knucklefunger
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Chris, I don't think it's just the quality but also the speed at which you can get these done. You got an extra set of arms or something?
Chris Howes' Sculptural Creations
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I also think you get things done quickly. Especially considering the amount of requests & group commissions you're getting.
I also like that you like feedback on the sculpts and you use the feedback to improve your work.
Now, get back to work.
I also like that you like feedback on the sculpts and you use the feedback to improve your work.
Now, get back to work.
BillyB
Freaked Out
Chris, your Sarah Jane is looking fantastic! Can't wait to see her painted up.
Keep it up!!
BillyB
Keep it up!!
BillyB
There are those who would not agree with your speed assessment!
True...but what these people need to realize is that an amazing sculpt doesn't just happen over night. They need to understand that an artist that takes on commission work isn't just going to be able to focus on that one piece all the time...they have jobs, family, and other real life stuff to attend to as well. I think if a customer isn't willing to have some patience on waiting for a commission to get done, then maybe that person shouldn't be placing an order for one...just my two cents.
I for one really appreciate all the hard work you put into these sculpts Chris. You are gracious enough to share your work with us and you are giving us pieces that would have never seen the light of day if we were to wait on a company like Sideshow or HotToys to make them. Please don't let those one or two people discourage you. Just remember, you can't please everybody.
Last edited:
darkchylde80
Super Freak
All the sculpts are looking great, and the Doctor Who update has a great cleveage aswell!
knucklefunger
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Jonz, you got it.
Life extends beyond work & hobbies. Things happen. I for one couldn't care less how long it takes to get the sculpt. It's a work of art. Hell, It's taken me longer to get some paint jobs done than it takes Chris do do a killer job of sculpting. I think we all appreciate what others do on these forums. That's the main reason I love this forum, I have yet to see a smart**s remark to another member. Cool
Life extends beyond work & hobbies. Things happen. I for one couldn't care less how long it takes to get the sculpt. It's a work of art. Hell, It's taken me longer to get some paint jobs done than it takes Chris do do a killer job of sculpting. I think we all appreciate what others do on these forums. That's the main reason I love this forum, I have yet to see a smart**s remark to another member. Cool
Anzik
Super Freak
Unless you spend some time hanging on custom forums or do them yourself, people have no idea how long it takes to create something.
Thanks, guys, I appreciate your understanding! Next time someone complains or makes a snarky comment I'll send them to this page.
Some sculpting discussion going on in another thread. Thought I'd post here for anyone who may be interested.
Howdy!
No, Super Sculpey Firm doesn't have any appreciable shrink upon curing. It's pretty darn stable. You can get a shrink in reproduction, but with the rubber resin combo I use it's virtually undetectable, less than 1%.
Mostly it's when I sculpt for reproduction in vinyl I have to take shrink into consideration. Rotational vinyl, for example has a shrink of about 9%. Half comes from the wax step, the rest from the vinyl itself. This varies slightly by manufacturer due to differences in wax formulation and temperature at which the vinyl is poured, but it's usually in the 7 to 10% range. I'll describe the whole rotational vinyl process one of these days if anyone is interested. I find it interesting, but I'm strange that way!
On a side note, to all aspiring sculptors out there, I recommend the pro quality Super Sculpey Firm. Unlike it's more common translucent pink cousin, regular Super Sculpey, SS Firm has an opaque density and gray color that makes it much easier to see the surface you are working on. And, as the name implies, it has a firmer texture so it holds it's shape better before hardening in the oven. Random sculpting thought of the day.....
Check out well stocked art supply stores or hobby stores. Nationally, in the US, Hobby Lobby usually carries it and sometimes Michael's stores. But you'll find better prices online.
I'll buy 5 or 10 boxes at a time from Creative Wholesale .
They have the best price I've ever found. You'll pay around $12.00 or $13.00 in most stores, but only $8.00 to $9.00 here.
The only problem with SS Firm is if it has been sitting around too long it tends to dry out a little bit and get slightly crumbly. You can recondition the clay by kneading in a TINY amount of petroleum jelly or a TINY drop of mineral oil. Be very conservative in your use of these. You can always add a little more if you need too but too much will make it too gooey. If that happens add a little more dry crumbly clay. The use of a dedicated pasta machine will make this somewhat easier! Such machines are sold in hobby stores for use with polymer clays but you may pick one up cheaper at your local Walmart or other such store. Not mandatory, but if you are going to be conditioning a lot of clay it can be useful.
