Steam Punk Gentleman finished

I had planned to show more images of this under construction but time was against me. I really wanted to get him finished before the school term saps my creative energy. Also I'm considering sending some saleable work to a new craft centre opening near Leicester so I need to create a few more imp heads. They are not hard but I will need to clear my desk which is a real mess with all the bits of junk etc from this figure.

Anyway I think this figure has worked well, I really like the bent body shape which shows off the cogs and a new idea (for me, but you see it in lots of Steam Punk work) which is a vial of liquid, actually washing up liquid! It's a bit yellow as I didn't have any green which would look better.

I'm really getting into the idea of lots of tubes and bits coming out of my figures. I've also added lots of bigger straps (a bit of an Edward Scissorhands influence here) to suggest that his coat has to be strapped over a mechanical body, and who knows how human he is under all that leather?

I would love to try one of these figures in metal or maybe clay (I have no skill or facilities here for the former) or even leather. I want to simplify the materials to make more of the body shape, for example 3 pieces of metal joined togehter for this would I think be great. I could make more use of the construction techniques eg bolts to hold the 3 pieces toghether would enhance the effect. I remember seeing a sculptor's work in Bristol many years ago who made big metal sculptures of robed figures using very simple styalised shapes: a mix of monk and 3D Klimt. I have some pics somwhere which I must uncover.

Will have to give this more thought as I want to create something more resilant. the card and mixed media sculptures look good but are very fragile.

almost complete automata

I've now started to sculpt and add detail to the figure. All the actions work but it is clear that although I've learnt a lot about making mechanisms the final piece just doesn't have enough movement to make it interesting. At the very least the cogs in his back should move. Also I'm not happy with the the head movement.

Another day or so should see him complete. He will look nice static anyway!

I also now have more inspiration for another (static) old man figure with a mechanical back.

Steam Punk Technomancer

steam punk wheel chair necromancer

Nearly finished now. At stage of adding details and painting as you can see form these shots. I am not sure about the face itself though; I've abandoned the idea of a breathing tube and at the moment it looks skull like which is unintentional it was just the shape I sculpted to attach the mask to but it has potential. Also I've added a new eye piece based on something I saw on deviantart which I think looks kind of scientific.

steam punk wheel chair

This figure is quickly taking shape, but has changed dramatically from the original sketch in that he is now in a wheel chair. I always wanted the mechanical bits in his back so this is a fairly logical evolution. This has meant some rethinking of the figure's coat, which was originally intended to be a long leather one. I am thinking more along the lines of a lots of straps and rivets, a mix of Edward Scissorhands and the work of Stephane Halleux. (If you dont know this sculptors amazing assemblages check the link out)
I am still determined to recreate this figure as an automata, I've figured out the basics but I want to add some thing a bit weird, maybe something slowly coming out of a door in his back. Not sure how yet but it will be a fun challenge!

Another Automata?

I've had some good feedback on deviantart for the spider and I'm keen to use what I've learnt to do something more ambitious. Ideas so far include a steam punk fish with moving fins and mouth or a winged figure or possibly a figure in some kind of flying machine. While thinking how to move forward I've gone back to a figure I started last month. Although I had some ideas for this I was a bit unhappy with the way it was developing, so I got out the junk box (courtesy of the scrapstore) and started to play. The result is the figure is now part mechanoid with a chimney and fly wheel in his back and wheels! He is turning into a steam punk Davros so maybe some Dalek type panels rather than a leather coat?

As the figure developed today I realised he would make an excelent automata. I will complete the static figure and then recreate as a moving figure. the wheels and flywheel could move but not sure what else, maybe a turning head and moving arm?

Anyway here are some photos of the bits from today.

Steam Punk sorcerer, early designs and influences

I've always loved Jim Henson and Brian Froud's skeksis from The Dark Crystal. The long flowing and mishapen robes of office over the weird bodies give the characters such grape character. I've played with this type of figure before once as a clay wizard and 10 years ago as a puppet. A love creating long leather coats for my steam punk characters so I thought it was time to revisit the idea.

For years I've had a figure from The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (a Tod McFarlane model) sat on my shelf. I thought the two would go togehter really well.

The McFarlane version (right) really exaggerates the body shape and even has goggles.

I want the steam punk figure to have the usual goggles and breathing tubes but also some kind of mechanical bits coming out of his back. The elongated Skeksis type body is ideal for this.

As you can see I've constructed a very basic body and head from card and plastiroc. This is very crude and really only there to give me an idea of the shape so I can build onto it. Now I can play with bits of plastic and start to create the details which will give it character.