Author Topic: Sculpting Plains Indians (Cheyenne) (Read 64764 times)

Clearco · « **on:** January 10, 2017, 08:29:57 PM »

Hi!
My project for this year is to try and sculpt my first historical minis. I always wanted to make some Plains Indians so thats the thing I have begun with.

Here is my first sculpt: a Crow warrior.

I want to make several Crows more before I move to another tribe

How do you like it?

A bit more information at my blog:
http://clearcominiatures.blogspot.com.es/2017/01/crow-warrior-1.html

Cory · « **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2017, 09:25:16 PM »

Looking good, couple of thoughts.

The loin cloth is supple and won't follow the right leg, it should be hanging between the legs more.

The jaw line is narrow, you might look at squaring off the face a bit.

Elbows · « **Reply #2 on:** January 10, 2017, 09:25:21 PM »

Looks like you're head in the right direction...as long as you give it feet!

zippyfusenet · « **Reply #3 on:** January 10, 2017, 10:07:02 PM »

I hope I can express this in a constructive way...

The anatomy and facial features are very good, and the hair is outstanding, really well designed and executed.

The stance of the figure looks wrong to me, like he's brandishing the club and shield, rather than seriously fighting with them. The pose looks flat - I have heard that sculptors will often flatten out a figure's pose to facilitate casting, that radically 3-dimensional figures may need multi-part molds. That said, I think the shield should be in front of his body, fairly high, and the club should be either straight up in front, or swung up and back to strike a blow. The point of the club should be to the front - he's trying to strike his foe with the point. This pose looks like he's swinging the club sideways, and will make impact with the flat side of the head.

I see a lot of figures posed like this, and it bothers me. Sometimes I try to change it. Here are some very old school Rafm IN-5 Iroquois that I painted. No, I'm not a very advanced painter, or photographer either,these are about the best I've done. This is a very flat pose, with the shield held out in front. The figure on the bottom right shows the original pose. The figure on the bottom left shows how I've bent the shield arm as much as I could, to bring the shield around to the figure's front. Not a lot of change...but the original flat pose bothered me so much that I had to work on it.

Rafm IN-5 Iroquois by zippyfusenet, on Flickr

Malamute · « **Reply #4 on:** January 10, 2017, 10:28:12 PM »

Very nice, recognisable as a Crow warrior for a start, not a generic plains Indian. Looking forward to seeing more.

Of course you really need to do lots and mounted versions of all of them then get them cast and we will buy them

Clearco · « **Reply #5 on:** January 11, 2017, 08:05:49 PM »

Thank you for the comments and advices

@Cory: I´ll try to fix the loincloth. The problem with the face may be due to the light, it looks broad enough for me, but I´ll look at it again :-)

@zippyfusenet: Yes, the mini turned out to flat for my liking but I think I´ll try to fix it in the new minis rather than trying to remake this. It would be to much work and I´m afraid I´d destroy some details.
The reason I made this like that is because I wanted to make a miniature that was easy to cast. I cast myself and it´s hell to make molds of minis with parts at 90º from other parts

I´ll see what I can do in future miniatures, since I like to sculpt as dinamic as possible...
(as a poor excuse: I didn´t wanted the mini to be on a attacking position, rather in a "cautious advance boasting a bit" one but I don´t think I managed it

)

@Malamute: That it is recognisable as a Crow is the best compliment I could wish

I have 3 sets of them on my schedule and then their mounted versions...Getting a professional caster could be tricky but that´s exactly my goal

Malamute · « **Reply #6 on:** January 11, 2017, 09:45:39 PM »

Quote from: Clearco on January 11, 2017, 08:05:49 PM

I have 3 sets of them on my schedule and then their mounted versions...Getting a professional caster could be tricky but that´s exactly my goal

Excellent, looking forward to seeing them.

I am not sure by your comment are you looking for a professional caster?

I can recommend the best caster in the UK to you if needs be?

Clearco · « **Reply #7 on:** January 11, 2017, 09:50:55 PM »

Quote from: Malamute on January 11, 2017, 09:45:39 PM

I am not sure by your comment are you looking for a professional caster?

I can recommend the best caster in the UK to you if needs be?

That would be great!! I´m looking for one

Thanks!

Malamute · « **Reply #8 on:** January 12, 2017, 09:03:26 AM »

Quote from: Clearco on January 11, 2017, 09:50:55 PM

That would be great!! I´m looking for one
Thanks!

Here you go:

Probably the best and most reliable in the UK:

http://www.griffinmoulds-jjp.com/

duhamel · « **Reply #9 on:** January 12, 2017, 10:48:20 AM »

Very beautiful sculpture

Bugsda · « **Reply #10 on:** January 12, 2017, 04:50:16 PM »

Quote from: Malamute on January 10, 2017, 10:28:12 PM

Very nice, recognisable as a Crow warrior for a start, not a generic plains Indian. Looking forward to seeing more.
Of course you really need to do lots and mounted versions of all of them then get them cast and we will buy them

Yep! What he said

rumacara · « **Reply #11 on:** January 15, 2017, 11:09:14 AM »

Lovelly sculp.

Looking forward for more and if they see the light of sales i´m in for some.

Try some illustrations from Howard Terpning. If i remember right he has some very nice Crow illustrations as well as others.

P.s. also do some comanches since monsieur LeMute didnt do them... yet