Sculpting Gesture with an Armature

Figure Sculpting Fundamentals

Capturing Gesture

Sculpting Gesture with an Armature

2.4K
Mark as Completed

Sculpting Gesture with an Armature

2.4K
Mark as Completed

Do 1-3 gesture studies. You can use the Posespace models found in the downloads section of the course page. Submissions due on January 21st.

Newest
Stanislav Nichev
My second gesture study. I've tried to add more volume to the limbs this time and to also follow the proportions more closely. The clay was too soft and the sculpture kissed the ground a few times. It's hard to add details and not smudge what's already there. I've, hopefully, built some lasting anchors for the feet, but time will tell :) What can I do to keep 11.5 inches sculptures standing up if I don't have an armature stand yet? I want the "scaffolding" be hidden.
Andrew Joseph Keith
Great gesture study! Using a firmer clay does help to keep smaller sculptures stable. When it's a foot or under I usually just stick it to a base with clay as you have done but with a firmer clay and sometimes more of a base of clay around the feet. Does this pose have references from all angles or are you just working from this front view?
Stanislav Nichev
Probably a gesture study taken too far. I decided to skip ahead and to try and finish this one (11.5 inches) as much as possible, but I've started seeing too many mistakes in the proportions, so decided to call it "done". It took quite a lot of time for a second scupture, so moving on to trying out a few 6 inch gestures.
Andrew Joseph Keith
Hey nicely done! It's coming along. There's a few issues like the width of the legs and arms appears to be too thin in relation to the torso but the pose and gesture feels good. Keep it up!
Javier Alfonzo
Hey Andrew, I made three gestures based on the poses you shared. They are presented here in the same order I made them. I hate to admit but it's taking me a bit longer than expected and it's due to my work , I have made peace with that. The amount of knowledge one can acquire from making these subtle gesture studies is enormous, I am sincerely enjoying these exercises and I see the value of keep on doing them. Moving onto the gestures from the masters! Thanks Andrew.
Andrew Joseph Keith
looking great! If I had to give a suggestion it might be to push the gesture a little more and try to keep these gesture studies thinner especially in the torso (thought the last one looks like you start to do just that). It's great to see your work I hope you can keep it up! I look forward to seeing more.
@mvrek
9mo
Here are my first attempts capturing gesture using a wire skeleton. The first one was made from imagination. I made the face too big unfortunatelly. Second one is based on the free stock images provided. I see not correctly - finished gesture and some missing clay. I ran out of clay. Will leave them as they are. On the next figures, I will see where to focus more on by that (hopefully).
Andrew Joseph Keith
Nicely done! a great start! With the proportions it might help to try to sculpt a bit thinner and that should help. Keep it up!
Vincent Morrier
Here are my first gesture studies (cranial unit = 1/2 inch). I feel like they are a little stiff in some areas, but I am really enjoying sculpture so far. Any critiques would be welcome!
Andrew Joseph Keith
Looking good! I really like the last one. Yeah they are a bit stiff so you might try to push the gesture a bit further as well as sculpt a little thinner and I think that would help. Keep up the great work!
Hengu Willemse
Hi, here's my first Gesture study as well... would appreciate your input/critique... I'm not too happy with the head (will work on it when I get to the Loomis-head section). I also feel it looks a bit like a caricature, not quite sure why it came it out like that, many thanks.
Andrew Joseph Keith
Yeah It has a lot of energy. I think the proportions are a bit off so the size of the shoulder width and the head are a bit too large. try sculpting thinner and double check the proportions of the body (outlined in the video on making armatures). Keep it up!
enmanuel tamarez
So here's my 1st Gesture study. You'll notice that you'll see technically 2 different ones. Well the 1st one I did I really PACKED ON the weight. So much that it couldn't stand. My suspicion was the feet or that it was too heavy for the skeleton as the wire frame couldn't even hold it up. So I took out another wire armature and did it again. Except this time I did pencil gesture studies of the ref. I'm a line guy so I figured it would help me to translate into doing more gesture than structure. I also paid very close attention to balance. Every so often I would have the model stand to make sure I was having a balanced sculpture. Unfortunately, while I succeeded in a standing model, the upper body is too flat. I guess you can blame that on being a little too LINEar with applying the gesture drawings...get it?...Cause it's kind of...flat...
