Dog sculpture fur texture detailing

Here are some images of the texture I will be using for the Wheaten's coat. The texture will be revisited several times until the clay shavings are removed.

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.

Clay dog sculpture of a soft coated wheaten terrier

This is the 3-4 coat of the clay brush up. The clay sculpture will undergo an additional two coats. The left rear leg does not look right; therefore, I will add more clay to the outer side of the leg in order to match the right rear leg. 

Once the over all confirmation is correct the intermediate detail will begin. 

Nose Job for Oxford the soft coated wheaten terrier

In addition to applying the second coat of clay to the dog sculpture I decided to add his nose. The nose is basically complete and fully detailed, I will work the facial hair around the nose later.

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.

Applying the clay to the dog armature - clay to bronze

This video show the procedure for applying the clay on to the dog form/dog manikin. I melt Chavant NSP Hard in a crockpot and use a brush to  apply the layers of clay. Set the crockpot to low, too high of a temperature will burn your clay. Four pounds of clay took about 3 hours to melt.

This dog sculpture will undergo 3-4 coats of clay before I begin the detail work.

Results of the first coat of clay.

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.