Skeleton

FIND A SKELETON

Pre Primary Forms for The Anatomical Sculpture

The armature for the anatomical sculpture is now complete. The fun part of the process is about to begin - creating the character.

Use the drawings, sketches or turn arounds as a reference, as well as any other images to determine the overall basic form of the character. Use aluminum foil to build up the areas that have the more mass and volume.

It is preferable to bunch up the foil rather than fold it into flat pieces. Push and twist the foil onto the armature. Make sure it is tight and smooth. (No amount of sculpey can cover dents or mistakes in the armature or pre primary forms). Avoid adding a lot of foil to the arms and legs. To make the twisted wire smooth put a single layer of foil on the arms and twist tightly. For the legs build up areas, with foil, where there is greater mass and volume. For example, the thighs and calves. It depends on the build of the character.

The head should be added to last because the body proportions will determine the size of the head. Resist adding too much foil to the head because it will be mostly sculpey.

Once the foil has reached the desired contours and forms set up the workspace for sculpey. Begin adding the primary forms, the bones, for example the spine, ribs, clavical, pelvis, fibula, scapula and petella.

There is a skeletal chart posted to the blog for reference.

Mounting the Anatomy Armature to the Wood Base

Use the armature map to indicate where the feet need to be bent. Place the armature upon the armature map and use the pliers to bend the feet. Make sure they are even by placing the armature with the bent feet on a flat surface and see if it will stand up.

Mounting the anatomy armature to the base is done the same way as the portrait head. The only difference is that the anatomy armature needs to be posed. Mark where the screws are going to go and then drive them into the wood through the loops of the feet of the armature.

After this is complete and the armature is securely mounted to the wood base. Cut a small amount of plumbers puddy and knead it thoroughly until it is completely one color. If the kneading process is not complete the puddy will not set. Place a small amount of puddy on top of the screw and smooth it over the foot area.

Clean tools and hands with alcohol.

Anatomy: Attach the Head

Using the armature map measure out a piece of 11 Gauge wire that goes from the apex to about one quarter inch past the top of the head.

Place the piece of wire in front of the shoulders (this is important because the head should beable to move forward).

Measure out a 6 to 9 inch piece of 16 gauge wire. Hold the head wire in place against the shoulders and the torso and wrap tightly. Make it neat like a "slinky".

Use the plyers to make a small brain cavity as shown in figure three.

Now using the armature map as a guide, bend down the arms, and bend up the feet. If your armature can stand up by itself it has a perfect center of gravity.

At this point adjustment may be made to the length of the arms, or legs if it is necessary.

Anatomy: Making the Arms for the Armature

When making the arms for the armature the first step is to trim back the shoulders and open up the torso into a "V" at the top. Trim the shoulders back so that they are no longer than just about one eighth inch inside the line for the arm on the armature map.

Next, using 16 gauge wire, measure out about fourteen inches of wire. Using the armature map extend the wire about an inch above the head and an inch below the bottom of the feet. Make a loop and go back to the top of the wire, then loop again and again until there are two hills and one loose end of wire at both the bottom and top (like a zig zag). Gather the "zig zag" together and place it in the drill and twirl it as shown in figure 4.

Fold the now formed wire armature for the arms in half and mark the middle with a piece of tape. Unfold and place on top of and across the shoulders.

Measure out about nine or ten inches of 16 gauge wire. Center the wire on the armature for the arms and the shoulders and wrap the wire around the shoulders and arms to hold in place. As shown in figure seven.

Anatomy: Making the Armature for the Body

It is important to draw an armature map before beginning an armature for a sculpture that includes the whole figure. This is an example of an armature map for a twelve inch sculpture. Measure out twelve inches and draw a figure that is seven and a half heads high. Mark the chin, apex (nipple), navel, crotch, just above the knee, the mid calf and the ankle.

Next, use 11 gauge wire and place the wire upon the armature map. Using plyers, bend the wire at the clavical (the shoulder bone) out to just inside the shoulder (about one eighth of an inch). Go straight down the center of the armature map past the bottom of the feet by about one to one and a half inches. Loop the wire back up to the apex. Use the wire as a model make one more piece just like the first. Now there are two legs, a torso, and two shoulders. See figure number two.

Make sure the two pieces are even. Take the looped end of each "leg" and one at a time place into the chuck of a drill. Hold the loose ends together with plyers, and after tighting the chuck of the the drill,twirl the wire, as shown in figure 2. Cut about nine inches of 16 gauge wire and use this to wrap the two pieces together in the middle between the navel and the apex. Make sure to keep the wrapping neat and tight (like a "slinky")

Set this aside and get ready to do the arms.