ceramics - armatures

So here is my ceramics post finally. Ceramics was one of my favourite inductions as we got to get hands on with clay, plaster scene and wire. It did make me realise it is up the top of my list on things i want to specialise in, and i think making props and things for stop motion animations or even just working more with clay is something i want to work at but probably more so in my spare time, as my animation skills need alot of improving.

Here is my original sketch of my character DJ Squeak, we measured out the size of the block the armature would be attached to, along with the side of our characters in order to get all the measurements right.

I also did a side view to the sam proportions to help when it came modelling him. 

Although the wire we used was a bit to stiff for what we were doing (from what i have used before and taking into account the size of the model as its quite small) i realised this more later once i tried to animate with him. So we used the guide on the paper to get the limbs the write size for the armature, and twisted the wire around each other. we also drilled a small hole in a peice of wood and put a stand in to attach the armature to

 by twisting the wire around the pole like that it works as rigging for the armature, which means it is stable and can be moved freely, and even made to jump if so needed to. Also by having it like this simply it can be taken off and moved easily.

 next we used milliput which contains 2 tubes of a plaster scene feeling texture, but when mixed together soon hardens rock solid. Spaces need to be left for the joints, so the model will move more like a person, with the joints in the right places. I made the head hollow, filling it with tissue paper so it wasn't to heavy and wouldn't drag the model down.

We then used plasters over the joints so the plaster scene would stick better, which is an amazing idea and i wish i has know about it sooner! i then started adding the plasterscene, in big lumps at first mostly until i got the shape and scale right to what i wanted. 

 Once i felt it was about right i started smoothing it, adding little bits here and there as i went. adding delicate things like the ears to the top of the head.

 The whiskers were cut off a broom and stuck into the side of his head carefully, and the eyes made out of miliput, with pricks in the middle in order to move the eyes when animating with a pin or something sharp. i made small holes into his head, then added the eye lids onto him

 I had to take the eyes out to paint them white, which left him looking a little creepy.. also the tail was added later, and just stuck in the back, which worked ok but next time maybe i will have to concider that when making the frame.

i made the headphones out or wire and plaster scene, later adding a curly wire to one side to make them look more real.

when the eyes first went back in, it was hard to get the eye lids right as i needed to re model the head a little bit once more, but i got there in the end.

and there we go! i should really re-make him still, a little larger and with different wire but apart from that i was quite happy with how he turned out once i fixed his eyes!