Book Advice Needed

[Squeakyclean]

Hi all

Although I'm happy enough with my head sculpts I can't help but feel that I'm approaching it incorrectly. I seem to be 'getting there' eventually but there must be a better way?

As some of you will know, I've just started a large 120mm dio with 7 scratch built figures so I really need some kind of face sculpting discipline rather than the 'pot luck' approach!

Can anybody recommend a decent book or even a DVD on head/face sculpting? Ideally I like to get something available in the UK if possible.

Also, are there any decent online tutorials out there?

Thanks in advance

Matt

 

[housecarl]

Give this a go Matt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiOgBwjFBJ0
Brilliant website by the way,
Carl.

 

[Squeakyclean]

Ooh that's a bit good in't it.

Thanks for that Carl.

Any more anyone?

Matt

 

[garyjd]

Matt, here are some books that you may find useful. Though the techniques are for sculpting large pieces they translate rather well to miniatures.

These titles are available on Amazon.co UK If you check the new/used copies available you may find a few deals that are well below retail.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Modelling-Likeness-Practical-Craft-Books/dp/0823030946/ref=pd_sim_b_14

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Modelling-Head-Practical-Craft-Books/dp/0823030997/ref=pd_sim_b_3

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Portrait-Cl...al-Understanding/dp/0823041026/ref=pd_sim_b_4

This is an excelllent book with some fantastic sbs type photos. The problem is the price. The book retails for around $50 (US) here in the states. I give it FIVE

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Portrait-Sc...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264085593&sr=1-1

Good luck in your search. ~Gary

 

[1969]

Matt i have a couple of head sculpting SBS`s in image form on my hard drive which are very good and give a start to finish approach to head sculpting, i had the same problem as yourself untill i started using these SBS`s.
I can mail them to you if you like, im sure i still have your e-mail adress, just PM me if interested mate.

Steve

 

[Squeakyclean]

Gary,
These look just the job, I'll check 'em out in detail later. Many thanks

Steve,
I've PM'd you...

 

[TWOMOONS]

Gary,
These look just the job, I'll check 'em out in detail later. Many thanks

Steve,
I've PM'd you...

This is precisely why this is a great website....you're never totally alone out there with any problems/questions you may have about your projects. There's always someone out there who will help you.
"Thanks for sharing" is usually said in sarcastic tones...but on this site, it's the real deal.

 

[Squeakyclean]

Well said!! I totally agree!

Matt

 

[Anders Heintz]

Here are some excellent videos of Alan Ball's approach to sculpting a head. The quality isnt the best but I filmed it with a digital camera. It will show you a good way to go about it though.

Part I
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-735639660471219955&hl=en#

Part II

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-735639660471219955&hl=en#docid=-506810432849215361

Part III

http://video.google.com/videoplay?d...05&ei=6HpYS7CmJJeuqQL63phQ&q=Alan+Ball&hl=en#

Part IV (Arm)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-735639660471219955&hl=en#docid=-4829670554659994292

 

[Pekka]

I have the Faraut book. Very helpful for face sculpting. It´s very good even if his style is very sugary and there´s tutorials of sculpting baby faces. Then again I have a plan to do a figure of a child soldier...
Pekka N.

 

[Einion]

Matt, are you more of a modeller (sculpting wet) or a carver, or a bit of both?

Although I'm happy enough with my head sculpts I can't help but feel that I'm approaching it incorrectly. I seem to be 'getting there' eventually but there must be a better way?

Maybe not! What works best for you might not be what another person is most comfortable with.

One thing you might like to try (adaptable to modelling or carving):
create a basic 'doll' head, with generic features and average proportions, just ensuring it has good symmetry - this is pretty easy to do for most of us, it's often the details we stumble on;
when cured create a simple press-mould of the face, back to around the ears and the full crown of the head or the underside of the jaw (you can't have both with a rigid mould);
when the mould is hard you can pull out multiple generic face casts that you can then develop character details on;
when the face has cured you then work on getting the skull shape right, add a wire for the spine and then build the neck up as necessary.

You'll still have to do each pair of ears from scratch but it saves a lot of the basic build-up time which makes it easier to concentrate on details like lip shape, the eyes, browline etc.

Even if you don't end up using this as a production method the ability to practice faces again and again with minimal effort is sure to pay dividends - you might be able to do 10 in the time it would otherwise take you to do only two or three.

Einion

 

[Einion]

More YouTube tutorials:
http://www.youtube.com/user/creagers1
http://www.youtube.com/user/hanano001

The Creager Studios ones are very good as they show the sculpting steps in great detail (with commentary) plus they don't pass over anything. Step 2 for example actually shows the development of the lips, which is completely skipped over in the first vid posted.

Einion

 

[TorMag]

Gary, is being really quite and modest.. You want something really good that will help you a lot, and it is free. Use the Advance Search funtions here. Limit your search to the sculpting form and search on "Sculpting 101 Step By Step" I will give you the first one, there are about 8 threads in this series...



http://www.planetfigure.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17076



Gary gives an SBS for the head and there is a separate one for the eyes and mouth…..

 

[denducky]

hi i did buy a dvd from mark alfrey " sculpting the human head"
i must say i was very pleased with it, good explanation from base the end result
a must for a sculpter, if you search on download site you will find it also
but i sent you a link to his dvd.
http://images.google.be/imgres?imgu...ark+alfrey%27s&hl=nl&rlz=1W1ADSA_nl&sa=N&um=1

gr duck

 

[Jeff]

I have the Faraut book. Very helpful for face sculpting. It´s very good even if his style is very sugary and there´s tutorials of sculpting baby faces. Then again I have a plan to do a figure of a child soldier...
Pekka N.

I just got the first book it is very good. Here is a link to his web site.

http://philippefaraut.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzBs3PM2W_4

I am also like these books they are some of the most instructive books I have and they are very old works by Edouard Lanteri but still hold up.

http://www.amazon.com/Modelling-Sculpting-Figure-Edouard-Lanteri/dp/0486250067

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/04..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1FMB4XH5NV8S9B0PW7E4

 

[Squeakyclean]

I'd just like to say a massive thanks to everyone for all your help with this! I'm absolutely 'bowled over' with the amount of information, links and advice.

And its not only the help; all the interest has rekindled my motivation!

Now I can't wait to start my next session!

So, again, many thanks to everyone that's taken time out to answer I'll get some progress shots up as soon as I can (need to decorate my daughters bedroom first )

Cheers

Matt

 

[darkeye]

here's a one i like; Sculpting Lifelike Figures in Polymer Clay. by Katherine Dewey


full of good hints, advice and a good introduction to the notion of proportion in the Human plus gender differences.


all the best --- tim.