Newt's paleoart

[Stegotyranno420]

@Newt woah dude
you thought me more about sculpting with a few pics than any tutorial
Thank you so much!
Also, are you fine if I become your friend?

[Newt]

@Stegotyranno420 - I'm just learning myself, but if anything I show is helpful to you, I'm glad! And sure, we can be friends.

[Halichoeres]

You know how some people can't draw hands, so all their subjects have their hands in their pockets or behind objects? You could just give it pockets.

[Newt]

Good idea, @Halichoeres ! A nice brocaded waistcoat for it to tuck its forepaws into. And curly-toed boots to hide its hindpaws. The bashful garden gnome of the Late Pennsylvanian!

[Stegotyranno420]

Actually its not too hard to sculpt hands and feet. its hard to make sure the toes don't fall off. but judging by the structure of your figure, you should be good to go

Edit:I stand corrected by my own experiences

[Newt]

Now with big nasty teeth! Needs some attention around the gums; these closeup photos show me lots of problems I can't see well with naked eyes or my magnifier lamp.





First attempt at foot armatures, using 32 gauge wire and Aves Apoxie. These will have to cure overnight. If they hold together, I will file away most of the Apoxie, clip the toe wires to length, glue them to the legs, and add clay. I'm not very confident of success, but maybe it will work.

[Halichoeres]

That looks like painstaking work. Hope your magnification lamp helps!

[Newt]

As for pains, I took a few, but then again, too few to mention...


The magnifying lamp is definitely a help, but I really would like it if I could use my point-and-shoot camera, which has a pretty good macro setting, to project images of the sculpture to my computer screen in real time. But it lacks that capacity. Maybe someday I can buy a DSLR that will do it.


Anyhow, all I got done tonight was attaching the front foot armatures and applying some clay to them. They're crude, ugly, and oversized, but it's a start. I bought some sanding needles which will hopefully help me refine these mitts.

[Newt]

Thanks, ? @Stolpergeist! I'm piddling with the pedes now. I swear, the digits are taking longer than the entire rest of the animal. I have to figure out a better way to make them. Maybe I should sculpt each toe separately and then wire them together...


Also made some texture stamps. I'm not sure if I'll use them on this guy, I kind of like his smooth skin.

[Justin_]

With something this small I would make a base and sculpt the feet on that, so you don't need to fiddle with tiny armature wires.

Maybe I should sculpt each toe separately and then wire them together...

Make lots of toes, bake them and then select the best. Keep the leftovers as you'll eventually find a use for them.

[Newt]

Thanks, @Justin_ .  It's a good idea, but I am fundamentally opposed to integrated bases for the purposes of this project. I think I'll end up following the second option instead.


More progress and slight charring:

[Kapitaenosavrvs]

Wow! impressive work. That is really small So hard to work in such a small scale. Using Isopropanol (alcohol) and a brush smoothens the Surface of Sculpey Modelling clay. If you want to use that (before Baking). It is so great to see People's progress, Ideas and Sculpting stages for learning and understanding how this whole process is working.

looking forward to the next updates

[Newt]

Haha, I was just posting on your thread while you were posting on mine, @Kapitaenosavrvs !


Thanks for the kind words and the advice. I have been using 70% isopropanol, though I think I will get a higher concentration because I am not satisfied with its action.

[Kapitaenosavrvs]

Haha, I was just posting on your thread while you were posting on mine, @Kapitaenosavrvs !


Thanks for the kind words and the advice. I have been using 70% isopropanol, though I think I will get a higher concentration because I am not satisfied with its action.

Just saw it Hehe. Thank you

I only use 99,9% Iso all the Time. Also use it to clean stuff. Here in Germany, the Prices vary alot. You can get one Liter 99% Iso from 6 to 20 Euros. It is a joke. Theres almost no Difference in Quality. I always pour it in a small bowl and put something on top, otherwise it will evaporate in no time and you use way too much of it in the End. But i guess i am talking stuff you know^^

[Newt]

I have a little jar (it used to contain minced garlic) for my isopropanol.


I miss my college days. I worked in the vertebrate collections and we had big drums of full-strength isopropanol, denatured ethanol, and formalin lying around. All the preservatives you could want! Now I have to go to the drugstore and hope they have the good stuff (I've never seen 99.9% isopropanol for sale here, but I should be able to find 91%).

[Kapitaenosavrvs]

I have a little jar (it used to contain minced garlic) for my isopropanol.


I miss my college days. I worked in the vertebrate collections and we had big drums of full-strength isopropanol, denatured ethanol, and formalin lying around. All the preservatives you could want! Now I have to go to the drugstore and hope they have the good stuff (I've never seen 99.9% isopropanol for sale here, but I should be able to find 91%).

Your College Years really sound great. Cosmetic Nail Cleaner sometimes is just 99,9% Iso, but every Country has its own Regulations, regarding this Stuff. I just buy it off Amazon (Sadly.).

[Halichoeres]

Thanks, @Justin_ .  It's a good idea, but I am fundamentally opposed to integrated bases for the purposes of this project. I think I'll end up following the second option instead.


More progress and slight charring:

Heh, coal walking was invented earlier than I thought! But seriously, your approach to the feet looks quite good.

[Reuben03]

man i wish i was skilled like this.

[Newt]

@Kapitaenosavrvs - thanks for the tip! I couldn't find nail cleaner at the local drugstore, but I did get some 91% isopropanol, which is much more effective than the 70%.


@Halichoeres - great, now I'll have the REM song "Exhuming McCarthy" in my head all day.


"You're sharpening stones, walking on coals/ To improve your business acumen"


Thanks, though. I got myself a stencil knife with a tiny blade for cleaning up between the toes; it seems to be working OK.


@Reuben03 - thanks! You can draw, so you're halfway there; you should try it!


If anyone's wondering, I have been working on this thing, but I'm down to the slow tedious part, so I have no significant updates to post.

[Gothmog the Baryonyx]

That looks very professional, and natural