove some microdefects around nose. Textures to everywhere, something like your sculpture has... :)
And then there is the base. I need to remove this "stone" texture what's there at the moment. It was the first time for me to try and I way over-did it... I will add the symbols to other sides of the base, at the moment I think about the Sun and the Moon. I photographed them from the T-shirt and then found them from the cover of the Art Book (forgot about that). And then maybe a scull or something to the fourth side. Background of the base will be like brick wall from the comics.
At least I think so.
More than enough to do...
:)

morna

03-15-2005, 11:18 AM

It's looking great Ivar...all respect!

Johann

03-15-2005, 04:55 PM

oh man, i know you're working on it, but you really gotta get this cast. I am in utter awe.

Although, i'm not liking the hair (sorry) the sharp edges in the back does not fit for some reason. The top hairline, (i think) should be fairly flat with a couple of odd hairs on top if you can do that. The bottom would have hairs continuing down the back sides of the neck, its hard to describe, i could only show.

maybe i'm picky. Otherwise, superb!

Jakob Westman

03-17-2005, 01:16 PM

So, I promised I'd look into where to get some silicon and resin/plastics...
here are a few suggestions.

I spoke to some people I work with who do this kind of stuff for a living and they said you'd want to use Kondesationshärdande silikon for the mold. That would translate into something like condense hardening silicon. I think.

You can order that stuff from:
Sikema - Stockholm (Site in English) (http://www.sikema.se/enindex.htm)
Abic Kemi - Norrköping (Swedish only) (http://www.abic.se/)
Cebex Keramikexperterna - Stockholm (Site in English) (http://www.cebex.info/english/index.htm)

They also suggested you'd make the casts in Poly Urethan which can be ordered from Lagomat (http://www.lagomat.se/) in Gothenburg (site in English). Funnily enough, most of these sites also have language versions in Finnish. I really don't know why.

I was also adviced to recommend you using Silicon Oil and Talk powder on the mold to make it last longer.

They also sent me this link, http://www.themodelequestrian.com/modelhorse/molding.htm
Not sure of how much use it is. Haven't looked through it yet.

Hope this was of help to you.

Best of luck!

/ Jakob

kid cthulhu

03-17-2005, 03:02 PM

Wow Ivar, that's amazing!

Thanks for the links and the tips Jakob!

Ivar_L

03-18-2005, 05:11 PM

No updates for several days can mean only one thing - I am working on my sculpture...
:)
I was thinking to post another update tomorrow (it's pretty late here), but as I just finished an animated gif with my Hellboy I thought it will be nice to show all you something new and different. And maybe surprising...

I must say hair is by far the hardest part of Hellboy. I tried se-ve-ral versions, drew many sketches and still didn't get them right. But now - I think I got it. Almost.

So, here is the picture:

http://i140.exs.cx/img140/6510/hellboyrotating3aa.gif

I like the hair now. I also tried to add some muscles, not sure they will stay this way. It's hard to see but there is also new texture now, except on the chest. Need to work on them tomorrow, also I will add some lines/scratches to horns and chest and face. And then I think it's ready.

Thanks for all the comments and also to Jakob for the links! I hope I will bake HB tomorrow. And then the base!

jnapper

03-18-2005, 05:33 PM

So, here is the picture (tomorrow I will change the link but it's not important):

http://f6.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/cF07Qhp4TwSSrhClj3mSKJ-rgBfRmQt2wpCp0o1My3MymRkHq5Gpkt6jOaG-dVcIBXylkmwTjEF0JmyxXTmm/hellboy_rotating.gif

I can't get the link to work?

Ivar_L

03-18-2005, 05:50 PM

Looks like yahoogroups changes the link to the file... Ok, I will post the picture tomorrow to my workplace's server (can't do that over the net). When America will wake up it will be there...
:)
Edit:

I think it shows now, in it's temporary place...

Tad

03-18-2005, 06:30 PM

Worked for me. Looks spectacular. Most of us would've called it done around your second post. Your personal standards are inspiring.

Ivar_L

03-18-2005, 06:35 PM

Thanks!
:)
My girlfriend just said that I should answer that I'm a sick perfectionist...
:)

Tad

03-18-2005, 06:40 PM

I won't argue with that.

But it's an inspiring sort of sickness.

jnapper

03-18-2005, 06:52 PM

OOoooo! I can see it now! Fantastic!!!

