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RandyHand β How I sculpted the Big Tree
Published: 2009-07-26 16:53:05 +0000 UTC; Views: 12999; Favourites: 181; Downloads: 242
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Description
I'll be posting the moulding process next.I wanted to show how I came up with the Big Tree sculpt from the very start...
I started with a preliminary sketch here: [link]
And then came up with a maquette concept here:
[link]
The finished bronze can be found here: [link]
I wanted to post it so that if you are thinking of sculpting something large, maybe this will take away some of the intimidation factor.
The wire feed welder I used to put the armature together was really easy to learn how to use.
They can be purchased at any Home Depot or Lowes and usually cost from $400 - $600 depending on how good of one you want. Mine plugs right in to a regular wall socket.
The styrafoam can be purchased from the same place as well as the spray insulation foam.
Hope it makes sense and I hope you enjoy...
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Comments: 126
Thanks so very much!
The hand gives it that little extra attitude I think..ha haha...
All my best,
Take care
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oh i see you do use foam sheets. admittedly a lot easier to get than huge blocks of sculpting foam. Β thanks again for the extra effort taken in posting these -how to's!
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You bet...glad to post these!
The huge blocks make too much mess for me.
There's still a mess with the foam sheets but it doesn't seem quite as much I guess?
Plus I can get them down the street at my local Home Depot.
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Thanks for the fave on Nighty Night as well!
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beautiful work.. thank you for the tutorial
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Thanks so much!
Glad you appreciated the tutorial...
All my best...
Take care
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a great looking piece thank you for taking the time to make it a tutorial
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thank you so much for sharing!!!
and for the inspiration
great expressions
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This is so impressive! Thank you for sharing, I have no clue how work in 3D is done, so it's really amazing to see for me
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You should make a video for Gnomon workshops on how to do this type of sculpting. I would love to watch the entire process.
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Man, that's such a huge compliment...
But, I'm not even close to being in the same league as those guys...
That's the kind of sculpting that I aspire to...
It's great to have that as inspiration, that's for sure.
Thanks again for your kind words and support...
Best to you,
Take care
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You don't think you're that good? are you crazy?
You're stuff is just as good if not better. I'm going to come over there and slap some sense in to you. I thought I was hard on myself. Your stuff totally kicks ass. The difference between you and them is they know they are good and you don't. Once you figure that out you'll see how much you deserve to be in their league.
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Thank you so much Steve...
I really appreciate your support...
Now don't be coming over to slap me...my wife does that to keep me in line...heh heh
I'm not trying to say that I don't like what I've done so far, cuz the tree I REALLY love.
Of course there are things that I would re-do if I was so inclined...
I guess I just always want to feel like, no matter what I create, I want to feel like I put the time in to it and created it to the best of my ability and skill level at that time.
But I also like the feeling of knowing I have a lot of improving to do, no matter what.
I like that "Homer with a doughnut" gut feeling when it comes to attacking a new piece.
Thanks again for all the great words of support and encouragement...It made my day...
Take care my friend!
Randy
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how do you shape the pink construction
foam...please tell me i have a post on my home page of a foam table i just built..very similar process!! nice job! thanks for the awesome glimpse into your sanctuary!!!
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That table you did is incredible...Excellent work man!
I looked through your gallery as well...You have some serious skills my friend!
The shaping of the pink foam was achieved by a horse curry comb believe it or not...
A friend turned me on to that technique years back and it works like a charm.
It works really well for shaping and smoothing out the rough parts.
Then I take a heat gun to it to melt back the pills etc. and make it easier to smear clay on it. The clay doesn't take on as much of the styrafoam excess as well.
Thanks as well for the faves man!
Take care
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thanks dude!! that response means alot to me i really love and admire your style..i use a curry comb as well..i didnt know the whole heat gun to the foam thing for better clay adhesion, i will definately have to try that..thanks for the comment on my table also!! i have no words to express the awesomeness of your stuff..i have been making some funky airbrush templates out of wire shapes with great stuff on top . i tape glad garbage bags to the floor and the great stuff will not stick to the polypropolene bags..my friend tom at savageworlds.devart has taught me many tricks with the foam if you ever need tech advice he is a knowledgeable master..all my best to you and much admiration..mike
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Anytime Mike!
