[Phileasfogg]

Another further progress picture on my site now. http://www.geocities.com/philirvinguk

[gArGOyLe^]

cool.. that very detailed

[Phileasfogg]

quote:

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Originally posted by thenetbox:
cool.. that very detailed

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Thanks, I'm glad you like it so far. I would like to be more detailed with it but the finest tool i use presently is a 1 mm watch screwdriver which is fine on the blade side but its too damn wide for what i want now. I need to get my hands on some dentists tools or somethin methinks. I will keep posting pictures as i go for anyone that is interested.

[Phileasfogg]

I've done about twenty mins work so far on this, it's about an inch high and will be the head for an entire figure from a sketch i did the other day. There are three pictures on my website now. I thought i would post pictures in progress as i go. http://www.geocities.com/philirvinguk/
They are the three pictures at the bottom.
This model is the first of about six 3d concepts for a computer game idea I'm working on the concept for. It's much quicker and more effective personally, to mock them up in clay in a matter of day's than for me to spend weeks making it in Max and not being half so effective. Any comments or crits you may have would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou for your time.

[ February 17, 2002: Message edited by: Phileasfogg ]

[Phileasfogg]

Further progress piccies are there now just follow the links by clicking on the thumbnails.
C&c is welcome & appreciated. Please tell me if you're having trouble with my site or the images if they're to big or anythin.

[Phileasfogg]

Last update of the day, one new pic.

[Phileasfogg]

Re: some advice from a previous post. I've now split up my web page into seperate pages for specific work this one is on the first page being my most current piece. No new piccies as yet but for anyone that went to have a look but got frustrated by my cluttered site its a touch more legible now.

[Phileasfogg]

Signed up with auctionwatch so i can post images here instead of people having to visit my web page :-) Hope fully should work

[ January 30, 2002: Message edited by: Phileasfogg ]

[ January 30, 2002: Message edited by: Phileasfogg ]

[ January 30, 2002: Message edited by: Phileasfogg ]

[arkoh]

wooow... thats pretty impressive!!! The detialing is, well how should I put it... VEEEERY detailed!!!!

How in heavens name are you able to get that level of detailing in a lumb of clay that size??? I'm impressed!!!

Well the character itself... hmmm difficult. Well I like him, no doubt about that! I like the huge jaw, and the withdrawn eyes! The nose, the pointy cheekbones and the nostrils are awesome as well. I've gotta hand it too'ya, he's got serious charisma! He looks very animallike, without it takin over to much!!!

Please keep us updated on the progress!!! Including the rest of the body and the Max modelling/rendering!!!

[ January 30, 2002: Message edited by: arkoh ]

[Phileasfogg]

Glad you like the look of the character, the detail is done scale by scale using a 1mm watch screwdriver i would like to have been more detailed but the sculpture is so small the screw driver is too wide to retain the reasonalby clean finish I've achieved. The concept sculpture is only meant as a visual for the character so I'm not too worried about it. I will indeed keepposting images as i go. I've constructed the wire armature for the body however I'm still playing with the porportions. I need to restock with clay too. Haven't had a chance since the weekend to do much more on it as yet with work and sorting out my website etc etc. More photos should follow soon.

[arkoh]

HANG ON man....

quote

Quote:

i would like to have been more detailed

...are you seriously trying to tell me, that you first of all, would like the LIIIIITLE clayfigure to be MORE detailed than the level you have allready achieved??...

quote

Quote:

The concept sculpture is only meant as a visual for the character so I'm not too worried about it

... and second, that you don't worry to much about it?

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDIN ME!!!!

If I ever would have the patience and persistence to achieve any kind of detailing in the work I do, like the one you are showing here, I would be the happiest man on the planet!!!

[Phileasfogg]

Its almost theraputic doing natural details like that, the full figure concept sculpture i posted i found much more difficulty trying to retain a cartoon like curve everywhere so barren & devoid of detail it was a fight to keep it as smooth as i got it. The problem with the tool I have is that it is only as fine as i'd like in one direction. What i need is a needle like tool like a dentists scribe or whatever , i wanted to put details on the eyelids and maybe put some iris/pupil detail on the eyeball's but the tool is too wide to get a clean clearance in the eyesockets without roughing the clay up much more than I'd like.Don't get me wrong I'm pleased with it but as a finished polished piece I oculd do better but as i was sayiong this is effectively a visual rather than a final piece. Thankyou for the kind comments though. I attached the head to the wire armature I've constructed today not sure whether i should post a photo or not till I've had a chance to add more clay. Will keep you posted.

