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.

Styrofoam poodle rough cut for armature

I started off with a 50" x 40" x 15" block of Styrofoam and used the hot-wire tool to cut out the rough profile.

I modified the tool and create a somewhat hot-wire jig saw... worked great.

Here you can see all the scrap pieces. They will be used for future sculptures. If you ever priced Styrofoam, it is expensive, go figure.

Here is the poodle profile cut-out. Perhaps Friday or Saturday I will revisit the poodle armature with a hand held hot-wire and work on removing the excess foam. We want to get close to the poodle's life-size measurements. I plan on making the final clay dog sculpture an additional 5% larger in order to off set the shrinkage we will encounter during the foundry procedure.

Rough Rendering for Poodle clay sculpture

This will be my reference study for roughing out the Styrofoam and keeping the poodle sculpture in proportion. Moreover, it will allow me to purchase the correct sized block of Styrofoam. The block of Styrofoam will be purchase Monday and I will commence the cutout using hotwire tools to expedite the process. Tuesday August 4th is the scheduled day for the hot wire process. If anyone is interested in viewing the process live, you will need to visit my dog sculpting channel. I should be ready to go by noon, PST. I will post follow up images within 24 hours of the procedure.

The pose is a fairly accurate description of what the client expressed.

The legs will be repositioned later.

Film strip snapshots of all images take of Tracker

Possible standing poodle poses for the bronze statue of Tracker

This image taken at the beach depicts Tracker in a great action pose. Though the image lacks detail, it is not an issue since I have plenty of high resolution images of Tracker the poodle.

Tracker the Poodle photo shoot

Tracker is quite the gentleman for he was very well behaved.

The photo shoot and measurements for the life-size commission went better than planned.

My flight left Ontario International Airport at 7:30 Am and I was back from San Francisco at 1:40 PM.

Below are a few of the images taken of Tracker the poodle

This is a bird's eye view of the proposed pose.

Here is the diagonal view for the pose.





Tracker it was a pleasure to take your photos and measurements for your life-sized bronze sculpture. Soon there will be two of you in the office. Hopefully your bronze clone will be as behaved as you.