SBS: Puss in Boots' Today

by Daniele "Found" Trovato

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Hey there!

This is Daniele :-) First of all, I apologize if I don't write on the blog as much as I'd like, but I'm pretty short on time, and there are plenty of sculptures to sculpt! :-)





I'm excited to share with you the story behind my latest creation: the Detective Cat in a NOIR style from the '20s and '30s!

It all started with my deep love for the Puss in Boots sculpture I made at the beginning of 2023. 

The first one had this 18th-century vibe, chilling on an old armchair with those iconic boots. It got such a fantastic response that many folks asked me to make more sculptures in a similar theme.

This got me thinking: if Puss in Boots were a character in today's world, what would he wear?

So I wanted to create the exact same character. So the same attitude, the same face.


I pictured him as an undercover detective, somewhere between James Bond and Mission Impossible. ahahahahhaha

The inspiration for this new creation struck me while rewatching Martin Scorsese's "The Untouchables."

Before I dive into the creation process, let me emphasize the importance of references in art.




Picasso said, 

"Good artists copy, great artists steal."

But I believe there's another quote that perfectly fits art:

"Nothing is created, nothing is destroyed, but everything transforms."

In 2023, art is all about evolving thoughts and continuous transformation.

Now, let's talk about how I brought this sculpture to life.

I used a simple cork as a base, and I inserted pieces of steel wire.

Normally, I don't use steel because molding it into a shape can be tricky (especially if I need to cut some parts), but for this project, I wanted something straightforward, something anyone could paint without much hassle.

Next, I covered the structure with Super Sculpey Original (that pink modeling clay).

When you're creating the initial masses in a sculpture, "block-out" is crucial, and speed is your best friend in any art form.

That's why I adore water-based clay—it's incredibly soft initially, and as the water evaporates, it takes on a different consistency.

After laying down the first layer, I baked the sculpture in the oven for about an hour at 120°C (250°F). 

I highly recommend using a good-quality internal thermometer to monitor the Fimo's temperature during baking. .

I used one from Steadler, but you can find plenty on Amazon. 

My suggestion is: never fully trust your oven's temperature setting.

Then, I added the first masses to shape the cat.

My mix has stayed consistent over the years: 

My recipe: 50% Fimo Professional, 30% Super Sculpey Medium, 10% Beesputty, and 10% Mix Quick Steadler.

Remember my rule:

Less sticky --> less Beesputty and less Mix Quick --> More hardness --> more details

More sticky -> more Beesputty and more Mix Quick --> less hardness --> perfect for first masses

To prevent the material from sticking to the table while working, I always place a sheet of paper underneath.

For smoothing the surface, I use either turpentine or white spirit.

Finally, I baked the sculpture again using the same instructions as above. 

I hope you enjoy the final result as much as I enjoyed creating it.

Thanks for joining me on this artistic adventure.

Daniele

Please consider to follow me on my site https://www.foundminiatures.com/

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