Elf #1

[Blinky]

I'm sculpting several elves that will be made to stack like they are trying to reach some thing or hang decorations on a tree.This is the bottom elf.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l50/Blinky_12/Elf%20Sculpts/ElfSculpt005.jpghttp://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l50/Blinky_12/Elf%20Sculpts/ElfSculpt002.jpghttp://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l50/Blinky_12/Elf%20Sculpts/ElfSculpt001.jpg
His tounge is stuck out from the strain of holding the other elves up and he will have a furrowed brow.

[Mummy deer-est]

Oooooo, that is his tounge! I thought you missed a spot for a second there! lol

Looks great, like always, my dear.

[Blinky]

MummyDeerest yes that is his tounge do you like its over done? should I make it smaller??
I also am going to make small hands to go with this elves.He will have his fingers interlocked so a Elf can step into his hands . For a boost up.Here is the lastest pic of him sorry it blurred,Hugs and Thanks for your help.:deer:
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l50/Blinky_12/Elf%20Sculpts/ElfSculpt.jpg I still have to work on his face on the right side add a ear and build up the check and fix the eye.But opinions are welcome

[Sickie Ickie]

Looks good. Is the base you are modeling over a barbie hair style head?

[Blinky]

Can't fool you sickie huh ! lol
its was a major pain in the @ to pull all the hair out too.

[Scare Shack]

Blinkster, it's looking actually really good(as always) in the sculpting phase. Cant wait to see everything done.

[Blinky]

Blinkster, it's looking actually really good(as always) in the sculpting phase. Cant wait to see everything done.


wow SS long time to see how are you and Thank you for the nice comment
almost have him done just have to build up the neck more

pics to follow lol

[Tatiana]

Looks good. Is the base you are modeling over a barbie hair style head?


Guys your ingenuity never ceases to amaze me. Barbie styling heads...
I never would have thought of that...and here was me thinking I couldn't make any elves cos I can't find any polystyrene heads anywhere....I might just give one a go now... never tried sculpting before, but hey..no time like the present to learn!!!

[Tatiana]

its was a major pain in the @ to pull all the hair out too.

You shoulda just shaved her!

[bethene]

fantastic Blinky, I love his tongue out! great idea working on the barbie style head, just the right size for a elf!

[Blinky]

Well here he is gang all done in clay now I have to make the mold.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l50/Blinky_12/Elf%20Sculpts/PICT0137.jpghttp://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l50/Blinky_12/Elf%20Sculpts/ElfSculpt006.jpg

Thank you Bethene. maybe you can come up with a face idea for me for the second elf I would like it to be a girl elf.

Tatiana shaving them doesn't work so well ,you get stubble.and the hair melts if you try it with a electric razor.if you do shave it off you have to melt the stubble with a lighter then sand that off with a dremel tool sander.becareful not to melt the head
small areas at a time only!!! when melting the hair off.

[Blinky]

Guys your ingenuity never ceases to amaze me. Barbie styling heads...
I never would have thought of that...and here was me thinking I couldn't make any elves cos I can't find any polystyrene heads anywhere....I might just give one a go now... never tried sculpting before, but hey..no time like the present to learn!!!

I Love to teach people to sculpt. But there are several things before you start. like what kind of clay to use or weather you will try paper mache'.If you choose clay they make a air dry clay that can be painted later after it drys.Micheal's carries it
The only fall back about having clay heads is if the prop falls over the head might get damaged.Some thing with paper mache' you have to protect the final sculpt with a sealer so the weather doesn't get to it .. Good Luck and Hugs.:deer:

[Tatiana]

I Love to teach people to sculpt.

Well then no doubt I will be running to you for advice when I mess something up!! :D

We don't have Micheal's over here, but we do have the Art&Hobby shop which does a kilo of air drying clay for €20, and I have it on good authority that if I'm going to be spending a fair amount in there I'll get a discount!