Tad

03-19-2005, 12:18 AM

For those of you who feel like they might attempt a full figure Hellboy (and we encourage each and every one of you) here is the Mignola sketch that is on the side of the Bowen statue box.

Ivar_L

03-19-2005, 05:08 AM

Here is the usual 4-view picture:
http://img94.exs.cx/img94/831/hellboysculptivar161vt.jpg

There are a couple of not so obvious problems when sculpting the hair and back muscles - the muscles don't show in the front view, shoulder is just a slightly curved line. Also, in 3/4 view neck starts from the ear and it's also stright line, so most of the hair should be behind the ear or it will look weird.

Anyway, I will try to finish the details and bake the sculpture today. If there is still something I'd like to change later, then I just need to remove and replace some clay. I hope I will not drop it before baking...
:)

Jakob Westman

03-19-2005, 06:34 AM

God damn that's sweet!!
I love the wrinkles and lines on his face. Especially on his left (screen right) side around the eyes. Wow!!

Curious to see how you'll handle the base.
If you can make that as faithful to Mignola's visuals as the bust itself, we're all in for a ride.

And let me once again express my interest in this item.
Even now that Mezco have unveiled their "Comic book version", this still stands out in it's faithfulness. Maybe even more so in fact. I'm impressed.

/ Jakob

gary bolt

03-19-2005, 08:23 AM

Fantastic Hellboy bust, Ivar. You kept saying that you wanted to make improvements and I kept thinking it wasn't necessary and it improved every time. Wow!!!

Bake it! :)

DannyBoy7783

03-19-2005, 09:41 AM

I make my own busts usually because I am too cheap to buy the real things but damn man that thing just looks so sweet. I hope you make some inexpensive casts. Is this going to be painted or no?

JohnThompson

03-19-2005, 08:14 PM

Ivar, this is a damn fine piece of sculpture. More than just a 3D replica of Mignola's drawings, this also has elements of Art Deco sculpture in the stylized portrayal of the hair and back muscle definition, and the structure of the nose and cheekbones.

This is without a doubt the BEST Hellboy sculpt I've seen. Thank you for sharing your progress with us.

Please-- if you are able to make a mold and cast any copies of this-- please reserve one for me!

Hellsaint

03-19-2005, 08:18 PM

OMG!!!! This is a freakin good sculpt!!!!! Great work! :)
As JT said it... save me one (if any).

Ivar_L

03-20-2005, 07:09 AM

It's baked!!!

:)

And I'm extremly happy with it. I didn't drop it before baking and it looks good - not as shiny anymore. In the same time, it's very strange that I can touch it without spoiling it as in last weeks... :) Also, I only found one important detail I need to repair - one lower eyelid is more prominent. But that's easy. I like the roughness and some unintentional imperfections.

The baked sculpt looks almost the same as on the rotating gif with some new textures and minor corrections and a slightly different and more angular beard.

Here is a close-up picture right after baking (the original height of the head is almost exactly 5 cm, luckily the rough details are much smaller in real life):
http://img90.exs.cx/img90/381/hellboysculptivar17face4hf.jpg

I already started the base. As I said, I'm trying to imitate Mignola's stone wall and add "icons" to every side. I found the sun and moon from the paperbacks and took photos of them. When the stone texture is ready I will print out the pics in the size I need and use them to get the correct proportions.

I drew sketches of 4 sides of continuous stone texture on paper and then copied the first side to tracing paper. Layer of Cernit, stencil I made to get it in 90 degrees, paper and needle and the stone texture is already taking shape.

Here is the first picture of making the base with the tracing paper (I just discovered that the sun is mirrored but that's not important):

http://img90.exs.cx/img90/7900/hellboysculptivarbase018dh.jpg

I have more but I'll save them for tomorrow, when, I hope, the first side will be ready.

Sadly, the base is not very Art Deco... But I hope it will look like Mignola.
Thanks again for all the nice words!

hellboyone

03-20-2005, 08:11 AM

Absolutely gorgeous, Ivar. Great work. Can't wait to see it painted.

R.

DannyBoy7783

03-20-2005, 12:03 PM

Can't wait to see it on my shelf ;)

Ivar_L

03-21-2005, 02:10 PM

Ok, here some new photographs:

http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_base02.jpg http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_base03.jpg

Pics aren't as interesting anymore (were they?), as now I'm working on the base. It takes more time as I thought at first, so, no idea when I will finish... I baked the first "brick wall" today, so, now I need to add the sun to it. I think I will sculpt and bake the sun's face separately and then add it to the base when sculpting the star shape. It's more interesting this way than to sculpt all 4 brick-wall-sides and then add the icons. And I haven't deceided what will go to the fourth side...