[ January 30, 2002: Message edited by: Phileasfogg ]

[Wolfgang]

Hello Phil...,

I like your work a lot.

One Question: What type of clay are you using? Is this some kind of plastic or the same kind of clay that is used for pottery or stuff like that (Sorry for my bad english).

About your need for a finer tool...

Have you ever tried a fine needle for etchings ('Radiernadel' in german)?
Those are easier to get than dentist tools (art supplies etc.) Here in Germany you pay about 5 EUR for cheap ones. They are quite comfortable to use, in my opinion. Just an idea you know.

Impressive work!

[Phileasfogg]

Hello wolfgang,
Glad my work appeals. I use fimo classic its not super sculpey ( i had not heard of this stuff until a few days ago) but its made by the same company. That sounds like a viable tool I'll check it out cheers although the local art shop isn't the best stocked in the world ( shocking considering its proximity to a college and university). I'm going to get more clay tomorrow for this and another very large piece I'm working on, will post piccies when applicable.

[Timbone]

quote

Quote:

I use fimo classic its not super sculpey ( i had not heard of this stuff until a few days ago) but its made by the same company.

Hi Phil!

I just wanted to say that it's your work that finally brought me out from lurking here and into the light. I am a sculptor as well (though I wonder if I can call myself that now having seen a real sculptor such as yourself at work), working for Disney. I thought I would give a little info where I could, seeing as how you are another sculptor in need!

So here's what I'm getting at: Try this link http://www.perfect-touch.com This is a small sculpting tool manufacturer that makes very small tools that i think you will find use for. I have several myself, and they are top quality and good for the money. for someone that works as small in scale as you do I know you'll find them invaluable -and you can put up your tiny screwdriver for a while!

Another little note - Fimo and Sculpey aren't made by the same company! Not near as I know, anyway.

and finally: could you do me a favor? I would like to see a scan of the wrapper or something for the Fimo you use, as I would very much like to look into getting some if I can find it in the States. Do you have to prepare Fimo in some way to make it useable? i have heard that it can be very dry when working with it. Do you use any water or solvent or alcohol to smooth it out in any way? Sorry to dump all these questions on you, but I thought I would ask another professional while I have their attention.

And BRILLIANT work, by the way. As I said, you drew me out from lurking here, so if that's any indication of what I think of your work...

[ January 31, 2002: Message edited by: Timbone ]

[Marakaz Buzjuz]

..... wow... just wow..
when this piece is finished, you said you where gonna model in 3d software?
Then what are you gonna do with it? are you making this for some computer game? or a movie?

[KenMasters]

nice model dude..
ive never sculpted before..
looks like im going down the road in my lunch brake to pick up some clay..
i made a couple of calls and here in Sydney
theres Fimo, Dass, and Sculpey..
Dass is not as good as Fimo and Sculpey..
im opting for Sculpey...

[Phileasfogg]

Timbone - Wow!!! thats quite a lot of praise from someone who does this sort of thing for a living I'm rather taken aback. My sculpting is completely self taught i trained as a wildlife illustrator at university and have been doing in game graphics for compuiter games for over four years or something now (prefer not to know exact length of time as it will just depress me)my sculpting like a lot of my art i just make up as i go along.Thankyou very much for the site link thats just what i need :-) Had a rather fruitless search yesterday for the kind of tool i wanted (stocked up on more clay though so you should see more progress on the scaley fella this weekend methinks.)
Perhaps people are talking about something else then i browsed an online artshop over here and they had something called sculpey listed as well as fimo classic and soft in the fimo section it must be soemthin else.

The fimo is fine to work with i use nothing with the clay execpt my hands and sculpting tools. For the initial shapes i work the fimo in my hads(best if the room is warm) until its very soft and make the basic shapes & structure i want with my fingers. With regards to putting in the detailling that can be done warm or cold is the detail is very small sometimes i need to smooth out cracks that appear if its too cold but its fine for the most part.I'd like to do this professionally I'd certainly prefer it to doing computer game graphics. It's just the small matter of proving to myself i can do it, being up to the standard and getting a reasonable & recent portfolio together.