Well, fingerprints are fine until you get to finishing. At that point mount it on a stick or rod of some sort. I usually just jam whatever spare tool I have laying around up it's neck and use that as a handle.
To get the surface smooth, as you say, there are many techniques, I'm sure. I just use a variety of tools, both wooden and metal, to work the surface into shape.
Get yourself some cheapo wooden sculpting tools and then sand them down to a variety of shapes, but all very smooth. Rub them down with some of the petroleum jelly you've bought for your SSF and wipe them off. This gives them a nice surface. Then just use them to press and scrape the clay into submission!
I also make my own steel tools. This is a somewhat advanced project however. I use Piano wire (available at good hobby stores) of different diameters which I cast a resin handle around. I then grind, heat, hammer on an anvil, to get the desired shape and thickness. The steel is then polished to a high degree on a polishing wheel until it's absolutely smooth and shiny. It's a thing of beauty! If I'm making a blade or spatula tool then that's the final step. But if I'm making a hook tool I then bend the steel into a hook shape then add serrations by dragging the edge of the tool repeatedly across the teeth of a flat file.
This hook tool is what I often use to scrape a basic smooth surface. You can perhaps use the edge of a no. 11 exacto blade to similar effect.
When you get down to final finishing, use a series of soft water color brushes with a very small amount of lubricant or solvent ( rubbing alcohol or naptha, just a drop!) to smooth and finish the surface. Don't be afraid to cut down the brushes to get the shape and thickness you need.
Bake it up hard! But only bake it at 200 degrees F, not the 275 they recommend. Let it cool in the oven if you can be patient enough to avoid thermal shock cracks. Now you can sand and carve if need be. If you need to add more clay, use a little p jelly to help adhere the new clay to the cured clay.
Hope that helps!
Howdy!
No, Super Sculpey Firm doesn't have any appreciable shrink upon curing. It's pretty darn stable. You can get a shrink in reproduction, but with the rubber resin combo I use it's virtually undetectable, less than 1%.
Mostly it's when I sculpt for reproduction in vinyl I have to take shrink into consideration. Rotational vinyl, for example has a shrink of about 9%. Half comes from the wax step, the rest from the vinyl itself. This varies slightly by manufacturer due to differences in wax formulation and temperature at which the vinyl is poured, but it's usually in the 7 to 10% range. I'll describe the whole rotational vinyl process one of these days if anyone is interested. I find it interesting, but I'm strange that way!
On a side note, to all aspiring sculptors out there, I recommend the pro quality Super Sculpey Firm. Unlike it's more common translucent pink cousin, regular Super Sculpey, SS Firm has an opaque density and gray color that makes it much easier to see the surface you are working on. And, as the name implies, it has a firmer texture so it holds it's shape better before hardening in the oven. Random sculpting thought of the day.....
Check out well stocked art supply stores or hobby stores. Nationally, in the US, Hobby Lobby usually carries it and sometimes Michael's stores. But you'll find better prices online.
I'll buy 5 or 10 boxes at a time from Creative Wholesale .
They have the best price I've ever found. You'll pay around $12.00 or $13.00 in most stores, but only $8.00 to $9.00 here.
The only problem with SS Firm is if it has been sitting around too long it tends to dry out a little bit and get slightly crumbly. You can recondition the clay by kneading in a TINY amount of petroleum jelly or a TINY drop of mineral oil. Be very conservative in your use of these. You can always add a little more if you need too but too much will make it too gooey. If that happens add a little more dry crumbly clay. The use of a dedicated pasta machine will make this somewhat easier! Such machines are sold in hobby stores for use with polymer clays but you may pick one up cheaper at your local Walmart or other such store. Not mandatory, but if you are going to be conditioning a lot of clay it can be useful.
Well, fingerprints are fine until you get to finishing. At that point mount it on a stick or rod of some sort. I usually just jam whatever spare tool I have laying around up it's neck and use that as a handle.
To get the surface smooth, as you say, there are many techniques, I'm sure. I just use a variety of tools, both wooden and metal, to work the surface into shape.
Get yourself some cheapo wooden sculpting tools and then sand them down to a variety of shapes, but all very smooth. Rub them down with some of the petroleum jelly you've bought for your SSF and wipe them off. This gives them a nice surface. Then just use them to press and scrape the clay into submission!
I also make my own steel tools. This is a somewhat advanced project however. I use Piano wire (available at good hobby stores) of different diameters which I cast a resin handle around. I then grind, heat, hammer on an anvil, to get the desired shape and thickness. The steel is then polished to a high degree on a polishing wheel until it's absolutely smooth and shiny. It's a thing of beauty!