I have no idea how good or bad the base will look when finished. But I will try my best.

PS: I sent a mail to Finnish model magazine and the editor promised to mail me back tomorrow about the places and prices I can get silicon rubber in Helsinki. Helsinki is ca 80 kilometers from Tallinn and it's the easiest place for me to go, one day trip.

Johann

03-21-2005, 02:14 PM

again, very nice- question- How do you make the base so square,straightand or even?

Ivar_L

03-21-2005, 02:53 PM

You call this (http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_01.jpg) square?...
:)
I made a cardboard stencil with the base's profile and I used it to get the walls vertical and stright. That's why there are vertical lines visible on the middle picture. The stencil shows a little on the 3 photos, it's the white angular thing.
As I already wrote, I wasn't smart enough to use wooden cube inside the base, so to get it square was a lot of work...

Ivar_L

03-22-2005, 05:35 AM

Started the sun, had only maybe 30 minutes time today morning:
http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_base04.jpg
Repro from the book, some clay, Estonian 50 cents and my favourite tool.

I think I will try to sculpt the star shaped sunrays like the are carved out of the brick-like stones (it is, the stone texture will run over it) and the face like it's carved out from circular stone.

citymadeofash

03-22-2005, 08:00 AM

The brickwork for the side of the base came out great! I love the pitted texture. In addition the face of the sun looks as though its shapingup rather well. Cant wait to see more!

Johann

03-22-2005, 01:49 PM

Ming

03-23-2005, 07:29 AM

I started this last night its gonna be a full figure hellboy, its done in castilene-first time i work with it and so far its fun!i might change the way the haed is facing maybe a contemplating hellboy more sculptural like Tad suggested.

hes still a little ruff around the edges-i'll have some full figure pics later tonight...

http://mochiindesigns.com/hellboywip1.jpg

http://mochiindesigns.com/hellboywip2.jpg

Ivar_L

03-23-2005, 07:32 AM

Johann wrote:
-Thanks, I'm starting a new project with a similar base and just can't keep it even.Here is the stencil I use to get the sides and corners vertical:
http://www.utv.ee/~ivar/sculpt/hellboy_sculpt_ivar_base05.jpg
Also, I drew a grid to the veneer I use as a base for sculpting.

JohnThompson

03-23-2005, 07:36 AM

Cool, Moses! What scale are you working at?

So, you've become a convert to the sculpting waxes too, eh? Is the pink Castiline the soft grade or the hard? Please post a lot of progress photos, because I'm sure many people here aren't familiar with the working process of wax sculpture.

Ming

03-23-2005, 07:45 AM

its the hard grade.the store only had pink-its gonna be in the 12" to 13" size...

Ivar_L

03-23-2005, 08:14 AM

Nice start, Ming!
As many work in progress pictures as possible, please!
:)
And - This (http://comicartcommunity.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=1302) is a good reference picture for full figure Hellboy...

Tad

03-23-2005, 11:16 AM

Great start, Ming! Keep us updated.

gary bolt

03-23-2005, 05:05 PM

Ivar - Your Hellboy bust is awesome. I think it's beautiful the way it looks now in its raw form. I don't think it needs to be painted.

Ming - similar statement. I imagine you have plans for your Hellboy sculpt to be fairly slick and detailed, but I think it already captures the essence of Hellboy with it prominent brow, big space between nose and mouth and jutting jaw. I really like how it looks in this state.

Tad

03-23-2005, 11:04 PM

Here's a vote for less slick sculptures. If they must be slick, then with a design plan like art deco, angular, Pillsbury Doughboy, whatever, but most sculptures you see in comic shops are lifeless.

Great work here.

Maija

03-24-2005, 12:12 AM

Well, this one isn't going to get much slicker than what you see, although it isn't finished yet. It's a sketch/maquette for a full-figure piece I've got in mind, though I've got other pieces I should finish first. But all these Hellboy heads got me itching to take a stab at him myself. :)

And now I've FINALLY made a contribution to the Club.

morna

03-24-2005, 01:02 AM

yaaaaaaaaaaaay Third Wish! Nice start ruta - go girl

gary bolt

03-24-2005, 01:04 AM

Wow, Ruta, nice Third Wish Hellboy bust!

Drop those other projects and give us more. :)

Jakob Westman

03-24-2005, 01:05 AM

Ruta,
that's SO sweet! And you did the nail. Yay!

