Scar Predator AVP Sculpture Pt II

Scar Predator Sculpture Commission. This will be produced in latex rubber and the fibreglass lifecast the clay is sculpted on will be used as a core for the soft foam filling. Item to be used for costuming with Bio helmets

Scar Predator AVP Sculpture

AVP Scar Predator commisioned sculpture, this will be produced in latex rubber with a soft foam core to fit over the wearers head perfectly. It's sculpted at a movie scale to fit the AVP Scar helmet I produced a while back for Mysteria Models. This is the sculpt roughed out ready to begin detailing.

AVPr Predalien Pt II

Returning to all things Alien…The Predalien Sculpture continues. Sculpted in Chavant NSP medium oil clay, life-size at approx 23 inches high. There’s still a little refining to do but it’s pretty much there. Still finalising the moulding of this piece. Additional parts to complete the sculpture will come in a clear vac-formed plastic dome, upper and lower lips and the stringy tendons attached to the upper and lower jaw areas.

AvPR - Requiem Alien Hybrid PredAlien Sculpture

Whilst looking over some of the artists on myspace Steve Wang’s work is at the top of the game when it comes to sculpting for the Alien Predator franchises, he’s worked on many of the title creatures from as far back as Predator in the 80’s up to the latest offerings in AvPR.

It’s been a while since I did any new work for Mysteria Models or the garage kit industry and having already a new sculpture that’s been waiting for a release ive decided to do something mainstream. The Alien Hybrid PredAlien sculpture will be the flagship release if you like, with the kind of interest it will generate it should open the door nicely to a future kit company. Expected release sometime in the second half of the year with hopeful coverage in Amazing Figure Modeler, so stay tuned for more updates on this work and any of the other kits that will make up the new product line.

Reference images for the sculpture from Steve Wangs myspace portfolio and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem - Inside the Monster Shop

Orang-utan sculpture study

I decided a while back to start doing some life studies in clay, here’s one of the first of a young Orang-utan Ape sculpture, the image reference for the sculpt was from a birthday card I picked up in Boarders bookstore, I saw the card and thought that would make a cute project and reflect something other than the stuff I’ve been working on recently.

Images of the clay sculpt and the silicone casting, currently awaiting paint and hair punching

Ron Mueck's Mask II & Siren at STATUEPHILIA

The weekend saw a trip to the STATUEPHILIA exhibition at The British Museum, London. The museum itself was wondrous, from outside the traditionally looking ancient architecture of an old London and through the foyer to the main hall where up above we transition to glass and steal domed roofing and polished marble architecture, which in turn seemed quite fitting to the exhibits of Contemporary sculpture stood side by side with ancient sculptures from around the world.

The STATUEPHILIA exhibits include Antony Gormley, Case for an Angel I. Damien Hirst, Cornucopia. Ron Mueck, Mask II. Time Noble and Sue Webster, Dark Stuff, and Marc Quinn, Siren.

The Australian born artist living and working in London, Ron Mueck’s work has always inspired from the days of working at the Henson Creature Shop on films like Labyrinth to his more modern approach to Contemporary Art with his hyper realistic sculptures.

Ron Mueck Mask II 2001/2002 Mixed media is an amazing work of art, from the pictures I’d seen it almost looked caricatured but seeing it in the flesh was incredible, the depth of detail and realism brought it to life with an almost eerie quality coupled with it’s overwhelming size. Installation video

Marc Quinn Siren, a life-size statue of a modern day goddess Kate Moss crafted in gold.

-WithIn- Female Cow Hybrid

The female cow hybrid sculpture finished...
The water clays been sealed with crysta clear spray and a mould divide added just passed half way, It was decided early on to due to costs and construction that the sculpture would be photographed front on and that this would be a static display.....

