Custom sable antelope

I have decided to try to use the new book I got (Catherine Dewey, Creating Life-Like Animals in Polymer Clay) to try to learn how to sculpt better figures.

Even though the book only covers North American animals, there are tips to use that will allow me to make anything I want. I have always loved sable antelope, so using a combination of the books instructions for a deer and the photos of an adult male on the internet here is where I am so far. I am having trouble with the legs so I cut them off, I have a wire skeleton under the clay, and I was using a very thick wire for legs to give them support, but I just has them pushed into the body as 5 seperate pieces (the 4 legs and the body) so it was not really hard to remove the legs. I have taken a break so I don't go crazy but here is what I have so far:
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Hope you enjoy and any suggestions or help will be greatly appreciated. I have not baked the clay yet (except for the head, that is why it is a little different color) so now is a good time to make any changes. The figure is 1:22 scale male and the pose I was hoping for was just standing for a first figure, later I can add motion or even better interaction between two or more figures, for now I leave that to the professionals like Ana!!

Don`t go crazy, please !!!!

What you have done so far is fabulous. Just look at the ears

I am nobody to give advice on this kind of thing , but often it is a very good idea to let it lie for the night and then your brain will sort it out while you sleep, - or at least that is how I have sometimes done when struggeling with something very difficult .

ohh, I just looked at him again, hes head is so fantastic !

Phil it looks amazing, you've done an excellent job!! I love the head and horns and the body is looking good. Can't wait to see it finished!

Wonderful job!! Can't wait to see more! :)

I painted the part of the sable that was finished and added the first layer of clay to the bottom, I haven't done any actual sculpting of the legs, but I have added the basic shape.
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I still have to fix the horns, one is out of place a little but until I support it an permanently attach it I can't seem to get it to stand up even with the other one.

The legs are coming along well and what you've painted looks fantastic. It's really hard sculpting legs, but the hardest part for me is when they're drying or baking, keeping them straight. With the clay (air drying) I use I have to keep checking it, to see if the legs haven't gone wonky, usually I put something between the legs so that they are fixed in one place, but sometimes that doesn't work. I need to make some sort of frame to support the figure when it's drying.

You have a really good talent Phil!

Philip

It looks GREAT!!!!

It looks very good Phil

A very good job, Phil ! Keep it up, always step by step and it will be a good result .
BG

Really nice work Phil, You are truly a great builder, and we just follow your adventures with passion.
more like the sable antelope is a figurine that I've been waiting a few years now, but is ignored by our manufacturers Why?? she is awesome .......
Shortly we will be Ana creates one too?? Why not 2011.

Fantastic job!!!
Please send the finished work as soon as you can!
All my compliments!

Very fine Phil, so there is another sculptor in the tribe

I didn't like a lot of the first sculpture that I did, the legs and hoofs of the antelope were not very good, and the size ended up being too tall and long, it was almost as big as the eland that Ana did for me. I basically started from scratch and this time I made two figures. I am really happy with these, but the horns are way too big so I have to remake them but otherwise I am really ahppy with this set. I am going to finish painting them and maybe make another one, the second one I did, the one with the head down was supposed to be in an eating position but it looks more like an agressive pose so if I make another one I can have them fighting, either that or change the angle of the head to look more like it is eating.

Here is the photo of the pr as they are right now
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WOW! Phil, you did a fantastic job ! I am full of admiration

Thank you so much for sharing, I look forward to seeing how you proceed :)

Phil, some great sable antelopes you made. Keep the excellent work and thanks for sharing the images.

Wow! Excelent job! we wait more photos!

Wow! they look perfect! You are really talented :)

Wow Phil, fantastic antelopes! Congratulations

Thanks for all of the compliments, I am really glad everyone likes them. I have already removed the horns and have the new ones made, I still have to bake and attach them but I did finish painting the pair last night. Still, I see every little mistake and so I am going to keep trying, When I look at the sculputres from Ana and others I don't see any flaws in the sculputres but on mine I see where I attach the pieces together, where my fingernails scratch the clay, things like that. I am not sure how everyone else does their sculptures but for me I make each piece seperately and then attach them all together, for instance the 4 legs are actually in 8 pieces and I can see the break where the legs are attached.

Ana, I love your new avitar, that is a fantastic painting congratulations!!!

Philter4 wrote:

I am not sure how everyone else does their sculptures ....

I think they practice

Philter4 wrote:

Ana, I love your new avitar, that is a fantastic painting congratulations!!!

Thank You very much Phil
Actually it's not exactly painting but computer work but I'm very happy You like it. It was inspired by style of XVII century Dutch painters and Rene Magritte works :)