Karl XII of Sweden

[garyjd]

Here is an additional application of putty after baking. AVES putty bakes without any negative results. I pre-heat my oven to 250 degrees for about 5-10 minutes, turn it off, wait a few minutes and then place the piece in the oven for 5-7 minutes. After the piece cools it is easily sanded.

 

[garyjd]

Jason, Thanks buddy. AVES is great stuff that Joe Hudson introduced me to. I still use other putties, it's just another tool in the sculpting arsenal. This cuirass is a great practice run for a future piece, hint hint.~Gary

 

[garyjd]

Here's another view. I plan on doing a bit more with the hair using putty.

 

[Joe Hudson]

Gary,

Man does he look good and the hair is right on!!

JOe

 

[LCoote]

It's a great looking piece Gary, really well done mate!

 

[garyjd]

Joe & Leigh, Thanks guys, I actually like where this piece is going.~Gary

 

[garyjd]

I have added the final application of putty to the basic cuirass. Setting the piece in a preheated oven has sped up the time it has taken me to do this considerably. If I had allowed the putty to cure by air drying, it would have taken me about three days. I'm figuring it has taken less than 24 hours to get the cuirass at the same point doing it this way. There are some details i want to work into the curass next. There may be some that will be covered up by the waistcoat and coat, but want to get it in there in the event it's exposed.

 

[Ernest]

AMAZING!!

 

[garyjd]

The one thing that almost came about as a "happy accident" if you will is the tilt of the cuirass. As Karl is depicted as if turning the cuirass is also reacting.

 

[garyjd]

I'm going to add some "rope" edging to the neck area along with some simple engraving to make it look like a higher quality piece of armor.

 

[Joe Hudson]

Gary,

All I can say is

Joe

 

[Anders Heintz]

That is looking awesome Gary! Very nice!

 

[yeo_64]

AWESOME,Gary,simply AWESOME !!!
Kenneth.

 

[Automata]

Excellent work Gary.

Barry

 

[Billhoran]

What was it about Karl that made you decide to make him as a bust as opposed to a complete figure?

 

[garyjd]

Ernest, Joe, Anders, Kenneth & Barry, Thanks, I'm glad you laike him.

Bill, I was first inspired to do Karl after seeing Mike Blank's 54mm version. I managed to locate several period portraits along with a few great views of his deathmask, and even photos taken of him in 1917. I guess I became more interested in doing a "reconstruction" of his head based on my finds rather than a full figure. Some of the portraits seem to play down features like his receeding hairline, underbite, and large nose, which in some portraits the artist chose to change almost completely. I do plan on doing him again in the future as a full figure along with other subjects of the Great Northern War. Personally there are other more interesting and exciting subjects to do busts of. This is just something I wanted to do.~Gary

 

[y_wong]

Dear Gary,

Very beautiful work.

regards

 

[Einion]

Lookin' great Gary!

The profile is fab, very much looking forward to watching the progression of the cuirass.

Einion

 

[garyjd]

I have finally added the "rope like" braiding made from lead wire (thanks Joe) around the top of the cuirass. It took a few times to get it on properly. It was attached with superglue and after drying was backfilled with putty. I also filled out Karl's hair a little so it was more evenly distributed on his head. It was smoothed out with fine steel wool and blends well with the sculpey.

 

[garyjd]

Work has also begun on the right side of the waistcoat using Aves putty. Once this dries I will smooth out the material and refine the folds. You might notice marks all over what is the upper arm/shoulder. These were made to give a little texture for additional applications of putty to be put on.