Darren Carnall's creative corner

[Darren Carnall]

I can't get over the response to this. Thank you all so much!! (wait till you see what's to come)

Thanks for all the work in progress pictures. It's got to be a very rewarding feeling to make a sculpt like that from a block of wax.

You have no idea... more than you could imagine

Darren that is just incredible man! You had it in you all along to do a full scratch sculpt my friend. If its ok to ask where did you purchase your wax from and what kind of wax is it? Im thinking of casting a few wips sculpts into wax to refine.

I got my wax from this place. - https://www.willowproducts.com/index.php - There's tons of information there about using the various types of wax. The type I bought was called Zen. But there are various types, all have different properties. To be honest I've never tried any others...and this one is working ok for me so far.

Thanks for the step by step photgraphs Darren, you've really put a lot of effort into it! How difficult was the wax to work with ? I've seen others use it but don't have the skills or talent ( unlike yourself ) to be able to pull something like this off.

It's VERY different than using clay. With clay you can quickly make shapes just by shaping it with your fingers as it's very soft. But for me that was one of the problems, I had trouble when doing fine detail work as I found it very hard (impossible almost) to control the clay to such a fine degree... there were always 'wobbles' with my sculpting tools moving the clay around.

Wax is very hard (think candle wax, but harder). You can bang it on a desk and it doesnt get damaged... so you can carve it with metal sculpting tools, and you can heat it up or melt it to work with it and drip new material onto your sculpt.

This is what makes it both harder to work with, but better for me. Clay is instantly easier (and much quicker) to get your shape, but wax works better for details... and you won't accidentally smudge the face off with your thumb!

It's not for everyone... but for me it's just perfect as it give me the level of control that I just can't get from clay.

Awesome in progress shots Darren!
And the result is indeed breath-taking.

Can you shed some light on the Nanjin Spock HS?

Do you mean the other head I was using as a size reference? That's the head nanjin has been developing for the TOS figures. It was one of the very early samples before improvements were made. I'd get sent regular photos by email of where the sculptors were up to... and I'd send back photoshopped 'instructions' on what to do next and what to change/improve. I was just offering a guiding hand from a distance, doing what I could to help. The head in those pics is just one of the early samples that I got nanjin to send me so I could use it as a guide to work from in terms of the size.

I keep looking at your sculpt of Spock. He looks so real. It makes me want to get my freak on.

Well I don't quite know what that means.... but I'll take it as a compliment. Thanks!

 

[shocktrooper_au]

absolutely amazing, how do you find wax in comparison to sculpy etc... assuming you've used sculpy

 

[Kuato]

Thanks Darren! Very cool product Im actually just about to order some. By the way did you use a wax pen to heat up your wax? If not what would you recommend to use to heat it. You have really inspired me to continue trying my hand at sculpting my friend thanks again.

Chris

 

[eighthsamurai]

for the first head you've fully sculpted yourself, i'm stunned - that's some real talent right there! so now you have two awesome skills and i have none! no fair

and i'm so glad you've inspired kuato to continue sculpting - that'll make another incredible painter/sculptor talent. can't wait to see what you come up with chris! ah well, at least i can berp the alphabet. well up to c anyway.

 

[paulcarson]

Thanks Darren, looking forward to your next masterpiece!

 

[Darren Carnall]

absolutely amazing, how do you find wax in comparison to sculpy etc... assuming you've used sculpy

see my previous post, I outlined the differences there

Thanks Darren! Very cool product Im actually just about to order some. By the way did you use a wax pen to heat up your wax? If not what would you recommend to use to heat it. You have really inspired me to continue trying my hand at sculpting my friend thanks again.

I didn't get a wax pen because of the cost, so I bought a cheap electric camping stove. The flat single ring kind. I have my wax in a metal tray on this, on a low heat.. this melts the wax then I can dip in with my metal sculpting (dental) tools. If i need to heat these up i just hold them onto the hot plate for a bit.

You can see the hotplate with the metal tray over to the left. (this was taken when I was working on the Spock head)

By the way.... I'm so glad that you say I've inspired you to sculpt again. I can't think of a better thing to have done

for the first head you've fully sculpted yourself, i'm stunned - that's some real talent right there! so now you have two awesome skills and i have none! no fair

and i'm so glad you've inspired kuato to continue sculpting - that'll make another incredible painter/sculptor talent. can't wait to see what you come up with chris! ah well, at least i can berp the alphabet. well up to c anyway.

