Chavant NSP hard clay used for sculpting a life size dog model sculpture

This video will show you a better view of the completed dog clay model.

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier detailed head

This video shows the detailed clay head before reattaching to the body. A terpenoid wash will be applied in order to help blend some of the hard tool marks.

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier head sculpture

The head was reworked in order to match the most current images of Oxford the Soft-coated wheaten terrier.

Dog sculpture final critique before detailing

Mike, please advise as to which shoulder your like best.

Once this phase is approved, I will detach the head and begin to create the coat hair throughout the entire body. Once the body and head are somewhat done, we will play around with the cocking of the head. If you already have a preference as to the direction of the head tilt. Let me know, this way I can have the beard slightly point into that direction (I need to pay attention to our law of gravity).

Mike, in conclusion if you have a higher resolution image(s) showing his coat pattern, please email; otherwise, I will use the images I have. Looking for sharp images. The last image in his show stance, was somewhat blurry. I other words, I could not make out some of the hair line patterns. Now if the three images used on the header of this page display the correct hair patter, let me know and I will use them as my studies. The only concern is that the images used at the time did not have the full show coat.

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier receives the second coat of clay

Today I applied the second coat of clay; while focusing on the client's request to give Oxford the wheaten terrier his full show coat. Areas on the back side of the neck and chest were built up to give it the correct profile.

In comparing the sculpture to the image below, I may have added too much clay on the chest, as well as t he back of the neck. I will wait for the client to instruct me on how much to shave off.

Before, I forget... The clay is Chavant NSP Hard and I purchased it from one of Chavant's clay distributors, AFASupplies.com. They are a new online sculptor art supply store.

Bronze Dog Staute foam armature ready for clayup

This post will show how I use images to help me line up the foam to the dog confirmation. This is extremely important when the client is looking for correct body proportions...etc. The clay-up/skin that is applied with a brush will only be about 1/4" to 1/2" thick; therefore, I try to get as close as possible with the foam armature.

The goal is to try to keep the sculpture as light as possible. The legs need to be able to support the weight of the clay.

I will not be supporting the legs with aluminum rod for this soft coated wheaten terrier, since his legs are short and stocky. Aluminum rods are some time used when the foam legs are not strong enough to support the sculpture. For instance, rods were used on the life sized bronze poodle.

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier study head-shots

The client has supplied me with these excellent head-shots of his Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. The images will assist me greatly in capturing the likeness of Oxford.

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier armature

The video show how I use a hotwire to cut out the Styrofoam pattern that will be used for my armature.

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier - Oxford

This is Oxford, the soft coated wheaten terrier, our subject for this bronze dog sculpture commission. 

Front view of Oxford. A slightly tilted head will be used for the final pose.

Here is Oxford in his show stance. A combination of three images were used to compile this rendering in order to capture the canine in the correct breed confirmation.  

AKC Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Breed Standard

 Pictured is our subject, "Oxford" the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier. Per the client's request, the hind legs will be adjusted further back.

This is the pose I will focus on for the bronze dog sculpture.

 

General Appearance
The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a medium-sized, hardy, well balanced sporting terrier, square in outline. He is distinguished by his soft, silky, gently waving coat of warm wheaten color and his particularly steady disposition. The breed requires moderation both in structure and presentation, and any exaggerations are to be shunned. He should present the overall appearance of an alert and happy animal, graceful, strong and well coordinated.

Size, Proportion, Substance
A dog shall be 18 to 19 inches at the withers, the ideal being 18½. A bitch shall be 17 to 18 inches at the withers, the ideal being 17½. Major Faults--Dogs under 18 inches or over 19 inches; bitches under 17 inches or over 18 inches. Any deviation must be penalized according to the degree of its severity. Square in outline. Hardy, well balanced. Dogs should weigh 35-40 pounds; bitches 30-35 pounds.

