Getting Started With a Sculpting Armature and Some Words of Advice
While I will cover the basics of getting started in original sculpting, both in this tutorial and more to come, it is key to remember that lots of good reference and lots of experimentation is ultimately what will lead to success.
It is not unusual for your first few attempts at original sculpture to not come out as you intended (see my early failed attempts on the right). This is completely normal, as you learn to work with mass, bony structure and how to think in 3D. Even if you have made a lot of drastic customs, there is still a learning curve when starting from scratch.
When you start, don’t worry about perfectionism and creating something worthy of casting. Instead, focus on starting and finishing, as this is the best learning experience and the fastest route to creating work that eventually is worthy of casting. You got this!
This particular tutorial will give you some links to important reference material (although be sure to gather more yourself, particularly real horse photos and videos related to the horse you want to sculpt) and the basics of starting an armature for your very first sculpture.
It is not unusual for your first few attempts at original sculpture to not come out as you intended (see my early failed attempts on the right). This is completely normal, as you learn to work with mass, bony structure and how to think in 3D. Even if you have made a lot of drastic customs, there is still a learning curve when starting from scratch.
When you start, don’t worry about perfectionism and creating something worthy of casting. Instead, focus on starting and finishing, as this is the best learning experience and the fastest route to creating work that eventually is worthy of casting. You got this!
This particular tutorial will give you some links to important reference material (although be sure to gather more yourself, particularly real horse photos and videos related to the horse you want to sculpt) and the basics of starting an armature for your very first sculpture.
Tools and Supplies
- Reference
- Steel Wire
- A thicker wire for the spine and neck (for stablemates, try 12 gauge and 9 gage or thicker for larger scales)
- A thinner wire for legs (for stablemates, try 16 gauge, and 9-12 gauge for larger scales)
- If you are unable to find steel, sometimes copper wire is strong enough (especially for the thicker wires) but try to avoid softer metals like aluminum as they don’t hold the weight of epoxy well
- Aluminum Foil
- Tape
- Cyanoacrylate Glue (aka Super Glue)
- Baking Soda and Bowl
- Scissors and Marker Pen
Step 1: Creating the Vertebrae
The teal line demonstrates how to bend your wire to align with bony landmarks and bends in the vertebrae anatomy, starting with the head and ending at the tail.
Use your thickest gauge wire for this step to offer the most stability, as this wire will bear the greatest weight in clay or epoxy.
Use your thickest gauge wire for this step to offer the most stability, as this wire will bear the greatest weight in clay or epoxy.
Step 2: The Leg Armatures
he teal lines show you how you should bend your leg wires to line up with bony landmarks and joints. While you’re at it, mark the joint areas with a marker.
Note that design option one creates hind legs that are not very possible should you change your mind about your horse’s stance. Design option two does offer mobility.
Note that design option one creates hind legs that are not very possible should you change your mind about your horse’s stance. Design option two does offer mobility.
Step 3: Establishing the Main Mass
Crumple your aluminum foil and squish it onto and around the wire, using more foil cut into strips to wrap the whole thing in place. I usually start with the ribcage mass, as it helps to establish a reference point for the smaller mass in between the shoulders and the mass in between the hindquarters. Try to crumple and squish out as much air as possible to create a solid mass.
Step 4: Attaching the Legs
Using tape as a temporary holding device, position your legs according to the anatomy charts and your real horse reference photos. Since it is just taped on, you can make adjustments easily, and quickly see how all the legs look together.
Once you are happy, cover the upper parts that touch the foil with cyanoacrylate glue and sprinkle with baking soda to cure it fast and strong.
Once that is cured, you can bend the leg wires to match the width of a horse’s real legs.
Once you are happy, cover the upper parts that touch the foil with cyanoacrylate glue and sprinkle with baking soda to cure it fast and strong.
Once that is cured, you can bend the leg wires to match the width of a horse’s real legs.
And there you have it! An armature to start sculpting your very own horse! More tutorials to follow in the future.