Sketching

Sketching is an exercise that not many sculptors do. Every painter and illustrator will sketch in their sketchbooks constantly for fun, trying to work out ideas or concepts, or use it as a learning tool to draw from life.

Now when a sculptor starts a new piece he or she will sometimes jump in or do some sketches on paper, but not many try to figure it out in the round and even fewer use sculpting as a exercise that we can scrap just like a piece of paper. Everyone has this idea that when you start sculpting a piece that you have to work it and finish it like a masterpiece, but i don't believe in this. I think it is very important to work on smaller pieces for the sake of an exercise and know from the beginning it is just a sketch. You should be able to get to a satisfied point of the sculpt and have no problem completely changing the piece or tossing it all together because the knowledge you gained is more important.

What i do is i try to do a warm-up sculpt everyday before i start working on projects, this helps to get me energized and excited and also frees me up to open my mind and work my imagination. I set aside approximately 30 min - 1 hr to do this so that i have time to create something interesting, but dont spend too much time working too much into a piece that i might not like. Its also great to do specific exercises like forcing yourself to work on a piece for 3 hrs or working on likeness, portraits, anatomy etc. When i did the 3hr exercise i started off with a concept i wasn't crazy about and forcing myself to keep at it made me really figure out why i didn't like it and fix it.

Here are some examples of my warm-ups

First two are base forms of a male - female - and child and their different proportions

Next are some of the portraits i did trying to achieve a likeness

and here are some original pieces i did

 

also try out doing expressions, transformations, and this is great for concept maquettes for larger pieces

Hope this helps and inspires,

Thanks for reading

Working with water clay

I just posted a quick video on working with water clay. Whenever i tell people that i do all my sculpts in water clay they always tell me about their issues and problems with it drying out on them too fast. So here are a few tips to help other sculptors out there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD-zfyWY2Kk&list=UUMZVBrBVskn77xIp5LJWJQw&index=1&feature=plcp

Gillman project

Gillman nearly completed, He is foam filled latex, hand painted, w/ resin teeth and a custom base.

Here are two pieces i worked on this week, both are quick concepts and i used as a warm-up.

I recently discovered two artists that i found online that have amazing work, both are sculptors and have a strong style that i was attracted to and decided to learn more about what interested me.

Both sculptures i did a base structure portrait of singer/actress Kelly Chen.

First artist i wanted to learn some techniques from is Jiro. He has a very interesting and original style with a very organic and some stylized pieces. I was drawn to his mechanic geisha style makeups and used it for reference to learn from his style.

Second artist i looked towards is Seb Zar. He has some amazing portrait work that is very expressionistic and stylized. I like the texture he has, but i wanted a more realistic piece and used his art as reference to learn a more stylized and expressive approach.

Check out the links i posted and always keep an eye out for new inspirations. Thanks for looking.

Inspiration and reference

Now that we have established that we must be inspired by our own work, I must include that is also very important to be inspired by your favorite artists and everything else around you. The artists and styles you enjoy and appreciate are what got you interested and will help you to improve. Sometimes doing studies or just learning from your favorite artists will help you learn their techniques and style which you can adapt in your own way. Same goes with nature and the world around us. If making a new original creature or monster, take a look at the creatures that live on this planet, insects, reptiles, and sea life especially carry an enormous amount of weird and strange creatures, very odd and alien.

When I use reference, I use if for inspiration more than duplication. It is very important to make the work your own and not just a copy. Trying to reproduce a masterwork has its benefits, but I much prefer to take pieces and ideas to learn what they are thinking and doing rather than the end product. Creature designer Carlos Huante said that when he is creating a creature he will study different kinds of animals and creatures and then when he creates he pulls all that info from his mind rather than copying.

I will be doing a couple warm-ups in a style inspired by some artists I have recently discovered and been inspired by. Pictures will be posted next post. Hope this blog helps out and inspires you to try new things and push yourself further outside the box.

Personal inspiration

Inspiration is important for any artist and will encourage and motivate us to create our best new works. Although looking towards your favorite artists or beautiful creations from nature are essential, I believe it is important to be just as motivated from your own artwork. Look at your own art and get inspired to stay with it and strive for better. Looking towards other artists will always leave that doubt in your mind saying to yourself that they are more talented or have more years of work under their belt. When you look at your own piece these doubts don’t exist, the inspiration is something that you created and will motivate you in a positive way. Delete the “I can’t do that” term form your mind.

We are also doing our art because we enjoy and love doing it, you should get inspired and excited as the piece starts taking shape.

Stay positive and keep creating.

back on schedule

Trying to get back into a schedule and update regularly. 


I will have new posts up every Mon. - Wed.  - and Fri. ranging more than just my work and progress, but rather more in depth with some how-to pieces and my inspirations. 


I have a few ideas and stories coming up so stay tuned.

Here is the block in for my next project. The gillman from the monster squad has been one of my favorite monsters since i was a child.

Here is my new mini bust i have been working on. This is my first time working with casting in silicone.

Here is a new custom paint up of my ninja turtle piece. I was going for a classic comic book style look back when they first came out and were more hardcore.

Gremlin mask finished

Here is my newest display mask. A gremlin creature from an unknown origin. Here he is with a slight aquatic paint scheme.

Tokka completed

Here is the finished paint work on my tokka piece. Turned out to be a great piece to work on learned a lot with the painting on this guy.

Tokka - in progress

Working on new piece for a collector. Tokka from TMNT 2

Finished the paint work on spike. Finished his eyes and teeth as well as whitening up his skin.
Now just need to work out that hair.

Spike killer klown - paint started

Started the paint work on this guy, still need to finish his eyes and teeth.

New hybrid creature concept

Here is a new creature i sculpted last night. Trying to work on forms and character, going for a hybrid character incorporating reptillian pieces from lizards and gators. This is a 1/2 scale piece 2hr study

Sculpture personal class 02

Here are two more sculpts i did, both of these were done in 3 hrs with the same structure. The first one i was going for a experienced, warrior, repaired, robot.

Here is another idea i considered


This concept was a chinese dragon style, intelligent, sneaky, sly, warrior, with controlled anger

Sculpture personal class 01

Here is a new sculpt for 2012. This week i am trying to work on improving my sculpture so i have set up a personal class schedule for myself. I am trying to improve my originality and concepts as well as textures. I have been mostly self taught with watching videos and a couple specialized class sessions so i looked into what i want to improve and here is my idea. I am setting up to do a 3 hour sculpt and complete a character. This isn't for speed, but rather setting deadlines and allowing myself to figure out how long i have to complete each phase. For this piece i blocked it in for 30 min. then worked on refining the forms for the next hour and a half. Left the last hour for detailing him. I didn't get him finished, but i am happy with how far i got and the character. He is approx. 1/2 scale and i just went in with a basic idea of a hybrid creature. Tonight i will be doing another piece in the same manner and then reviewing the progress and improvement points.

Spike killer klown finished

Here is the finished sculpture for my new Spike killer klown mask. I have the mold finished and will be casting him soon.

New killer klown tribute piece

Here is a new sculpture in the works, Spike from killer klowns from outer space. He is going to be another latex display bust, so far i have blocked him in and i started refining the details.

Werewolf painting video

Just uploaded a mask painting video as well as a mold repairing video to my youtube monster class. Check them out here on my channel.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Alteregodezines?feature=mhum

Forbidden love wolf sculpt completed

I finished my werewolf sculpture for the forbidden love piece. Got the mold made over the weekend and will be casting one this week. Now i just need to finish the girl. I cant wait to see how this piece looks finished and together.