bgcdazzler's first ever mini WIP (a confusion of cockups and learnings)

[bgcdazzler]

I appreciate your kind words, Digga. The skull definitely took longer to make sure I got it right - but well worth the time because this next stage went on really easy. It makes such a difference building on a skull vs a bit of tinfoil; you just immediately know the features are correctly spaced.

So here's tonight's fun, which should kinda give the game away.

1. Some basic shapes over the top of the skull. I got some different coloured Fimo so I would know where the skull is and where the new layer is: it looks ugly, but it was a big help.

2. Starting to add detail and shape, squishing those little sausages of Fimo into one cohesive layer...

3. Then the skin is pretty much finished. But why can you still see a bit of green poking through here and there?

4. Because he's a zombie, of course! A bit of a ravaged one, but still up and about, chasing after brains. The hole in his cheek was the hardest bit; the rest is just prodding and poking with a kebab skewer so he looks recognisable but still ruined.

The whole skin took about an hour. There's still lots to do of course, hair and eyes and tongue and neck etc... But still: it's a start!

 

[Digganob]

I gotta know, have you taken sculpting classes before? You have a very good sense of direction and anatomy. Anyways, I'm calling this guy Girgles, haha.

 

[bgcdazzler]

No, never sculpted before the last four months. I did an arty degree if it makes you feel any better, but that was in film production. And I've been a graphic designer, but never ventured much further than Photoshop.

My main job (and only real skill, to be honest) is in writing: copywriting and journalism. Certainly the only one I take halfway seriously, anyway...

 

[bgcdazzler]

Couldn't resist trying a bit of hair on him. Not baked yet though, because I'm not sure about the tongue...

 

[Digganob]

I'm just jealous of your speed lol. I'm all good. That's an awesome skill to have as well writing that is.

 

[SaintToad]

I'm a big yes to the tongue! I love it!
I might try to make the edges of torn skin a little more ragged (you can even keep the flesh underneath as is, but a super thin layer of skin I think would help separate the layers of exterior skin & exposed bone). I'd also really like a little cheek tissue left, with a big old hole in it, of course. Also, a bit of eyelid hanging loosely over the empty socket, please.
Don't take these suggestions as negative (don't take them at all if you don't want to!); I'm pretty sure I can just say what I think would look cool and you'll just figure out how to pull it off immediately. Dazzler, I cannot overstress how quickly you're improving. While I really liked the first two busts you did, this is a huge step up in terms of realism. You have a lot of avid fans on CMoN, and you can certainly count me among the most rabid. Keep up the GREAT work!

 

[bgcdazzler]

Gosh: you even used italics in your post, so you must be serious

I like your suggestions. I was thinking about him last night (well, that's not a weird sentence is it) and I'm going to need to make a few changes. His hair and mouth are currently uncastable as they stand, so if I want to make copies then he'll need to be a bit simpler. I also needs second pass on parts of the skin with a pin for finer details, and maybe plump up the 'good' side of the face more.

For or the eye I had the same problem as with Sprogrot - I don't really know what to do with it. I could

a) leave it empty save for a flap of eyelid skin

b) Put in a milky/damaged eyeball, like Sprogrot's

c) have the eyeball out, dangling on its bundle of nerves

i shall have a think today at work.

 

[Maenas]

Pretty amazing!! Everything looks right, I am just half ok with the "flufiness" of the hair.. shouldn't it be a little bit more lifeless?

And I would opt for option a, without anything else, just a scary and empty hole...

 

[bgcdazzler]

His hair is rather neat, isn't it? I was thinking of doing quite a dapper zombie - so ripped suit, tie, pocket square. I want to keep his hair (at least the 'good' side) relatively clean, but just have random sproutings on the bad. I can certainly muss it all up a bit though...

My only worry with the skin flap over the eye socket is whether it will cast or not. But that's probably overly presumptuous of me to worry about now.

 

[SaintToad]

​d) Maggots.

 

[bgcdazzler]

Ha! To get the scale right the maggots would need to be 0.2mm long... I'm not sure I can quite manage that.

 

[ArchArad]

The bouffant hairstyle is just not doing it for me. Unless you made him a zombie Elvis impersonator...

I vote for either fat juicy maggots in the eye socket or a "dead" eye.

I proudly consider myself a bgcdazzler groupie!

 

[bgcdazzler]

Well woe betide me should I disappoint my groupies...

that's two votes down on the hair, so that's gone. One up vote for the tongue so that stays. And no consensus on the eye socket, so I've worked up a bit of neck and ear while I wait for you all to decide for me.

It's good, this: I can just leave all the decision making to you all! Sculpting by committee...

 

[bgcdazzler]

Okay, so here's hair mk 2: more lank and stringy. I've also added some sinews in the cheek and head holes as per Saint's suggestion.

the hair isn't baked so do say if it's rubbish. I can soon peel it off again.

 

[ArchArad]

The hair is much better. But I must confess that I have no idea what is going on on the left side of his face - it may be the lighter Fimo making it difficult to see detail.

 

[Maenas]

I much prefer this hair too ^^
@Arch: I think the left side has a strap of loose skin almost at a side of the eye, and it shows muscle underneath?? not sure of this but I "read" it like if it was...

Sculpting on demand.... noway I do not want to feel responsible at all xD xD

Oh! I had just remembered that I made a couple of pics (thinking about you and saint Toad) of how moulds of a hand and a head may look like at madamme Tussaud's I will share them as soon as I find a moment, It may be of interest for those of you more into sculpting

 

[bgcdazzler]

@Arch, yes this was a bad colour choice unfortunately. I should have done the hair in the green so you could see it better. The damaged side does make sense in real life, thankfully!

Pics sound interesting, thanks Maenas.

 

[Digganob]

Before you sculpt 6 more busts I shall weigh in on the Zombie. I think I want to name him Reggie now. Anyways MAGGOTS MAGGOTS MAGGOTS! I know you don't want to do them but I shall be the voice of reason and push you to do them. I mean its what any self respecting, sane sculptor would do.

 

[bgcdazzler]

Gah! Maggots. I'm beginning to regret this whole 'democracy' thing. Alright, that's 3 votes (5 if you count Digga's 3 as separate), so I've given them a go.

First things first though: I have redone the hair in green so it's much easier to distinguish. I think it's better than hair v2 as well, because I could see what I was doing better. A useful tip - have different colours for different layers.

Also added an ear to the damaged side.

next up: maggots. Damn maggots.

 

[bgcdazzler]

Maggots

Okay, so after a few experiments and utter failures here's the maggots. Taking a lesson from the hair I decided to use a different colour - Sprogrot grey - so I could see 'em.

1. Roll out a thin, thin sausage:

2. Cut little lengths with a scalpel:

3. Drop them in the eye socket (too many here, I had to take a few out):

4. Position them then cut little body sections into each with the scalpel blade. And there we are: maggots!

I hope you're all very pleased with yourselves...