Let out the ARTIST in you!!!!

[Maximilianus]

Var, you are an awesome sculptor!
Your sculpting is so awesome that I just can't believe how awesome it is!

[Varenne Rodin]

Thank you, Max! Hehe. That makes me feel happy!

[MystyrMystyry]

A fairy sculpture in polymer clay. She's about 3.5 inches tall on her base. Itty bitty.

Is she a bit self-portraity? Can't say I've seen a platinum blonde fairy before Varenne. And life-size too (for a fairy I mean - not Tussaud's). Quite amazing in the detail department. The weave and stitching on the clothes is fine enough to not look out of place.


I've been glooping again:



(From a new video)

[Varenne Rodin]

Cool! The ripples are amazing!

Thanks for the sweet things you said about my fairy, Mystyry. They say we put a bit of ourselves into our art, so you may be right about that. Her costuming required lots of tiny stitches. The lace overlay on top was the most time intensive.

[MystyrMystyry]

Yes, I'm quite happy with that ripply discovery V Currently over-using it on just about everything (sensational animated - hopefully finished by Friday, video's so time consuming though that I can sense something's going to come up between today and then)

What type of glass bead for the eyes and wand? It looks opalescent. A sculptor's secret perhaps?

[tonywalt]

I had a business meeting today with some1 so boring i sketched instead of notes. I drew a dove in his arm.

[Varenne Rodin]

I see the dove! That's awesome Tony!

[Varenne Rodin]

Yes, I'm quite happy with that ripply discovery V Currently over-using it on just about everything (sensational animated - hopefully finished by Friday, video's so time consuming though that I can sense something's going to come up between today and then)

What type of glass bead for the eyes and wand? It looks opalescent. A sculptor's secret perhaps?

It is partially a secret. I make beads/crystals/water drops from start to finish by layering glazes. The eyes are more complex and contain multiple materials. They start out as balls of clay.

[tonywalt]

Varenne,

I love the fairy sculpture. Is it tricky baking it? Certain temperature/time? Very talented!

[Varenne Rodin]

Varenne,

I love the fairy sculpture. Is it tricky baking it? Certain temperature/time? Very talented!

Thank you, Tony! The baking process can be tricky. Overbaking creates scorch marks, underbaking can cause cracks. I bake these at about 270 degrees fahrenheit. 30 minutes per quarter inch thickness. Then a cooling time in the oven. Going from hot to cool too fast will definitely crack them. I also have to bake them on soft cotton pads to maintain their shape.

The great thing about polymer clay is that it can be baked in a home oven. I have a second oven anyway because I don't want to have to clean out art residue every time I go to bake food. Eventually I plan to get a kiln so I can make porcelain ball jointed figures and great big things.

The other big pro to polymer clay is that it stays pliable and workable until it's baked. I'm usually shaping a piece for four to eight ten hour days.

[tonywalt]

That's pretty incredible Varenne. It must be nice to follow your passion.

Not that I don't like the artsy bohemian world of investment banking

[MystyrMystyry]

Interesting Varenne

Cool line drawing Tones. You should let yourself get bored more often


This is the 22nd version of this thing, and I think I've finally got it right (though it's subject to change). Credit goes to gt3232 for the model, but I did design the water and weather. I wanted more than it just drifting through the mist - trying to achieve a realistic angle placement on the Flying Dutchman has proven to be the hardest part, though no doubt building the model myself would have been still more difficult.

[tonywalt]

Interesting Varenne

Cool line drawing Tones. You should let yourself get bored more often


This is the 22nd version of this thing, and I think I've finally got it right (though it's subject to change). Credit goes to gt3232 for the model, but I did design the water and weather. I wanted more than it just drifting through the mist - trying to achieve a realistic angle placement on the Flying Dutchman has proven to be the hardest part, though no doubt building the model myself would have been still more difficult.

That's really cool MM. It's so striking!

[Varenne Rodin]

Amazing, Mystyry! I love it! So dark and stormy.

How is the video coming along?

[MystyrMystyry]

Thanks, and sorry, no, no video yet - but it should be better for the delay