The first layer of silicone moulding rubber is brushed on and left to gell....
Once all the silcone work was complete this multi peice fibre glass mother jacket was produced, this was to hold the rubber moulds position aswell as the weight, in total the finsihed mould weighted approx 25 kilos, there was also a resin plate mould made of the back half.....
Mmooo baby!! the resin casting produced using polyester gell coat layers pigments and reinforced with fibre glass. I've decided to leave the eyes in the cast instead of using glass eyes seen as one eye's iris and pupil will be distorted to match the eye socket, I've also left the teeth in the which seemed little need to dremel out and add acrylic

Night's dawn

She gasped that breathe of darkness as the last of the shabby dust bin liners that bound her time and body where pulled from her being... I’m currently resurrecting this sculpt, I’ve made a few changes and have a few more changes to carve.

I’ve also found myself involved with the old Facial Distortions gang, although there’s no FD anymore it’s cool to sit and work ideas out and maybe get something going again. There was plans for a film short involving some Ancient English history but due to it’s graphic nature it looks like another idea will have to come from the pits of hell….

MARIE
Hello Jack!!

The man’s heart beat stopped as he looks into the darkness franticly

MARIE
Look at poor old you all alone in this place, I promise not to leave you alone my little saucy boy jack…

From the darkness the man slowly looks up shaking and we see the angelic face of Marie,
she’s around 25 years old, she has blonde hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion, she’s wearing from what we can see a linsey frock and red shawl around her shoulders, her face is quite attractive, the man’s eyes stay fixed on Marie’s eyes.

MARIE
Have you missed me Jack, oh how I dream of thee, my little saucy boy.

Marie slowly walks towards the man and bends down close to him, she holds her arm oddly as if hiding something from him. The man’s heart pounds beating again furiously, his shaking intensifies. Marie smiles

MARIE
I have a little something for you Jack

The mans eyes fall to where Marie’s hand is deliberately hiding something

Marie’s hand slowly turns by the wrist lifting into frame a fresh bloodied kidney with arteries still attached, she holds it in front of her face towards the man and slowly rakes a delicate nail over the glistening blood of its surface

The man screams terrified

MARIE
Lost your stomach Jack

Marie’s eyes widen as her lips begin to smile darkly

MARIE
What’s the matter Jack had your fill, do you not wish to eat me, have a little slice…… no grapes for dessert?

A Vagrant Dream

It’s been a while since my last post, a busy couple of months and the murky mists of time are finally clearing WithIn the confines of my work and it’s eloquent play. The perils of our mind can sometimes delve deeply and although my latest piece is purposeful in its perverse imagery perhaps I allowed my mind to open the doors a little to candidly. I always love the concept of what’s never seen holds so much power over the mind, but god do I wish to peek. This sculpture did that, it allowed your mind to explore what could never be filmed through censorship, my little Intergalactic Angel.

January seen me at Imats 2008, the London International Make Up Artist Trade Show. It was a great event with key note speaker Rick Baker stealing the week end to some degree, Jordu Schell was sculpting on Neill Gorton’s stand which was by far and yet again the hive of activity. Other speakers and demonstrators included Neill Gorton, Nick Dudman, Bob Keen, Cliff Wallace and John Schoonraad doing an incredible full body cast on a live model posed dynamically. Then onto Millennium FX studio for a week with Jordu Schell on his sculpture coarse, if gods are gods then they truly live within the hands of Jordu whose work continues to drive and inspire. I’ll be putting links to the sidebar soon with galleries for Imats 2006, 2007, 2008 and finally a week later a visit to the first ever Monster Mash so a gallery will be created as well.

The highlight of it all was having my sculpture displayed at the Imats show and the Monster Mash, it opened the door to meeting some fellow artists and supportive feedback on my work, the events and the industry on a whole.

Update on the Alien Surgeon, she's finally in the rubber!!, there's been a little intrinisic colouring but the rest will be done by paint and air brush over the coming week

-WithIn- Alien General Surgeon

He's in the mould, here's the progress on the Surgeon. The water clay work is complete and currently undergoing fibreglass moulding, the fingers and tongue need a little more work and will follow the same process shortly.

