Thanks for the feedback! Even though Bodem was later revised to the axe shape, it was still interesting to consider the method you outlined initially with the framework. I definitely need to practice the principles of these block-ins more regularly. When I've tried 'speed sculpting', it's so easy to fly off the path early on. Particularly with digital - starting with a default sphere and limitless tools has often been a one way ticket to some seriously messed up blob faces.

Here for the ear! For this one I kinda wanted to get a suppleness across - which I don't think I really managed with the other features so far. Pretty happy with it overall, except for the back. Struggled with the conch and the back + underside in general. Couldn't mentally relate the internal ear to the external shape of the conch. Although next time I would perhaps stick holes right through the clay early on to gauge the thickness of certain areas.

Hi everyone.  my first assignment

Finally finished up the skull assignment. For reference imagery I was predominantly focusing on skull that I found on Pinterest. Although, the reference teeth didn't appear to be correct (?) - so looked at other reference for those. The teeth also took way longer than I was anticipating. There was a lot of quite heavy revising, even late on, but overall I'm pretty happy with the outcome.

Thanks for these great variation of armature approaches! Although this particular tutorial was regarding polymer clay, just thought I'd add a note about using aluminium foil with oil-based clay. Personally I've found if you're planning to reclaim and reuse the clay down the line, oil-based clay doesn't always peel away from the foil without it ripping. This can leave very small aluminium shrapnel in the clay. Which isn't ideal if (like me) you reheat oil-based clay in the microwave. So in that scenario, I tend to add an external layer of a different material to the foil (like sellotape) before applying the clay. Just so it parts from the clay easier.

Life size mouth assignment. Decided to ignore the facial hair and focus on the facial forms. Not sure I pushed the dental mound out far enough. And it was tough getting inside the lips. Feel like my noses are getting better though 👃.

Did most of this assignment quite a while back, but got massively waylaid by other stuff. Went to finish it today, then remembered it was mostly just to sort out the excessive moustache... so I decided to leave it as is and post it. Move onto the next assignment... for the mouth - where moustache will attack again.

Pretty happy with the side profile overall, but front feels iffy. Think I extended too far out under the eyes, and eye shape and nose are bit off. I definitely found it tricky to focus on a 'square' of the face, seemed somehow like proportions were harder to gauge. Although chipping away at this in work lunch breaks meant I could move it forward, I think it would have benefited from sitting down and properly commiting to it for longer sessions.

The content and format of Andrew's Portrait Sculpting course has been a really great way to break down a complex subject. It's made me feel a lot more confident in approaching the portrait, and shown me new ways to tackle areas that I've previously struggled with. Getting feedback from Andrew himself has been really beneficial - highlighting those areas for improvement that I hadn't noticed. Very happy with the premium course content, and I look forward to progressing with it!

Hey Andrew, thanks for all the great feedback! And for covering so many. It does seem like a great exercise to try as a warm up / to familiarise with a person's face, before tackling a larger likeness of that person. Out of interest, do you ever do much in the way of 'front view' pancakes? Appreciate the profile probably offers more information as a basis for establishing the main proportions for likeness, but wondered if there was anything unique to learn from doing the front (or if it just presents more challenges). Perhaps an insight into a person's a-symmetry.