Hey..... that's better than up to 'b'

Seriously though, thanks..... you're wayyyyy too kind

 

[Mooncat]

Fantastic work m8 outstanding

Pm shot your way btw

 

[Ryu]

So the wax in the metal tray is practically like melted candle wax while in the tray?

Phenomenal sculpt btw.

 

[Kuato]

Alright Darren! thanks alot man, i appreciate you taking the time and answering all my questions. I ordered the zen Gray wax earlier, hopefully ill get the invoice soon to pay it up and get it here asap. I was thinking of using a heat gun instead of the wax pen myself but your idea witht he metal tray and camping stove is great! Ill let you know how my transfer from sculpey to wax goes. Thanks samurai for the kind words

 

[csi]

great work on Spock. I was checking out your webpage and saw your MacGyver custom. You should make a 1/6 scale MacGyver head next.

 

[Reinhardt]

Ripley is in the house!!!! Darren's work pretty much speaks for itself. Just beautiful. He completely redid the headsculpt and painted it, weathered the jacket, weathered the weapons, and increased Ripley's height. Thanks mate!!! Definitely one of the most beautiful pieces in my collection.

 

[drjedisith]

rein that looks awesome man! hey darren i paypaled you for this ripley head by the way details on who to send it to are with it.
cant wait to have her on my shelf with the marines.

 

[aioras19]

you are best darren

 

[abake]

Wow!
That really looks fantastic.

 

[Darren Carnall]

Thanks for all the kind words guys, you're all way too kind

So the wax in the metal tray is practically like melted candle wax while in the tray?

Phenomenal sculpt btw.

yeah it's a pool of hot liquid wax (have to be careful with fingers!)

Alright Darren! thanks alot man, i appreciate you taking the time and answering all my questions. I ordered the zen Gray wax earlier, hopefully ill get the invoice soon to pay it up and get it here asap. I was thinking of using a heat gun instead of the wax pen myself but your idea witht he metal tray and camping stove is great! Ill let you know how my transfer from sculpey to wax goes.

A heat gun or hair dryer on hot would work in softening the wax up too. (I've used a hair dryer to 'bend' sculpted wax a little when I didn't want to change the sculpting just the shape a bit. But y ou have to be careful as it quickly goes from soft, to dripping (and VERY hot)

Hope it goes well for ya!

great work on Spock. I was checking out your webpage and saw your MacGyver custom. You should make a 1/6 scale MacGyver head next.

hehe... never say never I guess.

Ripley is in the house!!!! Darren's work pretty much speaks for itself. Just beautiful. He completely redid the headsculpt and painted it, weathered the jacket, weathered the weapons, and increased Ripley's height. Thanks mate!!! Definitely one of the most beautiful pieces in my collection.

oh my god Reinhardt that looks GREAT all kitted up and in front of that background. EXCELLENT photo!!!!

I'm so glad you like it... I really am. Thanks for the wonderful words

rein that looks awesome man! hey darren i paypaled you for this ripley head by the way details on who to send it to are with it.
cant wait to have her on my shelf with the marines.

on it's way

you are best darren

well.. no, I'm not. Not by a long stretch... but I'm learning all the time. My aim is not to be the best, but to be as good as I can be. I'll get there one day.... hopefully lol

Thanks though..... seriously. Means a lot!!!

 

[Darren Carnall]

oh, and I meant to say in the previous post.... I know a few people are waiting for pm replies. I'll try to get to them today. I've managed to get caught up with most of them but there's still some to get back to. Sorry about that... sometimes it's just a case of deciding whether to spend several hours answering emails/pm's or get another piece of painting/sculpting finished.... and sometimes I get the balance a bit wrong and leave people waiting.

I'll get to them. I promise

 

[Crimsonbob]

Im looking forward to getting my Ripley head sculpt Darren, cheers m8

 

[Mooncat]

Fantastic work m8 outstanding

Pm shot your way btw

To quote Simple Minds

"Don't you forget about me, Wont you come see about me ? Ill be alone masturbating a donkey baby"

Im not a Simple Minds aficionado but my scentement is something along those lines

give or take a donkey

 

[Dark_Spidey]

Hey there Darren, did you get the PM I wrote you about a week ago? Can't wait to see Old Snake done!

Please keep me updated! Thanks, Darren!

 

[Darren Carnall]

all pm's answered

Now onto a few emails (and a Post Office run) before I get some painting done...