/ Jakob

Johann

03-24-2005, 05:31 AM

Ruta- That is astoundingly good, tis wonderful.

DannyBoy7783

03-24-2005, 06:58 AM

Ruta, great job. I almost decided to make my most recent hellboy mini bust from the third wish. Just needed the nail. I decided against it for no apparent reason now that I think about it.....lol.

Petersen

03-24-2005, 07:20 AM

Wow Ruta!!! I almost want you to not touch it anymore...I like how rough it is.

JohnThompson

03-24-2005, 07:21 AM

Ruta, that sculpt is all kinds of outstanding!

I LOVE IT!!!! There's so much power in this, and the roughness only adds to it! I would kill small animals to own this piece! (All right, maybe just stomp on some bugs. But you get the idea!)

Petersen

03-24-2005, 08:30 AM

I was going to fight you for it "Kid Nibblet" TM, but I'll hold out for the full figure version.

Seriosuly I hadn't read the post in full when I replied....now I'm really excited to see the 'real' piece!!!

Wolf Augustine

03-24-2005, 10:34 AM

Ruta, my man, you NAILED it!!!!

Now get casting so I can put that sucker on my shelf!!

Tad

03-24-2005, 10:51 AM

Not that you would know, being relatively new, but...

"[Ruta is a] 'dirty old piece of crap'... you know, turnip-y on the outside, but with a seething, hate-fueled monster just below the surface... I mean that in the good way." -- JohnThompson

She is also very much a woman.

JohnThompson

03-24-2005, 11:05 AM

She is also very much a woman.
[Austin Powers voice]Yeahhhh! She's a WOMAN, baby! Rawrrr![/Austin Powers voice]

Ivar_L

03-24-2005, 02:03 PM

So many great Hellboy sculpts are shaping up... It makes me want to do another one, this time very fast and rough...
:)

Sir Edward wrote:
I think it's beautiful the way it looks now in its raw form. I don't think it needs to be painted.Yes, that's exactly what I'm thinking. I like the bright white version on my sculpture and when I'm able to make casts, one of them will definitely be bright white. But there is a problem with the original - Cernit is white when first baked. But after the next baking session not so much... I was pretty dissapointed today when I baked the second side of the base. And it needs 5-6 sessions more to be ready...

citymadeofash

03-24-2005, 02:05 PM

So many great Hellboy sculpts are shaping up... It makes me want to do another one, this time very fast and rough...
:)

Yes, that's exactly what I'm thinking. I like the bright white version on my sculpture and when I'm able to make casts, one of them will definitely be bright white. But there is a problem with the original - Cernit is white when first baked. But after the next baking session not so much... I was pretty dissapointed today when I baked the second side of the base. And it needs 5-6 sessions more to be ready...
Cernit is able to be baked and rebaked over and over without degrading the quality/composition of the sculpture? (ie: its not going to crack on you?)

Maija

03-24-2005, 03:12 PM

Wow! :o Thanks for the overwhelming response, guys. I really didn't expect this. He's just a wee doodle... well, a little more considered than that, I guess. But he still has a ways to go yet (that's why you're only seeing the one side). Don't worry, stylistically he won't change much.

And thanks for reaffirming my femininity. ;)

Maija

03-24-2005, 03:16 PM

I'll be watching the progress of your piece with interest, Ming. I've been reading up on casting mainly out of curiousity; too technical for me to attempt any time soon myself. But I'd certainly like to know more about it. Can you mold the castilene with your fingers, like Sculpey, or does it need to be tooled? Are you going to cast this yourself?

Ivar_L

03-24-2005, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by citymadeofash:
Cernit is able to be baked and rebaked over and over without degrading the quality/composition of the sculpture? (ie: its not going to crack on you?) It cracks. There were (and are) some in the base, so, before I cover the sides with another layer of Cernit to make stone texture, I carve out the cracked clay and a little around it. It helps, but I must be very careful with temperature and baking time in the future. Or there will probably be cracks not only on the base but on the Hellboy too (there is one already)...
Also, this color changing problem is strongest with white clay. I made some years ago some Little Endless characters from colored clays (Sandman, Death and Delirium, my only sculptures) and I think other colors didn't change after baking. No cracks also, but they were really little sculpts.

Maija

03-25-2005, 12:37 AM

I did a little bit more work on ol' HB. I sit down just to look at it before going to bed and can't help but nudge a little bit here... add just a dab of clay there... before you know it, I've stayed up another hour and a half mashing his beat-up old mug around.