Andrew Joseph Keith
Hey looking great! Yeah you're right I think it could use a little bit more curve in the spine. It helps to try to look for gesture curves throughout the body and limbs. The legs for example look like they are a little stiff so look for gesture lines and s and c curves of the silhouette of the legs. Sculpting thinner is also a good idea generally.
John Sumner
Gesture Study #3. I focused on the mass and weight of this pose because there's a lot of interesting things going on in the back and left art/shoulder area. I made a mistake in the armature construction, so the spine was 1/4" too short. Due to that, the rib cage and pelvis are closer together than what the model's proportions are, making the sculpture a little more squat. That said, since he's a bodybuilder, it kinda works and doesn't ruin the work. Any other notes are welcome.
Andrew Joseph Keith
nicely done!
enmanuel tamarez
I like how blocky you made it feel.
John Sumner
Gesture Study #2. Putting aside my poor photography skills, this study was overall decent. I think there might be room to push the rib cage on the left side so that it really offsets from the pelvis. I found that the right leg kept sagging/bending at the knee, so that leg feels a little off from the pose reference as well. Side note: The Sculpey I found for the $5 challenge is Super Soft/gummy, and it feels like it doesn't bake completely... I can definitely see why it was free. Still, I"m happy to use it for gesture sculpts because it frees me up from getting too precious with things.
Andrew Joseph Keith
Good job! You are doing great with these gesture studies.
John Sumner
Gesture study #1. For this assignment, I built 3 armatures at 3/4" = 1 Cranial unit which yielded 9" tall armatures. The material I worked in was white Sculpey. I chose this pose because it was the hardest one for my brain to wrap itself around. Something about the relationship of the head, torso, hips and feet were challenging. Overall, I think I came pretty close to capturing and pushing the gesture of the pose, properly identifying a center line, and sort of implying the squash and stretch sides of the torso. I think I'll add a more permanent support for this sculpture too.
Andrew Joseph Keith
Hey looking great! awesome job at the gesture study. I hope you'll keep going and do some more! or continue to develop the details on this one.
@arnavvinod
Gesture Study
Andrew Joseph Keith
Looking good! as your getting into the details I'd double check the width of the hips as its looking like they might be a little too wide. A great gesture study! Keep going!
@ryani
3yr
I had an opportunity to do a 2.5 hour life model session where I sculpted in plasticine around a wire armature with the oven bake clay masses for the head, torso and pelvis. I used a 1 inch cranial unit which I found too small to add the fingers but I would like to do a bigger one with the hands next
Andrew Joseph Keith
Really awesome! There’s nothing like working from a live model! Keep it up!
Conny B.
3yr
Gesture studies! The first one ended up a bit to lanky and stiff, but the other ones went a bit better which was nice. Any feedback is welcome!
Andrew Joseph Keith
Super fun! Great job. I can really feel the gesture. Go ahead and add a simple head onto the armature because the direction of the head can help show the gesture. A simple boxy head shape that’s roughly the right proportions as the head is enough to show the direction and position of the head.
Conny B.
3yr
3rd study
Jose Ardern
Gesture Study 3 with an Armature
Andrew Joseph Keith
nicely done! Love the dramatic lighting!
Jose Ardern
Gesture Study 2 with an Armature
Jose Ardern
Gesture Study 1 with an Armature
Andrew Joseph Keith
I really like this one! Keep it up!
kalinda Witchey
Hi my names Kalinda , I did my first gesture study , would love to get your feedback :)
kalinda Witchey
Thanks heaps Andrew , I will work on this :)
Andrew Joseph Keith
Great job for a first gesture study! The only thing that stands out is maybe pushing the gesture just a little further than the reference, possibly by pushing the hips out away from the hand reaching out. As far as proportions it’s looking great. I look forward to seeing more!
Strahinja Milutin
Strahinja Milutin
@ryani
3yr
Hi, I am a bit late to the party but finally began this course and completed my first gesture study in plasticine.
Andrew Joseph Keith
Awesome! Keep it up and I look forward to seeing more!
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