[Blinky]

Well then no doubt I will be running to you for advice when I mess something up!! :D

We don't have Micheal's over here, but we do have the Art&Hobby shop which does a kilo of air drying clay for €20, and I have it on good authority that if I'm going to be spending a fair amount in there I'll get a discount!

cool here is another hint the blocks that you work from will also start to dry once you open them so store the blocks in a air tight container as you work.
also get a large trash bag to put the sculpt in when you are not working on it so you can close that up to and it may help to keep the clay soft.I have always use non drying clay cuz I make the molds of heads to sell and recast the final product in silicone it feels like flesh lol. But I will be glad to help you away I can . Do you have a digital camera?

also for the eyeballs you will need to buy at the craft store are some Wilton Cake decorating circus balloons they are made to go on cakes.But since this is scaled down you will have to make your own eyes or buy some that are 17.5mm .

[Tatiana]

Thanks for the tips! I'm sure I'll make some good use of them.
I do have a digital camera or two and I will be putting them to work!

How exactly do you recast with silicone, if you don't mind me asking? I'm thinking silicone would have better wear-n-tear than clay...

For the eyes, I was thinking very strongly of using LaurieBeast's technique of getting the iris etc. online and gluing them to balls...

[Blinky]

yes you would have to have a color printer for that technique L.B. method is called easy eyes (http://www.hauntershangout.com/graphics/projects/easyeyes/easyeyes.jpg) that is why I said you would have to buy the balloons and use them for the eyeball part they are tiny and made of plastic.But you will also need some to insert in to the clay to sculpt around so you can make eyelids and stuff.

My recast method takes and mold your pour the colored silicone in a mold and let is set up and then you pull it out and you have a head add hair and ta da you have a elf. right now I am gluing easy eyes on the balls in the sculpt and will retake pics so you can see
but these are not the eyes I will be using I buy mine from doll eyes (http://www.diandolls.com/real_eyes.htm)

[Tatiana]

Sounds like you've been at this a long time, Blinky...

[Blinky]

here he is with some fast eyeballs so you can see lol
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l50/Blinky_12/Elf%20Sculpts/ElfSculpt011.jpg

[Blinky]

Sounds like you've been at this a long time, Blinky...

yes I have been at for close to 30 years,I sell my prop heads on my websites. to see some of my work I have 2 sites the Christmas one is the link under my banner, the Halloween one is the Banner.

[Tatiana]

I'll check those out..thanks!

By the way...he's looking great!

[Blinky]

I had several people tell me he looked to mean or scarey so I changed his ears
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l50/Blinky_12/Elf%20Sculpts/PICT0141.jpghttp://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l50/Blinky_12/Elf%20Sculpts/PICT0142.jpgand I altered his eyebrows too.So he would have one raised higher then the other.

[Sickie Ickie]

should he have some sort of smile on his face?

[Blinky]

should he have some sort of smile on his face?
well sickie you make a face with your tongue sticking out and see if you smile lol
like you are straining to lift or pull something..I might close one eye huh?

[Sickie Ickie]

The one eye would be very cartoonish. :D

[Blinky]

The one eye would be very cartoonish. :D

so was that a Yes or a No ? lol I'm even going to sculpt a little kid elf for Mrs Claus to hold Lol:)

[Sickie Ickie]

as long as it doesn't look like popeye. LOL

[Mummy deer-est]

I don't think I would do one eye. But you never know til ya try.
I stood in front of the mirror making faces for ya, Blinks, but as I never stick out my tounge like that, I couldn't get a realistic idea.

But as for the girl, I'm not sure of how you are going to set them up, but it would be cute to have one with an expression like they were saying "ooooooo" and admiring the tree/ornament. maybe eyebrows both up? Can't really describe it right. And I'm sure you'll sculpt something amazing, regarless. :)

[bethene]

looking better every time I check in, Blinky! I like Mummy's idea, a little girl elf full of wonder at what she is seeing,