Petersen

03-25-2005, 07:02 AM

That's great Ruta! I completely know what you mean about the little tweeks that end up being hours of work. It's like the project is Columbo, and every time you turn to leave it says "Just one more thing, sir"

Johann

03-25-2005, 06:14 PM

Superb, i'm really seeing the newer Hellboy(As in style.) With every new story, HB is drawn a little more stylized and in this case the head is smaller(?) it's just the way Mignola draws nowadays. And i gotta say, you captured that beautifully thus far.

Ivar_L

03-26-2005, 03:13 PM

About this white Hellboy sculpt -
I finished the Sun's face for the base, tomorrow I hope I will finish whole Sun's side of the base. Here is the picture with the progress:
http://img186.exs.cx/img186/6027/hellboysculptivarbase04sun5oi.jpg
Then the Moon and the third icon for the backside of the base.

I have a couple of ideas for the base I haven't tried yet, one of them very Mignola-ish... Also the front with the logos is a little problematic, it looks at the moment that I must re-sculpt both logos when adding the stone texture to the front. Anyway, I'd like to finish the base on next week. And then start something new... Of course I'd still like to make a mold and to take copies of my sculpt. I will try to find out can I get silicon from Sweden.

And - to show you all something more interesting - here is a sketch I made today when at work:

http://img186.exs.cx/img186/385/hellboysculptivar00sketch22dx.jpg
No, I'm not planning a sculpture like this... :)

Tad

03-26-2005, 04:13 PM

But you should!

gardenvariety

03-26-2005, 04:28 PM

No, I'm not planning a sculpture like this... :)
Too bad...it would be a riot!

Ivar_L

03-26-2005, 05:18 PM

...but it gave me a funny idea for a Hellboy picture... ;)
I will try to draw a little next week. If I finish something and it's good enough, I will post it.

Ivar_L

03-27-2005, 05:12 PM

Here's the Sun:
http://img203.exs.cx/img203/681/hellboysculptivarbase04sun37gc.jpg

citymadeofash

03-28-2005, 07:05 AM

Here's the Sun....
That looks incredible! I love how the starry shape surrounding the sun blends into the brickwork yet the face remains clearly defined. You did an excellent job adapting your clay sun face to look like the face seen in the comics.

AWESOME!

Ivar_L

03-29-2005, 02:36 PM

It's not awesome...
:)
But it looks better in real life, smaller and somehow not so dominating.
Here is the Moon's side I finished today:
http://img72.exs.cx/img72/4400/hellboysculptivarbase05moon5yq.jpg
I made a new BPRD logo for the front. Still don't know what to do with the Hellboy logo (the stone texture will almost cover it) but I'll think something.

Maija

03-29-2005, 02:44 PM

I'm amazed at the precise detail you create. This is a very sharp piece.

Gene Poonyo

03-30-2005, 04:55 AM

This thread is awesome! You guys are doing a great job. I am truly floored!

citymadeofash

03-30-2005, 07:18 AM

It's not awesome... you speak lies! It is truly awesomely amazing!!!!!!!! :D

JohnThompson

03-30-2005, 09:13 AM

It's not awesome...
you speak lies! It is truly awesomely amazing!!!!!!!! :D
You're both wrong. It's fantastalicious-ly dizzle-riffic!

Johann

03-31-2005, 03:38 PM

I love the moon, great job. What no progress shots?!

Ivar_L

04-01-2005, 03:54 PM

Even if it was irony, here's the progress picture:
http://img213.exs.cx/img213/3066/hellboysculptivarbase05moon34p.jpg
:)
Maybe tomorrow something new...

citymadeofash

04-01-2005, 08:45 PM

question for you Ivar: I've noticed with your moon and sun that you work on them independantly of the main bust and then attach them later when you're finished getting the look you're going for.

(considering I've never used cernit), how easy is it to transfer/apply/attach the shape/design you've made to the larger piece without distorting it in the process?

DannyBoy7783

04-01-2005, 08:52 PM

I assumed that he baked it first and then attached it....am I right Ivar?