The lastest addiditon to this years Imats 2008 include Nick Dudman, currently Mr Dudman runs the highest profile traditional FX workshop in the UK and have completed Animatronic and Special Make-Up Effects for all the Harry Potter films.

"WithIn Space A Scream Is Just The Beginning......"

The Predator Strikes Back

Whilst roaming around some of the forums I'm a member off I was stoked to find this posting "diavolo from Italia, the first Preadator in my country 5th month of work... all made by meself (except skin and helmet).... and now he lives..." by Diavolobianco. He's done an incredible job on the costume and had the forum in somewhat of a stir with his ingenious use of materials for the armour, plastic waste buckets of all things.

A close up of the costume and the helmet Diavolo used, my Mysteria Models AVP Scar Predator helmet produced as a garage kit and limited cold cast metal replica for the cinema release of AVP Aliens vs Predator the movie

Slated for a UK January 2008 release the clock is ticking, Here's one of NECA's toys to tie in with the release of AVP-r, the Alien Predator Hybrid creature, but here's what im really waiting for "Alien vs. Predator: Survival of the Fittest" ADI opens its doors to unveil the secrets of the creature design process behind two of the most frightening characters ever! From conception to fabrication and finishing, follow their talented crew in-studio and on location through this captivating book and accompanying creature FX DVD....hubba hubba and a bucket of popcorn!!

Broody Bats!! and finally for this months low down, The Dark Knight returns in this sculptural rendition following the incredible comic artwork of Alex Ross. This was sculpted a couple of years ago for Mysteria Models but due to other work commitments never seen an official release. Here's a cold cast bronze I did a few months back.

Northern Star

The Baltic chill has taken over the creatureshop like a crippling disease and I’m aching from it’s ill gotten gains, ok I’m fulla flue so things have been a little slow lately. Seen as I’ve been stuck in doors recouping and coughing I decided to do some oil clay, It’s a medium I’ve did very little with so I’ll be working on some studies in doors, the first of which is a rather young Orangutan,

I’ve just ordered another nice pair of primate eyes from http://www.eyedentity.co.uk/ for a very senior looking ape and I also have plans for a special ape but more on that as it happens. Check out MilleniumFX forum whilst you’re passing, its Neill Gorton’s forum specializing in Dr Who replicas produced by the team behind the hit show’s FX. They also cover general FX and the board members can post projects their working on and ask Neill questions

I did get a little further with the Surgeon and his enigmatic smile.

Perhaps the coolest news I’ve heard recently is that the one FX artist after Ray Harryhausen that inspired me so much, the incredibly talented 6 times Oscar winner Rick Baker will be quest keynote speaker at this years IMATS 2008 http://www.makeupmag.com/

And finally my special love at present, Daisy!! When Aliens go that one step to far and cocktail female and cow DNA to produce Hybrids as cattle for their offspring, don't shudder at the udder!! She’s got some ways to go yet but she’s patient :)

Watch the skies!!

-Gerard

Swimming a little deep

-WithIn-
The week ends been busy with various goings on in the creature shop. Still hot on the heels of finishing the second concept for -WithIn- the Intergalactic Alien General Surgeon I've also managed to reclaim a sculpt that had been lingering in a dark corner for about a year and got her up right and erected firmly on a new sculpture stand made specially for her, this will make the third concept for -WithIn- the mutilation but more on that to come.

But more on the first concept, the Aquatic Alien that lives in an eye (sculpture work in progress) With the whole concept of the lifeform living within the eye and the rather complex forms of the iris it was time to do some early tests with my Fuji Finepix S7000 and a miniDV cam, we need a bigger tank!!, ultimately the early tests have opened the door but the question still remains, will this be an articulated silicone prop or will it be digital.....

Image 1 and 2 - Blank resin casts
Image 3 - The silicone test Alien with it's rather fleshy look
Image 4 - A test Alien Foetus

"There out there, Watching, Waiting, Mutilating......."