Making Some Feathers

[Anders Heintz]

Hey Guys,

I am slowly getting my motivation back to normal and I have started a new project that involves a lot of feathers! I probably have something like 30+ 54mm feathers to do, so maybe by the time I am done I might have developed a good way to make these little pesky things!

Here is the first ones, it is a hand fan. Comments are always appreciated, and suggestions how to make this task easier/better would be super!

What I did with this one was started out with a block of Apoxie (this stuff carves really nice) in the general shape and then it was carved down to create more of a 3d effect. I will add the stem with either a small piece of wire or some putty.

 

[Edson]

:lol: They looks cool bro, just a little more work on definition and you´ll got it.

Keep the hands work, and don´t give up compadre!! :lol:

Cheers
Ed

 

[Major_Goose]

I think u re heading the good way brother . Maybe a less rounded shape on upper end ?
Costas

 

[Anders Heintz]

Hey Guys!

Thanks for your comments, I have however decided to redo this piece as it really dont look very good, carving just aint the way to go with these I am afraid.

I have now made 4 more larger feathers to go on the feather bustle. These are for the left side, and they are just in rough shape. I made these out of Magic Sculpt that I let set up until it was really rubbery, and then I cut the 'feather pattern' in with an X-Acto knife, next will be to sand them down and thin it out and repeat pattern on the back side.

Feathers are fun...!

 

[Major_Goose]

yep these do look much better Anders Keep on

 

[gforceman]

Hi Anders,

What do you need that much feathers for? Do they need to be casted? Personally I did liked the first ones better. The second seem like pieces of paper glued to a base. I think Quang might give you good advise, as I think he has done a lot of feathers with all his Indian subjects. Unfortunately I'm a complete idiot when it comes to sculpting, so I won't be able to help you on this one. Sorry.

Greetz,

Gino.

 

[DrLutz]

Hi Anders!
Something isn't completely clear to me with feathers. May I ask wou some "why"?
Why do you do feathers separately one from another and separately of the whole sculpture? If you need feathers as a part of dress (indians, Polish hussars or Moulin Rouge) it 's much more convinient to make them together on their common base.
Two general advices: 1) to sculpt is always better than to carve
2) you can use a thin wire as a basement for each feather

Best regards

DrLutz

 

[Anders Heintz]

Hey Guys!

Thanks for the advice!

Gino, I am doing an Native American subject and it needs tons of feathers! The first one was just too rough, like chopped up, but it will look better with fresh putty I hope! And yes, they are intended to get cast. I would love to hear how Quang did them!

Dr. Lutz,

Thanks for your comments! I found out that they are easier to make while the putty is soft, much easier! As for why, it is because they are intended to be cast and it is easier to cast them if they are seperate, and the way they will sit on the figure (the last big ones posted will be on the back) makes them very hard to sculpt on the figure it self and besides it would be hard to paint beneath them.


Thanks guys!

 

[Roc]

Anders, those feathers are looking pretty good, can't wait to see Indian.


Cheers.

Roc.

 

[slaj]

Anders , I think the first ones looked better except for the round edge. More pointed perhaps. As to the design one has to look at teh figure as a whole and decide the best way to sculpt them. As Vlad said it would be better to sculpt them as a block but then again I can't see where and how they will fall.

Stephen Mallia

 

[Anders Heintz]

Hey Stephen,

Thanks for your comment!

The fan was just way to rough and way out of scale (like you can get scale feathers in 54mm :lol: ) and it just wasnt good enough, I will post pictures in a while of the redone fan and you will see how much better it is. As for the points, these feathers were sometimes cut to shape or selected especially for their not so sharp shape, you want it to fan the air as efficient as possible. Tail feathers were also used for this quite frequently.

The second set I poset are completely different feathers then the fan feathers, these are large feathers to be mounted on a feather bustle on his back.

If you would ask me I would say that the 'feather patttern' on the larger feathers are light years better then the first one, they are cleaner and more realistic.

 

[Anders Heintz]

Hey Guys!

Here is the re worked fan. I am a lot more happy with this one, it is more in scale and looks a lot better, what do you guys think?

Here is the old one,

 

[Major_Goose]

well the new fan indeed is way much better Anders
come on man make some indian for us to see , enough of feathers

Costas

 

[Anders Heintz]

Hey Costas,

Thanks I am also a bit sick of feathers, but they really aint all that bad to make, I only have like 15-20ish left :lol:

Don't worry, I will start showing the indian as soon as I make a little progress on it. Im still working on the star deal but I have it beat... I think!

 

[yeo_64]

Hey Anders,COOL LOOKING feathers there,my friend !! I can't wait to see the Indian that they will be attached to ! Cheers .
Kenneth :lol: