MY NEW 120MM PROJECT

[quang]

Hello Planeteers,

Here's the development of my new 120mm figure.

It's not meant to be a 'technical' SBS à la Gary Dombrowski, rather a pictorial record of a sculpting 'in action' and an entertaining (and hopefully instructive) subject of discussion.

As usual, questions, comments and remarks are very welcome.

Quang

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STEP 1: The pose

 

[Ernest]

looks like a nice project Quang, hope to see more progres soon...
take care

ER

 

[Ray]

Quang,
What's it to be, frontierman? I'm eager to see him progress whatever he is to be though I hope for that already mentioned. I really love this pose, did the first time I saw it a few days ago, so natural and telling.

I received you note earlier today, thank you for all of it, and plan a more addiquate response later when the mind is a little more active. :lol:

Ray

 

[marvin]

Lovely, I'm very interested in seeing how you tackle a figure like this from start to finish. Nice pose!

- Marvin -

 

[lbfactory]

salut le
comment vas tu depuis Montrouge?
this is very interesting to see how you start figure choose of the pose technics ...
what would be the topic native indian?
cheers
laurent

 

[MAB]

Hi Quang
the mockup is in an interesting position
you augurs good job and good amuse

MAB

 

[Dan Morton]

A well-balanced, natural-looking and poised pose. Cool! I look forward to seeing where you go with it.

All the best,
Dan

 

[quang]

Thank you all for your comments!

A few remarks about the importance of the pose.

As Ray observed it, a pose can be revealing about the character and nature of the subject. Obviously you cannot imagine Queen Victoria in a pose like this one .

As a general rule, I never attempt to reproduce an existing illustration or another work of art. As a professional, it would be like stealing from another fellow artist. But that doesn't prevent me to draw my inspiration from others. I can use a pose I like and adapt it to a subject of my own choice. In the present case, the inspiration for the pose is this picture:

You may also notice that the groundwork is already at an advanced state compared to the figure. The reason is that I like to start from the ground up and that the very nature of the terrain would put me in the right mood for the subject (which in this state, was not determined yet).

About the pose itself, I'll make sure that each body mass is in the correct position relative to the others. Check out the balance of the composition by drawing a (virtual) vertical line from the head down. Notice how this vertical line ends up on the right foot where most of the body weight is resting.

If your stick figure can stay in position on its own (without being attached in any other way to the base), then you can be sure your balance is correct.

Next step: FREEZING THE POSE

HTH
Quang

 

[dario966]

Quang,
how are you my friend?
great subject! I love those westerns with old Charles Bronson. And Chato was one of his best!
It would be nice is this figure would became an Apache (eg famous Chircahua medicine man and fighter Goyaale also known as Geronimo) so I am sure your end-result will be splendind.
Dario

 

[quang]

Hello Dario,

It's NOT an Apache. The presence of the log hints for a damp and soggy climate.

Q.

 

[dario966]

well,
actually in Arizona you have plenty of logs, especially in the areas where Apaches loved to live, i.e. around springs and lakes, before they were kicked out to 'nice'places like San Carlos or those other 'good' places - so log was not a hint to me, but then it is even more intriguing

 

[quang]

You've got a point, Dario!

Indeed, Apacheria was not as dry and dusty as Hollywood led us to believe. As a matter of fact, I already had a vague idea of what the subject would be when I started working on the base. So let's say that my vision of the log is a little 'biaised'.

Anyhow, here's the FREEZE UP! stage. Putty is applied at the body/limbs joint, spinal column and neck. It's also applied at where the feet should be to conform to the 'terrain'.

 

[quang]

Next, the gun was added. Conveniently, it came from the PiLiPiLi Hawkeye kit.

A hole was drilled in the hand and the whole part inserted into the right arm wire.

Poses where several parts of the body touch one another (like in this case, elbows resting on thighs, both hands holding an object) are tricky. The more contact points, the trickier the pose. It helps to have a prop to get everything in the correct position.

Note the building-up of the legs. Work has also started on the face.

Quang

 

[garyjd]

Quang, It's great to see you posting some in progress work again. I look forward to seeing this fellow takes shape.~Gary

 

[John Belcher]

Quang, Great subject.looks great.Looking forward to see him progress.Kind regards John

 

[zyclyon]

Hi Quang,

you've got yourself another winner with this piece again! The subtle tilt of the shoulders running contrary to the pelvis and the "S" shape of the spine are finer naunces that adds to the natural look.

cheers,

Calvin

 

[Jimbo]

Hi Quang
Good to see that you are still sculpting in 120mm, great pose and very interesting, I'll be keeping a close watch on the progress of this figure as it looks sure to be yet another winner from you.

Best Regards
Jim

 

[Dan Morton]

Very instructive, Quang! I really like the way you're dealing with the balance issue particularly. Even if I had just the photos with the red lines on the armature bits to go on, I could follow your approach. Simple & easy to use. I wouldn't have thought of doing it that way. Thanks!

All the best,
Dan

 

[Roy]

He's looking very good already Quang, he definately has a 'look' about him, the tilt of the head makes him look kind of inquiring, as if his trying to get a bead on something in the distance.

All the best...Roy.

 

[quang]

Thank you, friends and colleagues, for your comments.

Back to our sculpt. Additional work is done to the face and the left arm and hand added. Once we're sure that both hands have a sure grip on the gun, the arms are 'freezed up' in their definitive position. Note the red alignment marks on the shoulder.
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