Ivar_L

04-02-2005, 04:05 AM

- (considering I've never used cernit), how easy is it to transfer/apply/attach the shape/design you've made to the larger piece without distorting it in the process?
- I assumed that he baked it first and then attached it....am I right Ivar?Yes, I made them separately and attached to the unbaked stone texture (or sun's rays) after baking.
I'm using piece of ceramic tile to roll Cernit or to take small pieces of it with my main tool. I sculpted the sun's face, moon and new BPRD logo on it and baked them on this tile. Cernit is quite flexible when right out of oven and hot, so I cut it loose from the tile with wide knife and there it is - detail with flat background, easy to attach to the sticky unbaked Cernit later.
I'll try to do new Hellboy logo the same way.
As the new stone texture for the front will cover the original logos I made as the first thing, I'm forced to sculpt new logos. I made new BPRD logo a little bit easier way then the original - I took a Cernit mold of it, using a little "talcum powder". So I got the copy of the original, tweaked it a little and will add it to the front when it's time to make the stones.

On the moon's progress picture, two phases on the right side are baked.

Ivar_L

04-03-2005, 04:32 PM

I made new logos for the front:
http://img64.exs.cx/img64/9756/hellboysculptivarbase06logos2n.jpg
BPRD logo is made from the Cernit mold I took from the original and then modified before and after baking.
Hellboy logo is differently made - I rolled some Cernit to the tile I use for sculpting. Then, using the logo print-out, cut the mirrored silhouette out of it. After the baking, I used exacto knife, old toothbrush and small screwdriver and carved the letters. It's a little bit too mechanical but sharper and more in proportion than the old one was.

Also, today (at last!) I sculpted the front side of the base. Now the top, something for the front and back and several minor repairs/corrections and I think it's ready.

http://img148.exs.cx/img148/2351/hellboysculptivarbase072yb.jpg

alz

04-04-2005, 10:16 AM

I've never been a huge fan of busts, but Holy Cow! Very Very cool work Ivar! When you going to make a mold, so I can barter one from ya???

;)

zefo

04-04-2005, 03:49 PM

its more beautiful then i ever imagined....

JohnThompson

04-04-2005, 04:15 PM

Ivar, now you're just showing off! The base is a work of art in itself.

Did you separate the bust from the base, or did the clay crack around the connection point of the two?

Ivar_L

04-04-2005, 04:55 PM

Don't know how to comment last messages...
:)
Didn't separate them, it's still in one piece. There was a crack where bust and the base connect after a couple of bakings, but it didn't run around the bust part. It looks like it looks at the moment because I just peeled off the top part of the base. I didn't like the texture and wanted to make a new top part anyway, the reason for it is not the cracking. I will replace it, the new one will be the same height as seen on the older photos. But when the old top was rectangular, the new one... how can I describe it... it will look something like this:
.. _______
/________\
I_________I

I'd like to add something to the backside of the base too. Maybe a scull, "carved" the same way as the sun's rays?... Also, I'm trying to add something to the front. Won't tell what... ;)
Then I'll try to make Hellboy logo a little rougher and to fix some not-enough-square details. And then there are a couple of things on Hellboy itself - for example, the pigtail is out of center. Why and how, I have no idea...

Of course, when I try something like this in the future, then I will sculpt the base and bust separately and connect them when both are ready. Saves the poor little bust from too many bakings...

DannyBoy7783

04-04-2005, 06:55 PM

Anyway notice how he keeps avoiding the topic of making casts? :)

Tad

04-04-2005, 10:20 PM

Just my opinion but I think the base works much better with the bust without the cap piece. Without it, it feels like more of a whole.

Jakob Westman

04-05-2005, 05:20 AM

I might look nice and Mignola-ish with some leaves and/or vines wrapped around the base.

/ Jakob

Ivar_L

04-05-2005, 05:45 AM

Tad wrote:
Just my opinion but I think the base works much better with the bust without the cap piece. Without it, it feels like more of a whole.I think I know what you mean, I'll try to keep the top part minimal (not very wide).

Jakob wrote:
It might look nice and Mignola-ish with some leaves and/or vines wrapped around the base.Damn!
:)

By the way, it looks like I will get silicon from Sweden, just got an e-mail...

citymadeofash

04-05-2005, 07:12 AM

By the way, it looks like I will get silicon from Sweden, just got an e-mail...
Anyway notice how he keeps avoiding the topic of making casts? :)
:D Yay! Casts!!!!!!!

Jakob Westman

04-05-2005, 07:17 AM

By the way, it looks like I will get silicon from Sweden, just got an e-mail...
Sweet. Best of luck with that.

/ Jakob

citymadeofash

04-06-2005, 07:52 PM

take a look at this (http://www.shiflettbrothers.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=359)

Pretty good start at a full body Hellboy sculpture someone is working on.

Ivar_L

04-07-2005, 03:38 AM

Nice one.

And I found this (http://www.shiflettbrothers.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=113):

citymadeofash

04-07-2005, 07:13 AM

Nice one.

And I found this (http://www.shiflettbrothers.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=113):
wow! thats awesome :D

I really like the action pose thats going on in that model

Maija

04-07-2005, 09:49 AM

citymadeofash

04-07-2005, 03:30 PM

Technically, that's amazing!

But from a strictly taste stand-point, I really don't care for it. Why the hideous tumour-like muscles, WHY? I don't like muscles like that in drawn art either. They're repellent and impractical and look silly. I just picture Hellboy flexing and posing and then a creature of the night flies past him, he gives chase and falls over dead from steroid-induced cardiac arrest five steps later. Or the thing lands on his head but he can't bend his arms enough to get at it.

But technically, it's very well executed. Just not my taste. :p
As for the over exaggeration of the musculature, I may be inclined to agree with you regarding the arm muscles, but if you really look at Hellboy when he's got his shirt off he's pretty buff. Granted, Mignola doesnt draw alot of muscle lines, but were HB to be real, I'd say that the chest and the back are probably a pretty dead on depiction.

He's buff and is nearly all muscle. Nearly indestructable, and tall as a georgia pine. The man's built like a brick shithouse to be blunt... I wouldnt be surprised if thats what his physique was really like (think of the HB movie... he's very built, and I dont think they went too overboard there). Anyhow, I agree, maybe the arms are a tade extreme, but all in all I think its a great piece! :)

Neil Hill

04-09-2005, 09:29 AM

Ruta, I tend to agree with you, although I personally wouldn't call the musculature "tumorous". Technically speaking, the muscles are, for the better part, very correct and in the right places. The problem is that they are almost overdone and defined almost too well. It's like seeing a picture of Arnold Schwarzenegger from his Mr. Universe days with horns and a tail glued on. I don't necessarily associate Hellboy with being totally ripped, even though Mike does draw him very fairly "pumped up" during the better part of the action sequences in the comic. The difference between how Mike draws Hellboy and the sculpture someone so graciously linked, is that the sculpt goes over the top in trying to get every little striation and muscle placement perfected, and forgets (as do many artists in all mediums) that Hellboy is a stylized creation with light and shadow as the medium of sculpture on the printed page. Mike can play with shadows to achieve certain shapes, hide entire muscle groups altogether with black ink and your mind fills in the blanks. When a scuplturer has to go in and render that in 3 dimensions, they literally can't hide a thing. Kind of like with the HB movie- certain licenses needed to be taken so that the character looked correct walking around in our world (ie- ditching the little spandex pants that Hellboy wears and hiding his upper physique behind a black shirt and jacket most of the time).

People don't always care to see a hyper-muscled version of the Hellboy character. At least for my part, I would rather see him hopping around and bashing monsters, with the muscles perhaps softened a bit and hidden behind HB's sheer bulk more as an overall shape. For a perfect example of the best way to render HB as a scuplture, I will always refer back to Bowen's HB statue (with the tentacles) from about 5 years ago. Seeing as though Mike was personally involved with that one, I'm sure that's why it comes so close to the asthetic that I'm trying my darndest to describe. :)

gardenvariety

04-09-2005, 10:46 AM

It's like seeing a picture of Arnold Schwarzenegger from his Mr. Universe days with horns and a tail glued on.
Funny, that's exactly what crossed my mind when I saw it. Still, must admit it's a beautiful piece.

Ivar_L

04-11-2005, 04:49 AM

A little update:

http://img238.echo.cx/img238/9387/hellboysculptivarbase08scull5l.jpg

And another:

http://img238.echo.cx/img238/2636/hellboysculptivarbase097qh.jpg

There will be another rotating gif when it's ready.

Basically, all the big forms are there. Now I need to add/fix several minor details, like Hellboy logo, little moon on the Sun's face, Moon's border's thickness and some Hellboy's symmetry problems.
There is something strange with this top part of the base and I don't know what. In any case, the texture is much-much better. I also got a new addition to my favourite tools when sculpting it - toothbrush. When used here and there it gives nice random stone-like texture to the clay.

I'd like it to be ready, I'm pretty worn out by it...

DannyBoy7783

04-11-2005, 06:22 AM

I want one and my patience is growing thin Ivar :)

citymadeofash

04-11-2005, 07:39 AM

I want one and my patience is growing thin Ivar :)
better send him your postage in preparation ;)

Tad

04-11-2005, 08:04 AM

Looks grand. Remember, human - and demon- faces are not symmetrical.

