Horse & Rider Update

[MKathleen]

Hi All:

Here's the latest images on my progress so far. I'm working on the face and hands right now. Still working on the horse I did reposition the hind legs. I think they look better now.
As always I'd appreciate your comments, opinions and suggestions.
Thank you for looking,:D

Best,
Kathy:D

Sculpture Measurments 11" T 10 1/2" L 4" W
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Feb-2002/02-2002Photo1.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Feb-2002/02-2002Photo2.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Feb-2002/02-2002-Photo3.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/12-Feb-2002/02-2202-Photo5.jpg

[max nelson]

Kathy..this is looking great. You have come a long way as a beginning sculptor. Your art skills are transferring very well to this medium. You ask for comments and per usual I do have a couple for what they are worth.:D
The riders feet seem somewhat small to me.
The horses hoofs also. Check your anatomy book for shape also. Hoofs are somewhat oblong in shape.
Tail looks more like it grows out of the body now. A horse tip..cut a 'V' plane under the tail. Allows room for him to tuck it in flat to rump.
Mane not realistic yet. Just think of painting hair and look for form vs. hair.
Hat shape good but brim pretty thick for a cowboy. The way to 'thin' it down without it losing support is to just thin the edges for an optical look of thinness.
This is going to be a fine piece when you finish (in spite of my nit picking:D ) I'm not much of an expert but do have those nags to look at every day which helps.
Max

[MKathleen]

Hi Max:

:clap:Thanks for commenting so quickly it really helps me to get on the right track sooner. All of your comments are very valid and I do appreciate your suggestions. Like the feet on the rider after you pointed it out I looked and sure enough they are to small. It's that eye thing again it's hard to measure that photograph. I'll enlarge the feet now that I look at them comparied to the rider they just don't fit! Duh
I've had a real time getting the hoofs to look right. I hate to admit my short fall but I have been looking at the anatomy book. I just can't make my brain translate what I'm seeing to clay. :( For something so seemingly simple looking they aren't easy for me to sculpt. I'll keep at them until they look right. Yeah the mane has bothered me too I think I will make it longer and not so uniform. I think that is what you are saying:D The horse in the photograph looks like the mane was roached--I kind of like a little length.
You read the hat brim right it seemed to thin so I thought it would be better/stronger if thicker. I'll try the thinner edge sounds like a good tip. I'll cut the "v" shape under the tail.
Well you have come though for me again my friend, and now I have some homework to do.:D
You know when I'm ready to do my next horse and rider I'll have quite a nice tip sheet compiled. Which also means I'll have no room for making the same mistakes. :eek: You and the rest of the gang have been such wonderful help. :clap: Thanks a bunch :D
OK off too the studio:D

Best,
Kathy:D

[frank]

Hi Kathy,
I think you have tackled an extremely challenging piece and are doing very well with it. Two observations from the top photo that may help are; make a greater distinction between the base of the neck and the chest of the horse and give it a slightly larger rump.
Proportionally, of the 4 photos the 3rd looks best to me.
Frank

[max nelson]

Kathy...hoofs can be a little daunting to get correct. Maybe this drawing will give you more detail than you can get from the photo ref you are using. Don't have the hang of this scanner yet so crossing fingers that this will read.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/13-Feb-2002/hoof.jpg
You're doing fine. Frank makes a valid point, but I know that you have made correction after correction and may be getting a little frustrated. Just hang in there..you CAN do it..and do it well.
Max:)

[Yielding]

Great job Kathy :clap:

I can't offer any feedback for you but just encouragement to keep going and take the time to make it the best it can be - it will be worth the time, the changes you make and anything else that comes along the way from start to finish.

[Jeffi]

Kathy,

Same comment as Yielding. Can't speak much as to the proportions of the horse, but just keep working on it - it's really come a long way. Plus it's really informative to watch the whole process take place. I think you're doing a great job! How long have you been sculpting?

[diane555]

Good Morning Kathy :)

This is looking terrific! You've really come a long way on this piece and I know how proud your father would be if he could see it. I can't think of anything that hasn't been mentioned above except...HAVE FUN with this. It's going to be great and you'll be glad you kept at it. Max...you are so quick to come up with visual aid...we all appreciate the effort and time you put into your posts. Scannners are great fun...once you figure the goofy things out :D

Hooves are one of my favorite parts of a horse. I tend to exaggerate (I've forgotten how to spell) mine but I love the shape of them so I do it any way. I suppose yours might have as easier time walking than mine with their big feet :D Keep up the good work!

Di

[MKathleen]

Hi Frank:

I'm very pleased that you took the time to comment and give me suggestions for improvement on this piece. Both of your suggestions are very valid as Max's have also been. I'll take another look at those areas, and try to get my brain to do my bidding.
One of the biggest things I've noticed about working in the "round" is how something can look fine one way turn it and it looks all wrong. Correct it and life is good again!:D
You all are the pro's and have been at this sculpture thing a lot longer than me. I do respect your knowledge and your work.
I will post update images as I make corrections.

Hi Max:

Thank you Max for taking the time to draw some legs and hoofs I appreciate your help. Can I borrow one of your horsey's for a while? No that's not such a good idea either I might not want to give it back. Anyway I don't think a horse would be happy at my house not enough room to roam! and there's that little matter of a city ordiance about horses in the city limits thing.:D
Max it's OK I'm really not getting flustrated I'm just stubborn enough to make it right! Just ask my husband! lol:D

Hi Yielding:

Thank you for your wonderful words of encouragement I really appreciate it. I do plan to the best of my ability (sounds like I'm taking a jury oath) to make this sculpture work. It is my hope that artist and non-artist alike will look at this piece and think I did a creditable sculpture.

