Ancient Elder Bio ~ Bio Sculpt, Mold and Cast project.

[Uratz]

last night i started on my wire frame under mask , i must say wow, pretty big , i likes it, took me a couple goes to get the wire bending to suit me. i made a wire bender template board, to help in my wire bending efforts. uratz has hit the nail on the head with this idea. thanks again for the info. i'll post pix when i get a chance to. of my wip on my version of the wire under masj, i'll also tell how i made my wire bender template. later and uratz thanks again, the info is being put to use.

Wow man can't wait to see it. Send me a link of your huntorial page when you're ready.

Update: I'm still blocking in and getting the symmetry right, now the masses of clay just not there yet. I've been told that even the most impatient person can have the patience of a saint when it comes to doing what they love. So I'm gonna try to slow my self down, just feeling impatient that it doesnt look finished yet.

 

[one and only]

Wow man, it's really coming along well!
Can't wait to see it finished!

 

[Uratz]

Howdy Ho Hunters!

Got more done this weekend. Detailing and constant shaving off. Trying to keep the balance..of proportions and symmetry. It tough and I'm dead tired. I even got headaches from concentrating too hard.
Anyway here's the picts. Still have to keep refining and add on the minor stuff later. The trilobite looking back of helmet will be fun

 

[Uratz]

I have a confession to make, I hate Symmetry and anything nice and neat. I am the student who like to go and color beyond the lines. Then I grew up and adopted a false misconception about art. Back in the art college days I used to try to draw very nice and neat to make perfect lines, then my professors taught me to chill out and make powerful and accurate (anatomcally) art, not pretty pictures. Then my art began to evolve to wild and crazy lines at the same time conveying/interpreting reality as accurate as I see it. Then after graduation I occasionally went back to one of my fav profs, for life drawing night class and then I was told no to draw anymore (because I was regurgitating everything I've learned and my art has no individuality) and pick up something new like sculpting.

So I did. Although my art look went from a lifeless nice lined art to German expressionist and Mexican muralist (which I'm happy with) it's honesty from my soul that's coming out. This is a good thing. So I learned to be honest with myself. Every art/medium has its goals and criteria and in sculpting helmets/bios and anything technical, symmetry is one criteria that one should strive for. Yes I can make an excuse and say "in nature not everything is symmetrical even alien Predator's face, so their helmets should be based on fitting their imperfect asymmetrical face."

OK lets be honest I drew lines in photoshop overlaying various parts of the bio, using the grid method jsut to see if it lines up. I will do my best to make everything as symmetrical as my health allows....

 

[Uratz]

The Durer Grid:

" The Dürer Grid is a modern adaptation of the historic drawing tool used by Da Vinci and Van Gogh. It is attributed to Albrecht Dürer, whose master drawings from five centuries ago still astonish us for their realism.

Here's how it works. Position the Dürer Grid close to your subject matter. Draw a similar grid pattern on your canvas or paper. Looking through the Dürer Grid and using its lines as a road map, transfer what you see onto your own gridded surface.

Elastic cords can be moved up or down to form any number of configurations, including diagonal patterns useful for perspective drawing. The 40" × 40" model has a smoothly finished hardwood frame. The 18" × 18" model has a PVC frame. This studio floor model stands 6 feet tall with a 40" × 40" grid. Thorough instructions are included. "

Its a good tool, you can make it at home using picture or canvas frames and stretch sewing strings/ threads like in the picture. Or if you're rich you can buy one from:

http://www.dickblick.com/zz556/25/

 

[PredalienKing]

Very cool man. I am hoping to start my own in the next week or so. Is this bio for display or for a suit?
Most triumphant.

 

[Uratz]

Very cool man. I am hoping to start my own in the next week or so. Is this bio for display or for a suit?
Most triumphant.

This is totally for my own display. No plans on selling. I will be making molds and pulling casts. I don't have much resin and I do have other bios that I also want to do next: Celtic
These bio are huge about 50cm across and will take maybe 3-4kg worth of resin for each. I'll be making a special back side mold that will help save resin and keep the bio at a thickness that will be strong yet economical resin-wise. This itself will be a huntorial

 

[BANE]

looking pretty spectacular, again more great tips and info.

not sure how to set up the link to my huntorial . any help their would appreciated. thanks for the words of wisdom and the warping issue you mentioned in my armature thread. i'll keep it as symetrical as i can, but if you look closely at the orange head, it's pretty lumpy, but i'll rid the lumps with the plaster cloth. keep it coming, great looking bio.

 

[Uratz]

looking pretty spectacular, again more great tips and info.

not sure how to set up the link to my huntorial . any help their would appreciated. thanks for the words of wisdom and the warping issue you mentioned in my armature thread. i'll keep it as symetrical as i can, but if you look closely at the orange head, it's pretty lumpy, but i'll rid the lumps with the plaster cloth. keep it coming, great looking bio.

The link thing is easy, jsut copy and paste the "http:www.-" address u see up top on your internet browser and paste in your reply. Anyway I found your blog and I will check up on it all the time So start your sculpt!!

 

[Uratz]

Update:

Worked 5 hours last night tightening up and refining the surface detail and minor form adjustment. Realised the back right side is warped downwards. I also re traced the lines for th trilobite armor detail to make it more symmetrical. Look like I didnt do anything but actually its a lot of tiny detail work. Tonight will fix the warped issue by cutting the form! After this then sculpt the laser sight and futher detailing-detailing, detailing.....

