* The Sideshow Freaks Sculptors Pit Stop *

I thought a thread like this might be helpful considering a lot of members here sculpt or have recently started sculpting for themselves, it could also prove useful for those interested in sculpting but with no idea where to start. I've improved massively myself thanks to all of the information shared here and elsewhere online and I know others have also, this will be a continuous glossary of sorts updated with information as it's shared or found by myself. I'll update this thread with any information, guides, images or whatever you think might be helpful if you post it here.

I've started off with a few bits of information and subtitles which wont have any information yet. I'll update parts as we go along should people find this useful. I've come across a lot of stuff in the past but lost the links so if you've got anything feel free to share so I can add it to this post. Posting some creations could get the creative juices flowing also, this can be a sculpting hang out.


Video links to help with learning to sculpt

Creager Studios sculpting ( lesson two to nine are also uploaded by the same user )- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo4COOhPk3k

Stan Winston school - sculpting a minature head ( 2 minute brief video with an option to purchase the full tutorial ) - https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/t...hniques-miniature-head-sculpting-jordu-schell

Julian Khor's sculpting jackie chain in 1/6 scale ( video two also uploaded ) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMxhmdNOhTs

Julian Khor's sculpting Sandra Bullock in 1/6 scale ( video two to six also uploaded ) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9HZjXpMkE8



Written sculpting tutorials

Caine's step by step sculpting tutorial - https://www.sideshowcollectors.com/forums/showthread.php?131770-Step-by-step-sculpting-tutorial

Tony Barton tutorial, onesixthwarriors, modelling and painting a head - https://www.onesixthwarriors.com/forum/sculpting-using-sculpy/58238-modelling-painting-head.html

Model works sculpting tutorial ( there are several pages here with this tutorial, not just the head ) - https://ccmodelworks.com/and-now-for-something-completely-different/



Sculpting material


Most sculptors who frequent sideshow freaks, both learners and masters alike use sculpey firm to sculpt with. Not too soft, not too hard it's great to work with, especially in small scales such as 1/6 that I'm sure many people here will be interested in starting out with.



Some examples of work created with super sculpey firm. I hope it's ok to share these guys, if not just let me know and I'll take them down.

Some random super sculpey creations found online.






Sculpting tools


I'm no expert when it comes to this but after purchasing a few different tools over the last year or so I've found these small wooden ball stylus tools the most helpful when working with small scales. I've seen these on the desks of various sculptors also if that helps lol!



I also use clay shapers ( you'd have to look for the right sizes and shapes that you need ) which help me with smoothing.

*Photo found online*


This link will take you to part two of ModelWorks sculpting tutorial which at the top of the page briefly talks about sculpting tools.

https://ccmodelworks.com/bodywork/

Caine said:

This is an awesome idea for a thread! And since I have the opportunity, I thought I would share a quick tip for tool making.

I started making my own loop tools to save money and have the ability to control how the tool ended up. It's just aluminum tubing, 5 minute epoxy and different guages of guitar string. Just cut a few inches of string, double it over and insert the ends inside the tube and apply the glue to where they meet. Not the prettiest tools but they're really effective. You can see I've used different guages at different lengths to acheive the tool I needed. Even used galvanized wire on one.

Click to expand...

Smoothing sculpts




Painting tutorials

Greggo's 1/6 sculpt painting tutorial - https://greggocustoms.blogspot.nl/2011/01/greggos-painting-tutorial.html

Castlebrimstone.com 1/6 sculpt painting tutorial https://blog.castlebrimstone.com/?p=499

Airbrush and pastels painting a 1/6 sculpt from Modelworks - https://ccmodelworks.com/lipstick-powder-and-paint/



Youtube channels, websites and forum threads worth checking out for help and inspiration

Johns6160 channel - https://www.youtube.com/user/johns6160/videos

Cheungkinmen's Workbench - https://www.sideshowcollectors.com/...ng-2-painting)-POST-1753-Original-Bust-sculpt

CAINE'S Custom Creations - https://www.sideshowcollectors.com/forums/showthread.php?118216-CAINE-S-Custom-Creations-Clarence-boddicker-DiCaprio-Calvin-Candie-WIP

Model works - https://ccmodelworks.com/

Cool idea for a thread.
I've only started one head sculpt so far, and Caine's sculpting tutorial has been really helpful in the progress. There are many great tips in there.

I have quite a few bookmarks for painting tuturials, colour recommendations for skintones, etc. as well, some from threads in this forum.
Here are two written skin tone tutorials that might be of use:
https://greggocustoms.blogspot.nl/2011/01/greggos-painting-tutorial.html
https://blog.castlebrimstone.com/?p=499

I'm adding this thread to my mobile home screen!

This is an awesome idea for a thread! And since I have the opportunity, I thought I would share a quick tip for tool making.

I started making my own loop tools to save money and have the ability to control how the tool ended up. It's just aluminum tubing, 5 minute epoxy and different guages of guitar string. Just cut a few inches of string, double it over and insert the ends inside the tube and apply the glue to where they meet. Not the prettiest tools but they're really effective. You can see I've used different guages at different lengths to acheive the tool I needed. Even used galvanized wire on one.

Glad you like the thread idea guys and thanks for the info.

I'll update the first post with the stuff you've posted. It'll eventually run out of image space so when that happens I'll put up the photo's that seem most important and then link the rest. Is there any actual tutorials around on specifically smoothing sculpts?

I've also just found another quite detailed written sculpting and painting guide in making a bust.

https://ccmodelworks.com/and-now-for-something-completely-different/

I've added it to the first post along with a little information on the tools I've been using since starting.

Still being a beginner to sculpting I'm interested to know how everyone here goes about sculpting for likeness.

There is an artist on youtube who prints off images of the person's or creature face to the same scale they're sculpting ( I'd be interested to know how they size up the image to print it off in the correct scale also ) and then use a calliper on the image itself and then their sculpt to get the proportions correct. I think this is a great idea since I've been going off of instinct previously which I'm finding difficult when attempting to achieve an ideal likeness. Here's an example of one of their videos, skip to around the 5:00 minute mark to get an idea of what I'm talking about in regards to their method.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMxhmdNOhTs

Here's my latest 1/6 WIP attempt at a likeness after a fair few hours work going just off my eyes alone.

I'm under the impression that most artists here use just face value to sculpt and if this is the case once you've attempted sculpting yourself you realise just how talented they really are to achieve such strong likenesses.

Awesome thread!!!!

Great thread!

Hey man check out some guy named Julian Khoning (I think?) he does a video of jackie chan. He uses the method you described. It's a great idea. He also links to where he buys his tools and stuff.

uscmhicks said:

Still being a beginner to sculpting I'm interested to know how everyone here goes about sculpting for likeness.

There is an artist on youtube who prints off images of the person's or creature face to the same scale they're sculpting ( I'd be interested to know how they size up the image to print it off in the correct scale also ) and then use a calliper on the image itself and then their sculpt to get the proportions correct. I think this is a great idea since I've been going off of instinct previously which I'm finding difficult when attempting to achieve an ideal likeness. Here's an example of one of their videos, skip to around the 5:00 minute mark to get an idea of what I'm talking about in regards to their method.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMxhmdNOhTs

Here's my latest 1/6 WIP attempt at a likeness after a fair few hours work going just off my eyes alone.

I'm under the impression that most artists here use just face value to sculpt and if this is the case once you've attempted sculpting yourself you realise just how talented they really are to achieve such strong likenesses.

Click to expand...

Anyway great idea for a thread! I really needed something like this. I haven't got my tools yet but I was just wondering, what do the serrated loop tools do?