Marakaz Buzjuz - Yeah when this is modelled i will do a digital model in 3DSMAX in splines the quickest way of modelling on this slow as shit program. It's the closest I've come to to reasonable results in digital sculpting and being comparable to having the control you do in clay (nowhere near as quick or satisfying though).
I'll be doing textures for the ingame model(s)(theres gonna be another five) as thats what it is, a presentation of a game concept me and a buddy at work are putting together in our spare time.
KenMasters- I use Das pronto for blocking out big pieces it sucks for finish and detail but its cheap. Then i skin it using the fimo.I've not used sculpey before soem people have spoken to me about sculpey saying that it doesn't shrink as much as fimo but i've never noticed fimo shrinking on my models although there are two types soft & classic(the one i use) so perhap's the other is the one that shrink's. Feel free to ask any other questions or pass crits comments thankyou for your time.


[ February 01, 2002: Message edited by: Phileasfogg ]

[Ian Jones]

Really cool sculpting! great forms on the face, the detail is a little overpowering but still bearable. It would be nice if you could leave a few bare patches and smoother bits with a broken up scale pattern. great nose and cheek bone! so cool!

[Phileasfogg]

Hi Ian i know what you mean about the scales I'm pleased with the natural effect but I made a decision early on with the design that they would fade out down his neck spine and sternum.They will appear in places over the rest of his body but just in patches as you say if they are all over it would be two overpowering and would almost hide the main character's form and character sort of like The Thing. I have quite a few in progress photos as i was doing the face these do look cool in polaces where i had done the scles in patches to begin with. Once i've got the body whacked in i will be trying one or tow thinkgs out like fading the scale to patches around his body and face it all depend upon how he looks once hes a more complete form he's looking pretty cool attached to the full body armature with some of the tordo blocked out (was too cold in the office last night to get the clay going).Will post piccies once hes a bit further along for any and all that are interested.

[ February 01, 2002: Message edited by: Phileasfogg ]

[Phileasfogg]

A few progress photos, sorry for the delay i quickly piled on clay to the wire armature once I'd attached the head and ran out of clay twice. I've since found a decent mailorder artstore from which i can order in bulk :-)(work-type work also got in the way, scary current schedule ).
I wanted to take some pictures with just the head on the wire armature but was a little too eager to get it done and did not have my digital camera at work at the time. The body is very quickly done and in no way permanent I'm just playing around with size presently and spendoing more time trying to warm up the clay and softening it than working it ( cold offices). Still just thought I'd update you with a few more for your perusal anyway.
Just to recap he/ it is an example for the design document of this game of the scale of the biggest character you could construct yourself. This also the biggest preset character you could come choose when you first load the game. The character should stand at around eight feet in height.





Any crits comments most welcome, the pose isn't final nor is the clay by any means oh and the lump on his back is a hastily applied lump for a ridge or scales that will run down his spine and fade out. I will update again soon.

[Man With No Name]

Damn, that looks like fun!
I havn't sculpted since my college days, I think I still have a good armature guideline around here somewhere....

I love the way his pecks overwhelm his upper body, it's just plain cool, kind of reminds me of Whilce Portacio's take on the Incredible Hulk back during those crappy "heroes reborn" titles that marvel put out...

The little guy that keeps showing up in the background is pretty cool too. I never really ventured into the fantasy realm with my sculptures, mostly just from life or recreating paintings by masters. Damn... Now you have me itch'n to start up again..

Nice work, please keep posting the progress!

[SoMK]

excellent and highly interesting.. !!

At first, working fullscale with Fimo is something I will NEVER do, I admire you but as we say, everybody has to find the material he's happy with... :P
I personnally find Fimo way too "plastic" and it only comes to the toughness I like once baked.. :/ Not for me...

Now that you know it exists, you should definitely try sculpey way less expensive too , bakable (like 15 mns per 1/4 in.), capable of producing thiiiiin shapes like blades...

Milliput too is a must. I'm a Milliput lover meself but that's epoxy resin hence highly toxic.. We should use gloves while mixing the 2 component, I never do that, I'll die with a "hand cancer"... too bad.

If the head is one inch.. so the whole fig must be around 8 in. or something ? Big piece !

My main interest will be how you'll deal with the hands.. will you sculpt them from a basic round shape ? that's what I do with figs from 25mm up to 70mm... but for bigger scale I prefer to carve them on the side, from a flattened ball of putty...

Anyway, excellent job, Keep the picts coming ! (and if you've got spare time, please post on FigNuts too ! *nudgenudgewinkwink*)

[ February 18, 2002: Message edited by: SoMK ]

[Phileasfogg]

A little further progress