Tag Archives: warcraft

by Michaela de Bruce | 2016-07-10 · 18:12

Draenei horns ready to mold

So I thought I’d share how I matched one side to the other 🙂

After tidying up the proportions I started to transfer the lines by using a divider (scribe compass.) I did this along the top section on the inside as well as the outside.

After that I used the needle point picker from my sculpting tool set. I pressed the long end across the clay to start and then matched to that line from each side.

And then I did a crazy thing. I took a paint scraper and pressed it in to the clay by a few mm using the edges to line up smoothly and precisely.

This deep but narrow line was then beveled with a silicone tool

This was imperfect so I spent some time buffing the surface with a cloth in one direction.

After this I used a large smooth bristled paintbrush dipped in vaseline to further smooth.

Now that I have set in for the night I can see the last bit of evening up I need to do!

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Tagged as draenei, sculpting, sfx, warcraft

by Michaela de Bruce | 2016-06-21 · 09:49

Draenei sculpt ready for detailing

These are going to be segmented like the player characters (detail type 1- I love all the horns but these seem to frame nicely) and like the NPC Draenei. This is why I have some fairly stark blocks of shape.

I have only been working on these at night, but today is grey and a bit wet so I can get some nice carving going on 🙂

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Tagged as craftyourfandom, draenei, warcraft, weekofmaking, why imake

by Michaela de Bruce | 2016-06-19 · 19:59

More Draenei sculpting

Left hand side rescaled and tidied, the right about to begin!

The right started, I wound up adding a little to the inside of the horn edge and then continued shaving off the top.

I had to leave the sculpt here, it will cool further overnight so I can shave and carve the rhs to match. I usually prefer to work equally on each side but as these horns will be cast separately I decided to get one side sized ideally in case I bumped one of the horns off and had to sculpt without support. It means I can also cast one before anything happens to ruin the sculpt 🙂 But I am so far lucky that the clay is cold enough to retain shape.

Those are also my favourite tools for sculpting:

A paring knife- it is dull! But the blade is fine enough to use it for carving and shaving. Also if warmed it will smooth a surface quickly using one or the other face flat to the sculpt.

A loop of plumbers coil- it is able to be held in a tight or loose loop depending on how much pressure I want to put on the sculpt.

One of the blue plastic tools you can buy in a set.

The wedge shaped silicon brush- for corners and to press caly from one pane to the other in a corner.

Wood handled tool that is a flat topped loop- for carving and light shaving.

And a vegetable peeler. This shaves off much more cleanly than anything else but is only a few cm across. But it cuts back a surface super fast! And leaves only shallow teeth marks that are easily buffer out.

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Tagged as draenei, gaming, prosthetics, sculpting, warcraft

by Michaela de Bruce | 2016-06-17 · 20:01

Draenei progress

I had to reshape the horns, They were far too out of shape to work. I also know the weather is cool enough to be able to have clay self support somewhat more easily than in summer so decided to risk it!

What is this? Why a pair of clay armatures! Basically I wanted some continuous clay of the same density and temperature to be able to build on and carve out. These are very skinny so they were formed while hot but then cooled to shape quickly. This cool clay will also cool the smaller pieces of clay I was going to add.

I started by cutting divots in to the main horn foundations- these were reshaped while I was melting the clay cut off!

Then I dipped the ends of the armatures in to the molten clay- this was so nice on my hands! Heard of wax therapy? same deal 🙂

And then pressed the end in to the divot. This worked not just through the molten clay adhering but by the end of the armature warming up enough to soften but not deform, and then the clay of the horn base also temporarily heated up to hold then reset to shape.

And then I started building up from underneath. This was a better option than adding clay on top. The weight of the clay would have pressed the shape out, and the warmth of the new clay would have also made the armature too malleable.

Even with the care taken to make the armatures even and follow the correct curve it still wound up needing a lot of reshaping.

And I left the horn here tonight. Oil based clay is wonderful, but it is temperature dependent. When warm it is good for additive work (taking small lumps and pressing them to shape) when cool it is best for subtractive (using tools to shave or carve the clay.

A lot of the time it is somewhere in there middle and then you need to use a mix of both.

A handy hint is to warm your tools when subtracting anyway. This helps the tool cut through rather than drag the clay.

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Tagged as draenai, gaming, warcraft

by Michaela de Bruce | 2016-06-16 · 18:37

Draenei started

Leg armour started. I fell in love with the Sister Benedron figure when she was first released but I could not afford her at the time and now I really cannot afford her! Never mind, I can make my own costume 🙂

I did not want to get in to the hype of the movie, but I really have wanted to make this for seven years 🙂

But I also love the Draenei, sure they are as tropey as Asari but hey. They have pointy ears, tails, neck tentacles and horns. And hooves. Oh these are so pretty.

Well not these. These still need to be made! but the horns are blocked out. It’s cold enough here that I’ll be able to carve these puppies but I need a crock pot to keep the clay soft. To prevent the horns from falling off I have curved the ends to sit on the headcast, I’ll be able to soften them enough to curve to the right shape later 🙂

This was me finding the customisation of a player character. I’ve also been indulging in lore and kind of love Yrel (you are a shining beacon of light and kindness now to battle, yeah, again, trope I can live with.)

I love the shading, and I also love the gradient tint to the hair. I tried the same set with a Belf and oh boy, I love them too. If you go by the artwork night elves and blood elves are all badass and fierce. In the preview night elves bop around with their default animation, and blood elves are just so over everything. Draenei are more like I am familiar with from SWTOR and the constant look around, but neutral stance.

See? 100% done. But looking fabulous.

If you want to test looks, do try this: http://www.wowhead.com/dressing-room

I included the toon options in the close up 🙂

So yes, I have to make hooves. Gah! I cannot risk breaking an ankle so there will be some extra support, which means being able to put that support in place.

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Tagged as avatar, draenei, warcraft