CARTER SEXTON!

I do get many e-mails about the tools I use. Even though I'm a big believer in experimentation, and discovering what tools fit best for your personal work style. You can't beat a great professional art supply store! I love Carter Sexton, I've been getting my supplies and tools there for 12 years. They have in my opinion one of the best selections of sculpting tools, and clay. They carry the handmade Valdez Tools that I use all the time. Also a full service airbrush dept.
The staff is knowledgeable and professional. If you're here in the LA area they are on Laurel Canyon just 2 blocks north of Magnolia. In the SF valley.

MAKING A BASE!

The toy will have a semi-round rotating base that the legs will be mounted into.
This will give him more poseability (Making up words) sculpting this piece will be challenging, it needs to be symmetric with an even arch. I will use the usual methods of raking, and torching for smoothness.



I’ve run into a bit of a problem. I need to actually balance the figure on the base, this will determine the best position for the legs. If the sculpt can’t balance then the toy will follow with the same problem. Right now the weight of the sculpt is breaking the clay base, the legs are shifting and it’s a mess.
I have to make the base in resin. A quickie mold is in order.



Using foamcore the base is glued down. then I cut walls and hot glue a little box around the piece.



Pull the legs out leaving the sockets, then I cut walls of foamcore and hot glue a little box around the piece.



. No real need to de-gas the silicone, on a piece like this the air bubbles will float to the top. Besides I only need one piece. For casting the base I’ll use my favorite Sillcast 2 casting resin. I pigment the resin grey so it’s easier to see. I’m backing the base with a piece of 1/8” styrene plastic so the leg pegs don’t pop through.



Now I have a solid base to balance the figure, and move forward with the rest of the sculpt. Sometimes it’s necessary to cast some “Load bearing” pieces of the sculpt.

VIVISECT PLAYSET ART!

Here's a sneak peek of one of the three pieces I have in VPSIV.
This one is titled "Yum #1" 12"x12" Acrylic on wood. Look forward to seeing everyone there!

VIVISECT PLAYSET IV !!!!

Hope everybody had a good TG. This weekend I’ll be up in San Francisco for the “Vivisect Playset IV” I have 3 new painted pieces for the show. I’ll give a little sneak peek on the blog in the next couple days. If you’ll be in the area love to meet you at Gallery 1988!

PAINTING!

I had to step away from the sculpting for a bit. Currently I making three paintings for the Vivisect Playset IV Gallery 1988 San Francisco. I will be up there for the opening on Dec 1st. Luke Chueh has included me in this show since the very beginning, I look forward to it every year. I’ll post some sneak peaks of the work here on my blog the week before the show.

SCULPTING THE ARMS!

As always I start by shaping the wire to the sculpting art. Wrap it with thread and cyno’ glue (discussed in greater detail the last step) Then apply the hot clay to get the base started.



The same way I get all of the parts started rough the clay on, measuring with calipers to get the basic landmarks of the piece.





Roughing out the thickness and roundness, then raking the clay into a rough smooth shape.



Using a circle guide to make the “Clobbering Ball” a nice evenly round shape. The arms of the figure are a little tricky and will take some figuring out. They have to rotate, and possibly have some pivot to the movement so they can go over the head.



Also now that the arm is in place on the figure, it appears to be a bit too long.



Best way to fix it, cut a chunk out of the arm and shove the 2 parts together.
I’m never too precious with the sculpt, bash it, cut it, rip parts off and start over if that’s what needs to be done. When I was just starting out years ago I sometimes had trouble tearing something down if it wasn’t working. Ultimately it will make more work if you just keep trying to work around it.

HO CHI MINH PROJECT