I’m going to be giving some classes at Gencon this year. The last time I did this was at Origins a few years back and it didn’t work out very well. The problem was partly a lack of structure; I went into it with the idea of just answering questions, and partly the different levels of experience of the those attending the class. The beginners were bored by technical stuff they didn’t understand and the experienced sculptors were bored by simple beginner questions. Also no one seemed to know what they really wanted to know.
So this time I am going to give a more structured presentation of three classes, the first is for people with basic familiarity with the materials and procedures, it’s directed at common beginning problems. The latter two are ‘master classes’ addressing specific areas (faces and clothing) which seem to be difficult, even for sculptors of some experience.
Sculpture, even just the small portion I’m presenting, is a huge subject which a few hours is nothing like enough time to explain but I hope to be able to communicate something of value.
I’d like to give people who are considering taking a class with me some idea of what to expect. I can tell you it will not involve much demonstration of pushing putty. That is something you learn by practice and is perhaps the least difficult thing about sculpting. I have a bit to say about epoxy manipulation but not much. I expect everyone who attends to be familiar with the basics of miniature sculpting (what epoxy is like, what an armature is, how molds are made et) or to be content with confusion because I’m not going to explain stuff you can learn by reading one of the many introductory tutorials on the web.
Here’s an outline of the first class, the cryptic notes in italics are associations to jog my memory about what to say so you needn’t be worried if they don’t make any sense for you.
Introduction: Common problems with miniature sculpture.
An easy beginners guide to topological perception-cognition of lie transformation groups with respect to the neuropsychology of dynamic symmetry differential recognition and dialectical variance transformations - Don’t worry, it’s not nearly as interesting as it sounds - I’ll never forget what’s-his-name
A: A few things to keep in mind about epoxy manipulation and figure construction
Epoxy es nae fer pissin aboot, Jimmy - One big thing
1. Using epoxy, specifically Kneadatite.
And… it copies pictures from the funny pages - All you need is love and some bits of wire (& if you are old, bifocals)
a. Time and planning.
How to eat an elephant - This looks like a good place to stop - symmetry in motion
b. Make epoxy’s peculiarities work for you.
Turn that frown upside down - It doesn’t matter I’m going to use it as a hammer - I’ve never seen anything like it
2. Control structure, the armature.
Dem bones dem bones gotta walk around - I can see your house from here
a. Joints and measuring
Five easy spaces - Funny bones - Yes master, but when you look closer they’re all wonky
b. Gravity
The bearable heaviness of being - Waving or drowning- A good time to talk about camels
3. Control masses, fill.
a. Rigid, semisoft and soft masses
Knock on wood - In just seven days you can look like a condom stuffed with marbles - Ah is jus big boned
b. Gross muscle structure
It’s all connected - skin and bones - dynamo tension
4. Control surface, control depth
c. Blending
Avoiding the blivit - It’s just a figure of speech -
Where does this go
d. Detailing
When does it start feeling good - hooks and crooks - Take it easy, but take it
B: Fault as opposed to style:
1. Proportions
There’s not as much room as you think
a. The head, neck and shoulders
Three’s a crowd - Procrustes agonistes, - It hurts when I do this
b. The forearm and elbow
I’ll be a monkey’s uncle - Rollover - Where your lap goes when you stand up
c. Length of arms for different proportions
It goes round and round and it comes out here - Da Vinci and Spiderman
2. Clothes
Does this make me look fat
a. Cloaks
A multitude of sins - Winston Churchill’s pudding
b. Folds at joints
Ingenious fools - I want to be different, just like everybody else
c. Skirts
Well it has to go somewhere - A second helping
C: Extra Credit
1. Seeing what’s not there
Connecting the dots - M. C. Escher and you - the choir at the bottom of the sea
2. Vive la differance!
The power of cosmetics - Less is more and so is more
3. Looking real, realistic looking and looking realistically
Lots of numbers you won’t remember - how many dentists - a trip to the zoo
4. All you need to know about art
A&E spells re-dun-dan-cy - I’d be a fine soothsayer if I didn’t - The secret is to bang the rocks together
Here are some 1/48 heads, I’ve been making lots of WWII stuff but Jim Fox wants to save the pictures till they’re ready for release.