If I'm making a blade or spatula tool then that's the final step. But if I'm making a hook tool I then bend the steel into a hook shape then add serrations by dragging the edge of the tool repeatedly across the teeth of a flat file.This hook tool is what I often use to scrape a basic smooth surface. You can perhaps use the edge of a no. 11 exacto blade to similar effect.
When you get down to final finishing, use a series of soft water color brushes with a very small amount of lubricant or solvent ( rubbing alcohol or naptha, just a drop!) to smooth and finish the surface. Don't be afraid to cut down the brushes to get the shape and thickness you need.
Bake it up hard! But only bake it at 200 degrees F, not the 275 they recommend. Let it cool in the oven if you can be patient enough to avoid thermal shock cracks. Now you can sand and carve if need be. If you need to add more clay, use a little p jelly to help adhere the new clay to the cured clay.
Hope that helps!
teabelly83
Super Freak
cant wait to see your update on gb ray chris, and david is looking awsome!
small_studios
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Chris all your stuff is coming along great!!! Just curious where is Milla on your list?
Thanks! Milla is roughed out, just got to get to her for refinement. It's tough to say when, but not too much longer. Depends on how other things go and possible moments of creative inspiration!
small_studios
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Hey sounds good to me. I know alot pf people are looking forward to alittle Milla action. Im sure you will knock it out of the park.
Hey guys,
Trying a new way of streamlining operations..... and , man, do I need streamlining!
I'm setting up a webpage for each project which will allow you to purchase the various things I have for sale.
Right now I have 2 pages done, one for my upcoming Denzel Washington head sculpt, and one for my 2 Jokers. Please check them out if your interested in either, or if you just want to see how I'm setting things up. I think it makes sense to handle things this way to help keep me organized. Eventually I'll have a main navigation menu that will allow you to load any of the pages you want, but for now I'll provide the direct link to each individual page.
Denzel Washington
The 2 Jokers!
EDIT:
Added one more page for the Star Trek Fans! My 1/6 scale Klingon Warrior Figure.
Trying a new way of streamlining operations..... and , man, do I need streamlining!
I'm setting up a webpage for each project which will allow you to purchase the various things I have for sale.
Right now I have 2 pages done, one for my upcoming Denzel Washington head sculpt, and one for my 2 Jokers. Please check them out if your interested in either, or if you just want to see how I'm setting things up. I think it makes sense to handle things this way to help keep me organized. Eventually I'll have a main navigation menu that will allow you to load any of the pages you want, but for now I'll provide the direct link to each individual page.
Denzel Washington
The 2 Jokers!
EDIT:
Added one more page for the Star Trek Fans! My 1/6 scale Klingon Warrior Figure.
Last edited:
abake
Rex Tremendae Majestatis
Sounds brilliant Chris!
I'm on the list for a RE2 Milla, but haven't sent payment yet.
Good news is I now have paypal, so I don't need to send MO's anymore (as was the case with the Star Trek crew). Anyway, PM me when you can with details so that I can paypal you the amount for Milla.
Thanks!
I'm on the list for a RE2 Milla, but haven't sent payment yet.
Good news is I now have paypal, so I don't need to send MO's anymore (as was the case with the Star Trek crew). Anyway, PM me when you can with details so that I can paypal you the amount for Milla.
Thanks!
Actually, get in contact with William Shatners Toupee since he is handling payment for Milla. He's also handling Ghostbusters, and Doctor Who.
But I'm handling all the others. Welcome to the world of PayPal!
Ultramanimator
Super Freak
Hey Chris,
I was on ebay this morning and unfortunately, Bionic Joe has struck again. He even lists your name in the auction!!!!
Hopefully, you can do something about it. Here's the link:
https://cgi.ebay.com/Custom-12-1-6-...5|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50
Shannon
I was on ebay this morning and unfortunately, Bionic Joe has struck again. He even lists your name in the auction!!!!
Hopefully, you can do something about it. Here's the link:
https://cgi.ebay.com/Custom-12-1-6-...5|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50
Shannon
abake
Rex Tremendae Majestatis
Actually, get in contact with William Shatners Toupee since he is handling payment for Milla. He's also handling Ghostbusters, and Doctor Who.
But I'm handling all the others. Welcome to the world of PayPal!
Cool, thanks Chris!
Hi Chris any chance you'd consider starting Merry and Pippen from LOTR shortly?
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