Thanks for the watch as well...
Gonna have to return the favor.
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with next.
Tom is extremely talented as well...I could only imagine what he has to offer...
Thanks again man!
Take care,
Randy
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Wow a grid pattern...
...I would have never thought about using a grid to
determine the size. I would have just eye-balled it...haha
...but of course I've never done such a massive undertaking before.
I actually learned quite a bit from this document.
Never knew you could melt oil based clay either...haha
Man, I should get myself some oil-based clay now..
Great stuff, Randy!!
take care...drive safely
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Yeah, the grid thing really helps to get the proportions figured out a little quicker for me.
There's some companies around here that will scan a table top size piece and then enlarge it however big you want and then have it machined out of styrafoam.
It's expensive, but man it saves a lot of time.
It is really nice to re-use the clay. I wonder how many different pieces are mixed in to what I have now...
Thanks for stopping by Chuck...
I miss hearing from you.
How have you been doing?
Take care my friend!
Randy
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thanks Randy for the insight into how you go about this process! good to see! very inspiring indeed!
kind of pushes me to get my own place set up better for this kind of thing!
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thank you.. it's so inspiring to actually see how you do the magic that you do!!
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You are too kind!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks so much for your support...
Take care
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this is so interesting! 
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Thanks so much!
So glad you like it!
Take care
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Thanks Randy!!
Excellant tutorial thanks for taking all along on your sculpt,I have to keep lifting my lower jaw back up in place,this is so cool thanks bud!!
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Thanks Lonnie!
So glad people have been able to take something from these tutorials...
Your support is much appreciated my friend!
Take care
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Love the way you've laid this out and described and shown it, you make one hell of an armature.
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Thanks Rich,
Thanks for faving it as well...
I really did want to make sure this one wasn't going to budge once it was put together.
I had someone do an armature for me a few years ago and as I was adding clay and moulding it, it started bending out of shape...Pissed me off and almost ruined the sculpt...
It's funny cuz the same guy was making fun of me for over doing this one and I told him I didn't want it to be a wimpy armature and break like the one he did for me...He shut up after that...heh heh...
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I'll bet he did, if you're going to do things, you might as well do them properly eh?
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That's so true...
I figure it's better to over do it, than regret it later...
Take care
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That's really great Randy. What a valuable, info packed, revealing, compelling, thoughtful, step-by-step, here's how it's done, try this at home tutorial.
You d'man dat rrox!!!
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Thanks Mark!
I really had fun making this and the moulding tutorial..
It helped me appreciate the madness of all of it.
You should see my studio though....not as bad as last week, but still pretty messy.
Talk to you soon man!
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Thanks Tim!
Wish I could get it in time for the show so you could see it, but it'll be impossible...
Talk to you soon,
Take care
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Thanks Randy,
This is great! I always wondered what is involved preparing and sculpting a huge sculpture. Amazing stuff man!
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Thanks so much Robert!
Your input means alot to me...
I'd love to see you sculpt something big...You would come up with something mind blowing to say the least...
Take care
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I am so happy you are posting this! I will find that the substrate base form is so very helpful when I plan to sculpt on the large scale!
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I'm so glad this helps you!
It really can be intimidating when you think of going big with sculpting at first...
Once you get the basics figured out, it's a blast to dive in and accomplish something on a large scale...
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with...especially if it's a carousel horse!
Good luck!
Take care
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Thanks...I'll need every ounce of luck I can get!
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Nah, you'll catch on really quick...
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I'm guessing but, i suppose you did a pencil sketch (( ink, crayon what ever lol )) before, or just started the small one just like that?
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Thanks for asking...
I just posted a link to the drawing and maquette on the same page...
I forgot I needed to do that so thank you...
Take care
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