Head
Well balanced and in proportion to the body. Rectangular in appearance; moderately long. Powerful with no suggestion of coarseness. Eyes dark reddish brown or brown, medium in size, slightly almond shaped and set fairly wide apart. Eye rims black. Major Fault--Anything approaching a yellow eye. Ears small to medium in size, breaking level with the skull and dropping slightly forward, the inside edge of the ear lying next to the cheek and pointing to the ground rather than to the eye. A hound ear or a high-breaking ear is not typical and should be severely penalized. Skull flat and clean between ears. Cheekbones not prominent. Defined stop. Muzzle powerful and strong, well filled below the eyes. No suggestion of snipiness. Skull and foreface of equal length. Nose black and large for size of dog. Major Fault--Any nose color other than solid black. Lips tight and black. Teeth large, clean and white; scissors or level bite. Major Fault--Undershot or overshot.

Neck, Topline, Body
Neck medium in length, clean and strong, not throaty. Carried proudly, it gradually widens, blending smoothly into the body. Back strong and level. Body compact; relatively short coupled. Chest is deep. Ribs are well sprung but without roundness. Tail is set on high. Docked tail preferred. Whether docked or natural, the tail is to be carried upright 90* from the back, either straight or with a slight curve forward. Any deviation from this ideal is to be penalized accordingly.

Forequarters
Shoulders well laid back, clean and smooth; well knit. Forelegs straight and well boned. All dewclaws should be removed. Feet are round and compact with good depth of pad. Pads black. Nails dark.

Hindquarters
Hind legs well developed with well bent stifles turning neither in nor out; hocks well let down and parallel to each other. All dewclaws should be removed. The presence of dewclaws on the hind legs should be penalized. Feet are round and compact with good depth of pad. Pads black. Nails dark.

Coat
A distinguishing characteristic of the breed which sets the dog apart from all other terriers. An abundant single coat covering the entire body, legs and head; coat on the latter falls forward to shade the eyes. Texture soft and silky with a gentle wave. In both puppies and adolescents, the mature wavy coat is generally not yet evident. Major Faults--Woolly or harsh, crisp or cottony, frizzy, kinky or standaway coat; in the adult, a straight coat is also objectionable.

Presentation--For show purposes, the Wheaten is presented to show a terrier outline, but coat must be of sufficient length to flow when the dog is in motion. The coat must never be clipped or plucked. Sharp contrasts or stylizations must be avoided. Head coat should be blended to present a rectangular outline. Eyes should be indicated but never fully exposed. Ears should be relieved of fringe, but not taken down to the leather. Sufficient coat must be left on skull, cheeks, neck and tail to balance the proper length of body coat. Dogs that are overly trimmed shall be severely penalized.

Color
Any shade of wheaten. Upon close examination, occasional red, white or black guard hairs may be found. However, the overall coloring must be clearly wheaten with no evidence of any other color except on ears and muzzle where blue-gray shading is sometimes present. Major Fault--Any color save wheaten. Puppies and Adolescents--Puppies under a year may carry deeper coloring and occasional black tipping. The adolescent, under two years, is often quite light in color, but must never be white or carry gray other than on ears and muzzle. However, by two years of age, the proper wheaten color should be obvious.

Gait
Gait is free, graceful and lively with good reach in front and strong drive behind. Front and rear feet turn neither in nor out. Dogs who fail to keep their tails erect when moving should be severely penalized.

Temperament
The Wheaten is a happy, steady dog and shows himself gaily with an air of self-confidence. He is alert and exhibits interest in his surroundings; exhibits less aggressiveness than is sometimes encouraged in other terriers. Major Fault--Timid or overly aggressive dogs.

Approved August 10, 2009
Effective September 30, 2009

New life-size canine sculpture will commence in December 2010

Work on the canine sculpture will commence in December 2010 and will take an estimated 4-6 months to complete the clay sculpture. Once the client approves the clay dog sculpt, the clay sculpture will be ready for the mold process. I estimate the entire commission to take 7-10 months.