The Arab Merchant
"Good morning " :-)
"As-salam alaykom" in Arabic :-) :-)
This article is about the sculpting process of my last commission: Al-Bazar from Aradia Miniatures.
The concept is by Stefano Moroni, a talented artist that has already drawn most Character by Aradia Miniatures.
"Day" version by Mirko Cavalloni
The concept
As you can see, the concept is absolutely original.
Stefano can express his imagination and creativity with a bit of humour with his exaggerated proportions and quick sketching signs.
Aradia suggested Stefano to draw the Character deliberately rough.
This choice was made just to give to the sculptor more opportunity and possibility to put his own interpretation and customization into the sculpture.
And obviously I said thank for that :-)
When character is drawn from 3/4 angle, I suggest you to horizontal flip the images, just to have a global view of the character (be careful to not symmetrical features)
Every Sculpture Has Its Own Way
This sculpture has a special feature: Aradia wants to create a special choices for final customers, indeed this sculpture has 2 choices for feet (normal feet vs arabic trousers), two choices for the backpack (locker vs jar), and two choice for the headgear.
This looks Amazing: every painter could personalize his model by his own desire.
This changed my total approach for sculpting this model.
Here I use copper aluminium, real flexible metal.
Here I use copper aluminium, real flexible metal.
Normally I use the same feet as a support for the armature.
In this case I create a total different skeleton, in order to preserve the stability of the armature.
In this case I create a total different skeleton, in order to preserve the stability of the armature.
So I create a fake leg, in order to make the armature more firm.
I will cut that leg, after baking and polishing process. It needs me only while I sculpting.
I create the armature with 0.8mm iron wire.
For the base I use a little piece of Balsa Wood, stabilized with brass upholsterer buttons.
You can see my simple process to create the armature.
I put the wire throuth the balsa wood, then in a piece of cork
Than I create the fake leg, to give it more stability.
fixed all on cork base
First layer of Magic sculpt, only on head
fixed all on cork base
First layer of Magic sculpt, only on head
Usually I cover first layer with some Green Stuff. It's perfect for that purpose: sticky, elastic, and sufficiently firm (my top master Jacques Alexandre Gillois (JAG) do the same, but also Allan Carrasco and many other sculptors)
First masses.
The putty I'm using is Beesputty (50%) + FIMO Professional (50%) (Valentin Zak's Mix :-) )
Often I add some Mix-Quick Staedtler to make it more sticky.
This depends a lot by the external temperature: the more cold is your room.
The more firm will be your clay, so less sticky. (I live in Sicily, so cold actually doesn't exist :-) )
The more firm will be your clay, so less sticky. (I live in Sicily, so cold actually doesn't exist :-) )
Alternatively, you can add a little drops of Baby Oil, this works very well with Super Sculpey but not very well with FIMO.
Use cautiously.
As you can see, in this stage I work very rough
I prefer to put some masses on, then cut it with a good blade the excess clay
Started to work on face. This face wasn't simple to make it in 3D
I add little cape made with Magic Sculpt.
I decided to use MagicSculpt there because I'll use it as a support to put some things on
As you can see, the arms made with aluminium copper, real simple to cut (for mold purposes)
I fixed the left arm on the base, to have more stability.
I sculpt the ears by put a little wire inside the head and sculpting them with a little piece of clay.
I found some references on Google:
I created some stuff separately in Magic Sculpt.
I assembled all pieces (with a little hole on center of every one's and a little wire, did with Dremel 0.1 mm point).
I put the arabian pipe on left hand with a little drop of ciano-glue
To create micro texture on the nose I often use...
...transparent paper on surface.
This allows me to create texture without any scratch on surface using a sharp tool.
I covered the cloak made in Magic Sculpt with some Fresh Clay
(using a some drops of Fimo Liquid, to help me more sticky)
To create alternative hat, I covered the sculpture with transparent sheet, then put a piece of fresh Magic Sculpt in order to keep the shape of the head
Base of hat, some attempts
Little cabinet-pack first alternative. Full of some stuffs
He starts to have a sense :-)
Created the tube of the Arab Pipe with a sausage of Magic Sculpt
I carver first hat with a piece of Magic turned out with my Dremel and
I added some FIMO on it, then modelled it
For the turban I did the same way
Created some clay sausages then put on Magic sculpt turban (using FIMO liquid to attach it)
Then I modelled it
As you can see, Magic Sculpt is always visible
It seems fit very good :-)
Al-Bazar, The Arab Merchant
60mm
FIMO+Beesputty
Magic Sculpt
Concept by Stefano Moroni
Boxart by Mirko Cavalloni
Sculpted by Daniele "Found" Trovato
Released by Aradia Miniatures
 |
| "Day" version by Mirko Cavalloni |
"Night" version by Mirko Cavalloni
This miniature is available on Aradia Miniatures
_______________________________________________________________________
Do you like Massive Voodoo?
Could you support us?
If you like to support or say thanks the monkeys of Massive Voodoo in what they do, please feel invited to drop a jungle donation in their direction via paypal or check their miniatures they got on sale here.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Posts
