I had a sudden and undeniable urge to sculpt some hairy ponies. Hair has never been my thing and I have struggled with 2 dimension V's 3 dimension ...but I seem to have found my groove whilst sculpting Weathergirls tail. I was particularly pleased with my new customs feathery legs when using this method, so I thought I would share :) Step one is the armature. I cut a channel along Bluebell's crest, the exact same way as when I am doing braids (tutorial here ). Once this is done I run a wave or fin of apoxie along the groove, squished and pressing with my fingers. I want this completely random, but still following the general shape I want the mane or tail to end up. As you can see it is pretty awkward and ugly. I allow this to set completely. 3 Dimensional! Next step is the real hair. I am using Aves Apoxie Sculpt and Methylated spirits. Metho will thin Magic Sculpt as well, but gets crumbly after a certain point, whereas Apoxie Sculpt goes gooey. Th...
As a portrait artist, faces are my 'thing', I enjoy creating them more then any other part of the horse, and have usually finished the face in the very early stages. On this guy I am only re-sculpting the bottom half of his face, as the eyes he already has are fine, they will get eyelashes, but that is it. So let's begin :) First assemble all the players. Pony, Apoxie Sculpt, for face work like this I use the Aves safety solvent for smoothing (it stays wetter for longer then the metho, and does not make the clay sticky like water) a soft cheapo brush. My sculpting tools are an orange (cuticle) stick, a sanded and shaped wooden skewer and a toothpick. Pony is ready, his face is already roughed up from where I dremeled his features off. Following my reference photos, I add to his profile, giving him more forehead, continuing right down and including the squishy bit between his nostrils. Once I think I have it 'about' right, I use my finger in the solven...
A really long time! But I'm back sculpting and painting again, and that makes me terribly happy 😊 Last week saw my Arabian Mare Naahla finished. I was really pleased with her final result and her final photos. Naahla started life as a Weathergirl and was painted as a part of Jennifer Buxton's NaMoPaiMo, which was the best thing I have done in ages. All levels of artists from professionals to amateurs having a go, sharing highs and lows and getting a pony painted in the month of February This was my first year doing it, and I will definitely be back painting again next year, and I might even finish on time!
Gorgeous! I absolutely love her attitude- you really nailed the look with the tail swish and the forward walk and everything.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE her! Her attitude, her color and that name. It's very fitting. She is so gorgeous and very realistic. You did a superb job. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks guys :)
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