 

[Uratz]

Update: LAser sight added, all the little mechanical parts added. Warped back part fixed as best as I can. Further refine surface form. Still have a long way to go.
Tiny rock texture still need to be added in final sculpt, the trilobite armor leveling need to be done, so on & so forth. Its tough work.

 

[Uratz]

Just a Message to all you Kids out there: Just say NO to Drugs and drunkeness & YES to Bio Sculpting!
I was hungover this morning and drunk last night at a restaurant party and now my creative energy is sapped and preventing me from making a good sculpt. This goes to show that Sculpting Bio is a good thing and its better than getting high. Making the Bio itself is a natural high for me and its good for me.

So you know its a good thing when I rather be home being sober and sculpting my bio rather than hanging out with a bunch of drunkards. Will try my best to do some sculpt tonight, in the final stages of sharpening some angles, refining surfaces and correcting any major noticeble flaws. Gotta keep the sculpting momentum going otherwise if I stop the train from rolling it will never get moving again. Oh another note, being drunk also destroys vital brain cells that grew while being creative. Now I gotta re-grow some sculpting brain nerves to make my brain better again. Dont want to end up stupid now do we?

 

[ssnake66]

Pwetty ceauwl...


Dude ure like a pro?

I love the way u work man!



Good luck with it!

Cya

 

[Uratz]

Time for a Disclaimer:

I am not a PRO so don’t take my words for granted. Always read instructions and learn from Professionals and manufacturers for the silicone, resin and plaster powders you’re buying. I spend a lot of time reading, making notes, watching sculpting/mold videos from YOUTUBE and John Brown’s Sculpting Gnomon Workshop videos. I read everything on Smooth-On.com about making molds and material specs.

I keep a notebook filled with ideas and thinking visually to help with my sculpting and molding process so that I minimize mistakes and work efficiently. Always work in well ventilated place and keep animals and children away from your resin chemicals and plaster powders. Wear Gloves when handling any resin, silicone and plaster. Wear dust mask to prevent plaster powder curing in your lungs. Stay away from resin when curing! IT will release cancerous fumes and burn your lungs so read all instructions. Spend more time learning about sculpting/molding/ casting before you buy all the materials. Wear an impact goggle and dust mask when using dremel tools.

Always do your homework and ask questions from site like this one and u can always write emails to manufacturers before buying their stuff. Good Luck kids!

I got some books in the mail today regarding knowledge of FX:

 

[PredalienKing]

You may not consider yourself a pro dude, but for all newbie members looking to get a start your an inspiration. Just keeping a detailed post on your work makes you a pro in my eyes as your giving me the knowledge i need to maybe be as good as yourself.
Hunt on my friend

 

[Uratz]

You may not consider yourself a pro dude, but for all newbie members looking to get a start your an inspiration. Just keeping a detailed post on your work makes you a pro in my eyes as your giving me the knowledge i need to maybe be as good as yourself.
Hunt on my friend

Thanks for the kind words and support. Without encouragement from us Hunters we all wouldnt be doing what we do now. I myself like to thank the real pro's like ADI and Stan Winston (eventhough I don't know them personally) for inspiring people like me and all of us here. This Predator Blog site also has many members from newbie to professional that do a lot of great and even the not so great work (which I love most), all inspired me to take on this challenge. I am lucky enough to be blessed with some artistic talent and went to Art college to pursue my interest and now here I am doing it.

I just hope all of you can benefit from whatever I have to offer in the next few pages. I'd also like to thank whoever created this Blog forum, I just wished I have found it earlier. I also encourage everyone to keep on hunting and making whatever thay can because someday we all will end up being the next Stan Winston or Tom Woodruff or any of those guys in ADI.

Good Hunting
Mike a.k.a Uratz

Here is my home workshop: Living room and porch converted to a little sculpting and molding dept.

 

[PredatrHuntr]

Love your Bio - its coming along nicely. Thanks for the pics of your workspace. Its not a lot of room, but you have certainly done well with what you have...

 

[Uratz]

New Development!

Over the weekend got a lot done and a major change. I was using a Biohunter sculpt picture for refs and I noticed huge differences between the ADI version and His version so I modified mine according to the new image I screencap from the AVP featurette. In the picture you'll see I've changed my cheeks and laser sight to resemble ADI's version of the Ancient Elder helmet. Also the curve part of the forehead has been re carved to have a more aerodynamic swoop like the real Pred Bio's. The AVP2 ADI book helped a lot, provided me with good refs of Ian's trial costume fit and they were using the Ancient Elder helmet. Of course there were like 2 tiny pictures but enough to convey the idea. More picts below

 

[crawjaw]

How spooky. Your taste in bedside reading is very much like mine.
I have all of them except Designing Movie Creatures and Characters: Behind the scenes with the movie masters.

I won't spoil it by telling you the one I like the best, but then again they're all good. Happy browsing.

 

[Uratz]

How spooky. Your taste in bedside reading is very much like mine.
I have all of them except Designing Movie Creatures and Characters: Behind the scenes with the movie masters.

I won't spoil it by telling you the one I like the best, but then again they're all good. Happy browsing.

I guess we all have the same interest, thats why we are on this wonderful blogsite. U should get Designing Movie Creatures and Characters. It has a lot of other great effect artists working for other FX shops other than ADI. Mostly they are talented sculptors. I came to realize that though it starts with a great 2d concept art, when it really needs to come to life, one must sculpt it from clay. Even God is a sculptor: He took dirt from the ground and breathe life into it. This book also run through the history of movie FX from Harry Hausen till today, a good FX history book