Poodle gets his new eyes and fur texture

Tracker gets his new eyes and the sculpting of his fur texture begins.

Poodle armature begins to take shape

Today's results were created using a rasp and drywall tool. The process was broadcast live on http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tutorial%3A-how-to-sculpt-in-clay---artistsculptor

Here you can see where the eye-sockets were created. The legs will be formed after the torso has reached the desired shape.

The drywall tool worked well on the Styrofoam. The only draw back is that it creates giant size snow flakes. As I was working I was thinking snow, but the room temperature told a different story, it was in the 90's. So much for positive thinking.

Here is a closer look at the tool. It worked like a coarse rasp.

Tomorrow I will continue with the same procedure; until I get within 1/2" of the desired scale.

Styrofoam poodle rough cut for armature second phase

Today I began to remove the excess foam in order to get closer to Tracker's confirmation. I first used a felt marker to scribe my cutting lines. The process will take several passes before it begins to look like a poodle.

I used a hot-wire hand tool. It is like cutting butter. The fumes are the part I dislike. Yes, I used two fans to aid with the ventilation.

The Styrofoam dog will look more like a block dog for now, but with every pass it receives it will fine tune the desired proportions.

Here Tracker looks more like big bird, but this is normal. The next two phases will get him looking more like a poodle.