Best,
Kathy :)

[MKathleen]

You must have posted while I was posting to the guys. Hey Thank you tooooooooo for the encouragement yep this isn't going to get the best of me. I think some times you get a mental block after looking at something for so long.
I love your horsey they always have such character and attitude. At least yours will stand on their own without falling over. tee hee:D
Thanks again Di, oh and that's a fine looking pig your sculpting there.:evil: tee hee:evil: :D :D :D :D Oh you say it's not a pig could-ah fooled me! duh and being the expert that I am oh you say it's not a pig! it's a tiger oh now I see sure it's a pig! hummm :D

Best,
Kathy:D

[MKathleen]

Hi Jeffi:

Thank you toooooooo for the encouragement I plan to press on. :D This is the kind of thing that makes we even more determined to succeed.:D
Please don't hesitate to comment/and question when you see an area that seems not right to you. I want to learn to be a good sculptor and I need input from you all.
Here is a link to my first two sculptures that I did using sculpty ploymer clay. The bears were my first sculpture using plasteline clay, and now the horse and rider. I've never used wet clay other than the air-dry clay bears that were such a flop. http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26567&perpage=15&pagenumber=1
I'll work on the horse and rider some more this week and post progress. We can all learn from each other, and that is what is so great about our Sculpture Forum. Everyone is welling to share their knowledge and experiences good and bad.

Best,
Kathy:D

[Phyllis Rennie]

Hi Kathy. No advise from me, just wanted to say that I'm impressed with how well you're doing with this. I know you're new at it--I think you're a natural!!!

[MKathleen]

Hi Phyl:

Hey where have ya been your missed around here!:(
Thank you so much for your wonderful compliment I don't know about the natural part. I don't feel very much like a natural right now lol:D
How are things going with you? did you get started on your relief?:)
Great to hear from you and post us something to look at from you.:D

Best,
Kathy:D

[Phyllis Rennie]

Hi Kathy. I've been busy and sick. Had to save all my strength for the things that I must do and didn't have any left over for fun stuff. Stomach virus 1st, then sinus infection, then repeated the stomach virus (worse the second time). But I'm getting better.

I did start my next relief but didn't get too far yet. I'll be back to it soon I think. Have to finish the plans for a new house first but they're nearly done. Actually the plans are done but I'm also building a scale model. Soon as it's done.........lookout clay!

Sweet of you to "miss me". I've been around--just nothing to show.

[onefromheaven]

Kathy, this is fabulous!! You have alot of detail in this piece especially relative to size. I know more about horses than I do about sculpting but still realize that this is a big undertaking. I'll be keeping an eye out. :)

[MKathleen]

Hi Phyl:

Hey glad to see that your still kicking! Boy that flu and sinus thing really knocked you for a loop.:( Sure hope your on the mends now sounds like you might be. Glad to hear you have another relief started is it the shells from your terrific painting?:)
Is the house plans and scale model for yourself or a client? You really keep busy :D
Will look forward to seeing your relief don't forgot we expect progress images too!
Glad your back with us!:clap:

Best,
Kathy:D

[MKathleen]

Hi Maggie:

Hows the hands coming along?:)
Yeah it's hard to get into some of the tight areas especially the face. Right now I'm doing battle with the hoofs just can't seem to get them right (even with Max's expert visual aides). I do think they are looking better:) spent quite a lot of time working on the horse today. The head had been bothering me I didn't feel it looked realistic. After reworking it today I think I made good progress.:D
Part of my thinking is that I want folks like yourself who know horses to like my sculpture. I want them to look at it and know that I understood horse anatomy. Even though I had lots of help in that department. lol I think you understand what I'm trying to say. Please feel free to enterject your suggestions, thoughts and comments I need all the help I can get.:)
Thank you for taking the time to comment on my sculpture.

Best,
Kathy:D

[onefromheaven]

Hi Kathleen, I agree with all of the suggestions put forth so far. It is a challenging piece, you were gutsy to take it on, but are doing wonderfully with it. RE: the hands, they are coming along... I'll post some progress pics and maybe you can have a look. How long have you been sculpting?

[MKathleen]

Hi Maggie:

Thank you for your comments on my sculpture.:) I think gutsy is to much of a compliment but I thank you. I've been sculpting steadily since the end of December when I joined the WC Sculpture Forum. Previously I'd sculpted some small Sculpy Ploymer Clay pieces of my dogs and a trout. Then dropped it and returned to my painting, but always yearned to learn how to sculpt. These wonderful folks on this forum as you are finding keep fueling the sculpting fire in you.
Your hands have really become even more expressive I hope you'll continue to stay with us. It's really wonderful to see how everyone handles clay and forms it into something of beauty.

Best,
Kathy:D

[Phyllis Rennie]

Originally posted by MKathleen
Hi Phyl:

Hey glad to see that your still kicking! Boy that flu and sinus thing really knocked you for a loop.:( Sure hope your on the mends now sounds like you might be.

I'm feeling much better now--thanks.

Glad to hear you have another relief started is it the shells from your terrific painting?:)

Nope, I'm glad to be done with the shells. It's from vacation photos--looking toward Death Valley, Calif.

Is the house plans and scale model for yourself or a client? You really keep busy :D

House plans are for us--I only do kitchen plans for clients. The model is for my husband 'cause he can't read plans.

Will look forward to seeing your relief don't forgot we expect progress images too!

OK. I'll do progress photos as soon as I get back at it.

Glad your back with us!:clap:

Best,
Kathy:D

[MKathleen]

Hi Phyl::)

Glad to hear that you are feeling better now. Don't ya just hate when your ill and have projects you need to finish.:(
I remember now you posted some images of Death Valley with the idea of making a new relief.:) Glad to hear that you are going to make it a reality. :clap:
Will look for those progress images.:D

Best,
Kathy:D