Lt. Stephen Decatur, USN, 1804

[neill]

Here is the beginning of a new Bust of American Naval Hero Stephen Decatur from the US Navy’s Campaign against the Barbary Pirates in 1804. Research done and now I have finally started the process.

Notice the great expression, flawless anatomy and amazing likeness... OK, OK I am just getting started!!!

Neill
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Here is the beginning of the beginning...

more tomorrow... just finshed two other projects and I am heading to bed!!

 

[garyjd]

John, Early American naval subjects are a favorite of mine. i'll be watching this develope.~Gary

 

[Charles Denomolos]

Gosh, John, I think the ears need some work! (just joking, hope you don't mind!). As Gary, I also am a big fan of USN subjects, and will watch closely....

 

[bonehead]

Hey John,

Just a tip here. I have found that doing heads in Sculpey (I use the "Premo" type that comes in the little plastic wrap squares as sold at crafts stores everywhere) makes the work go a lot easier.

I am very surprised that so many people choose to do heads in epoxy putty. That is really "hair-shirting" in my opinion. The problem with epoxy is that you only have a one to two hour window to get everything just so. If you don't, the only choice is to grind or carve away your mistakes and try again. That is more trouble than it is worth for me.

With Sculpey, i can work on the head as long as i want. If I don't like it, I can easily rework any part of it days or even months later with little bother. The stuff stays soft and workable nearly indefinitely. When you finally achieve the results you want you can then bake it and it is as permanent as an epoxy putty one.

It makes my life easier, at any rate......

 

[garyjd]

Originally posted by bonehead2@Jun 20 2006, 11:20 AM
Just a tip here. I have found that doing heads in Sculpey (I use the "Premo" type that comes in the little plastic wrap squares as sold at crafts stores everywhere) makes the work go a lot easier.

With Sculpey, i can work on the head as long as i want. If I don't like it, I can easily rework any part of it days or even months later with little bother. The stuff stays soft and workable nearly indefinitely. When you finally achieve the results you want you can then bake it and it is as permanent as an epoxy putty one.

Mike, I could not agree more. I think it's rather difficult to create a head with personality using putty. The head is almost always the first thing I look at on a figure, so it has to be it's best.~Gary

 

[SPrimeau]

Neill,I like the facial features of the officer, should be very fun and interesting to sculpt- will be watching for your developments also.
Mike and Gary- when you say you use sculpey for the head do you mean the entire head including details such as nose, eyes etc.? I have no experience with sculpey, would you be able to get those finer details with it? In my limited sculpting I have just used epoxy putties. Does the sculpey shrink when baked? Can you sand/carve cured sculpey like putties?
Scott

 

[garyjd]

Originally posted by SPrimeau@Jun 20 2006, 05:32 PM
Gary- when you say you use sculpey for the head do you mean the entire head including details such as nose, eyes etc.? I have no experience with sculpey, would you be able to get those finer details with it? In my limited sculpting I have just used epoxy putties. Does the sculpey shrink when baked? Can you sand/carve cured sculpey like putties?
Scott

Scott, Yes, the entire head. As for detail, I've had no problems. If there is shrinkage it's very very minimal, if at all. I find the more you bake sculpey and the harder it is, the more responsive it is to sanding and carving. If you sculpt a head made up of layers they could be prone to fracturing when carving.~Gary

 

[neill]

I am messing around with the Epoxy Clay. I have used Super Sculpey for years. I agree it is excellent for working and re-working faces and expressions. A majority of my older work was Super Sculpey. May check it out again.

Neill