Open Mouth
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Einion
A Fixture
This depends a bit on how you're approaching it and the material(s) you're using. Scale is important too, since you can get away with more at smaller sizes.
You scratchbuilding or changing an existing head?
If you're working from scratch FWIW I think for a mouth fully open in a shout or yawn it's probably best to do the upper portion of the face, let it set and then add the jaw section to complete the mouth... unless you're working in SuperSculpey or similar, in which case you probably have to try to do it in a single stage.
Either way, like with most things of this kind it's best to work directly from reference photos (one pic is not enough, particularly if it's only from the front). Or use your reflection in a mirror.
Einion
You scratchbuilding or changing an existing head?
If you're working from scratch FWIW I think for a mouth fully open in a shout or yawn it's probably best to do the upper portion of the face, let it set and then add the jaw section to complete the mouth... unless you're working in SuperSculpey or similar, in which case you probably have to try to do it in a single stage.
Either way, like with most things of this kind it's best to work directly from reference photos (one pic is not enough, particularly if it's only from the front). Or use your reflection in a mirror.
Einion
Thanks for the reply Einion. I took a bunch of pics of myself from different angles with the expression I wanted. I just posted some shots in the sculpting subforum. Let me know what you think. Its still pretty rougn and needs alot of work. here is the linkhttp://www.planetfigure.com/forums/showthread.php?p=447328#post447328
Einion
A Fixture
Righteeho, had a quick peek and it looks pretty good so far - the basic proportions are okay to begin with, that's the major thing to get correct right off. The cranium might do with being a little deeper front to back, but that varies quite a bit on different people.
Two specific things I notice are the jaw looks like it has rotated in order to open and the cheekbones have become more prominent because of the hollowing of cheek area - both key things that happen when this expression is made and important to try to capture if you're aiming for realism. One of the other main things to strive for now is correctly capturing the shape at the bottom-rear of the jaw, just under where the ears will go.
You mention the eyes need some work but rather than suggesting redoing them completely, I'd recommend for future projects doing them as additions on top of a blank eye area, or even a shallow depression made with a ball tool (either method can work well, depending on the face). This will help prevent certain common issues essentially caused by there being too much pliable putty underneath where detail is being formed.
I recommend this general principle more widely for faces done in MS and similar hardening compounds, which takes advantage of the setting to allow the basic structure to be laid down, then the detail formed on top (much like flesh laid on top of bone) in stages without disturbing the basic shaping done previously.
Einion
Two specific things I notice are the jaw looks like it has rotated in order to open and the cheekbones have become more prominent because of the hollowing of cheek area - both key things that happen when this expression is made and important to try to capture if you're aiming for realism. One of the other main things to strive for now is correctly capturing the shape at the bottom-rear of the jaw, just under where the ears will go.
You mention the eyes need some work but rather than suggesting redoing them completely, I'd recommend for future projects doing them as additions on top of a blank eye area, or even a shallow depression made with a ball tool (either method can work well, depending on the face). This will help prevent certain common issues essentially caused by there being too much pliable putty underneath where detail is being formed.
I recommend this general principle more widely for faces done in MS and similar hardening compounds, which takes advantage of the setting to allow the basic structure to be laid down, then the detail formed on top (much like flesh laid on top of bone) in stages without disturbing the basic shaping done previously.
Einion
This may help. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9t5kpfOH8I
Carl.
Carl.
Thanks for the tips Einion. I'm not quite sure what you mean about sculpting the eye, I'm working with sculpey and have not baked the head yet. Im having difficulty getting a round eyeball and then adding the eyelids. The eye doesn't look round enough and the eyelids always turn out thick, or if i thin them they look odd
valiant
A Fixture
Nick,
just for the record, try using dressmakers pins or small ball bearings for the eyeballs, then add material over that for the eyelids, etc. it will give you a solid base on which to add details and ensure the eyes stay spherical - it also gives your sculpt a kind of animation while you work -
with regard to open mouths, if it looks right, then generally it is! your own eyes will pick out any anomalies, i turn my sculpts upside down to check symmetry, then look at them in a mirror - this usually highlights any dodgy bits!! hope this helps!
keep practising!
Steve
just for the record, try using dressmakers pins or small ball bearings for the eyeballs, then add material over that for the eyelids, etc. it will give you a solid base on which to add details and ensure the eyes stay spherical - it also gives your sculpt a kind of animation while you work -
with regard to open mouths, if it looks right, then generally it is! your own eyes will pick out any anomalies, i turn my sculpts upside down to check symmetry, then look at them in a mirror - this usually highlights any dodgy bits!! hope this helps!
keep practising!
Steve
Thanks Steve. I ended up starting a new sculpt using glass beads I found at wall mart. It made a huge difference in the ease of sculpting the eyelids and surrounding area. A WIP thread in the sculpting forum. I have a quick question, Is there a way to change the default picture for a WIP thread. The picture that shows when you are looking through all the threads
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