Ivar_L

04-11-2005, 08:31 AM

DannyBoy7783 wrote:
I want one and my patience is growing thin Ivar Mine too, if it makes you feel any better...
:)

Tad wrote:
Looks grand. Remember, human - and demon- faces are not symmetrical. Yes, I'm not trying to tinker the face. The main two problems with Hellboy itself are that the pigtail (right word?) is out of center, also, I need to make those cut-out surfaces of the bust symmetrical - one elbow is slightly wider at the moment.

petriacce

04-11-2005, 10:21 AM

Your dedication to detail has resulted in a wonderful bust. I am most impressed with the base detail. I love how you bring the brick detail out through the various icons. The base is its own piece of art and could stand alone. It is by far the best base I have ever seen for a bust. Great job Ivar.

Mikolaj

04-11-2005, 11:13 AM

In my humble opinion- this is the best HB bust ever made... :) I don't really know why but I guess I never liked busts very much- but this one? Hell! I think it's time to convince Polish goverment to invade Estonia!! ;)

Ivar_L

04-11-2005, 11:40 AM

Khan_Doalyn wrote:
I think it's time to convince Polish goverment to invade Estonia!! Er... I really don't think Brussels will like this...
:)

Thanks to all of you! Makes me feel very strange... I really think there are many good busts and sculptures out there. But, yes, there isn't any Hellboy sculptures I'd desperately like to have.

I practically don't have any busts/sculptures/figures except Mezco's Hellboy/Abe/Sammael and one Death mini sculpture from some years ago, maybe from 1997 (plus some small anime figures). Don't like this Death's anatomy, but some sculptures I've seen in the net look very good. I really don't quite understand, how it's possible to get such details... So, I don't think too much of my own sculpture. But anyway, I'd like to make some more.

Still don't have silicon, looks like I need to send another e-mail...

Johann

04-12-2005, 03:49 PM

...it's....so....beautiful....
-i'm gonna cry.

kid cthulhu

04-12-2005, 06:38 PM

Wow, this is great!

I just spent the last half hour looking for advice on what kinds of clay to use, baking times/temps, etc. It was right here the whole time!

I love this board...

Anyway, I'll post some pics in the next couple of weeks or so (I hope!)

kid cthulhu

04-12-2005, 06:40 PM

Whoa!

Wrote that last piece before looking at you bust Ivar.

Beautiful!

Ivar_L

04-14-2005, 05:36 PM

Thanks, Johann and kid cthulhu!

I'm working on it. For example, fixed/created some seams between the stones. Favourite tool of the day is the smallest skrewdriver I have, very handy. Helps to fix the HB's eyeballs too. Tomorrow will try to fix shoulders and pigtail - removed lots of clay to make shoulders the same size. Looks good. It's pretty heavy I must say for it's 20.5 cm... And it's actually pretty good feeling to hold it in hand, to rotate and to look...
:)

And now, to put it all into a perspective -

here is something I just found -

thread with utterly impressive and massive pictures (http://www.shiflettbrothers.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=367)

Was thinking about something similar involving HB, but now...
:confused:

kid cthulhu

04-16-2005, 01:07 AM

Thanks, Ivar.

Love that forum!

jnapper

04-17-2005, 11:13 AM

A little update:

http://img238.echo.cx/img238/9387/hellboysculptivarbase08scull5l.jpg

And another:

http://img238.echo.cx/img238/2636/hellboysculptivarbase097qh.jpg

There will be another rotating gif when it's ready.

Ivar, I can't remember if you mentioned if you wanted to paint it or not, but I sorta hope you don't. I was mentioning this to Alz-- I like the marble-sculpture feel/look your piece has unpainted.

But then again, you might paint it and it'll look awesome too! I just wanted to say I really dig the current look it has.

Tad

04-17-2005, 03:40 PM

Or........ he could paint it like marble! :D

Ivar_L

04-17-2005, 05:46 PM

Tad wrote:
Or........ he could paint it like marble! I was thinking about it, btw...

Yes, I will try to paint it, but not the original. That's the next step after the (still hypothetical) mold making experience... This will be my first try to paint a sculpture. I don't like the totally red Hellboy, so I'm thinking about painting it to very dark brown or something. And then to dry brush him with red... I think the stones will also look good when colored the same way.

I like the white version too. White C