Very kool Colin... I so impressed with your work on this helmet. It's always been my impression that sculpting non-organic objects... like helmets... would be far more difficult than drapery and such. Keeping hard edges, symetry, straight lines etc scares the bejesus out of me.
The little Medusa on the front of the crest will be challenging but with your previous work on medals and badges you should be able to pull it off.

Colin

Following... This is going to be an impressive piece!

Thanks name-mate! As I noted earlier to Nap, one of the advantages of sculpting one offs for self rather than a commercial piece is the a lot of the detail can just be indicated in putty and then fully brought out with paint. That is my usual approach for oak leaf embroidery, awards, and insignia like the lion heads on the chin scales. You can get away with a lot less that way. Sort of like many portrait artists working in oils who do a photo realistic face but only sketch in buttons, lace etc.

Colin

Colin
No I have not tried a wet palette. I quite liked the effects but for faces you can't beat oils. Also oils are for leathers, and anything that has a depth of colour. The acrylics work OK for fabrics and for general underpainting, but the age old blending problem is a bit of a pain at least to my style of working.

John

Helmet crest design done. Detail fades towards the rear as that part will be covered with sculpted horse hair mane. He also still needs his chin scale ties, frontal horse hair decoration and side plume.

Colin

Ummm... Wow... That's just about perfect

Colin

Here is his helmet plume. Torn pieces of sculpey on a central cooked core of sculpey over coper wire. The torn edges simulate feathers rather well.

Colin

Holy Macro, Colin! This is fantastic!
Can't wait to see this beauty!
Cheers,
Zeno

His head is done except for his horse hair mane....that will be added after the head is installed on the body as the hair will need to cascade over the collar and rear of the cuirass. I will add a little bit of decoration to the frontal bulb but for that I will use magic sculpt (at my other location right now). I will also add the chin ties on his chin scales after I get his body set.

I had to use apoxy sculpt for the plume holder. It is on 2 steel pins (1 vertical and 1 horizontal) and a tab of apoxy sculpt was added to the holder and notched into the helmet. I need to hide that join with some additional horse hair in the turban. The plume is surprisingly stable. The engineering was a bit of a challenge.

Colin

Hello Colin, WOW!!! Amazing and incredible detailing Colin. The plume is outstanding. It looks like your going all out on this piece, and it shows. Beautiful sculpting. Following. Regards, SG

You do some fine work Colin. Like they used to say in the 70s, "That's right on to the max!"

Joe

Head completed and primed (except for horse hair mane and chin ties which I will add later).

Colin

And a shot with my mitt in it to indicate scale.

Colin

Colin
A real work of art on its own. Very nice job on the helmet.
John

Starting to form the cuirass. This will require lots of sanding and shaping. Arms are just blobs right now.

Colin

Colin
Do you know a Canadian supplier of bases for busts?

John

No I am struggling with that too John. I have bought from Ken Thomas in New York. He does good work at reasonable cost. He also takes paypal. I may be able to find you his catalogue.

Colin

Hi Colin,
This is absolutely top draw work, you never cease to amaze me with your unique creations. The last time I looked you were doing a German, I will have to stop blinking.
cheers
Richie

More progress on cuirass and body....still rough in many places....head is not properly positioned, just stick tacked. I have only roughed his epaulettes. Individual sculpey coils will be added over sculpey base. All sculpey so far and he is getting heavy. The jar of paint is to brace him for photos but it shows large size too.



Colin

Coming along nicely Colin.
Great detail in helmet and clothes.

Pedro.