My Newest Sculpture! Critique And Comments Welcome.

[🪦 The Death Curse ●]

Hey, all.Since I just received my <b>unnecessarily badass</b> replica Michael Crawford "Phantom" half-mask this weekend, I'd finally post an update on my Phantom's progress. I've been working on it for around 2 months now, and the forms are starting to look much more human and easy on the eyes. That said, it still needs a LOT of work, including but not limited to: ear refinement, mouth refinement, neck/collar bone blending, a ton of eye/eyelid changes, skin texture and wrinkles, and the addition of sculpted hair and prosthetic pieces to complete the character. I'm still unsure whether I should sculpt clothing or not...Perhaps you guys could throw me some opinions on that idea before I get further along.First of all, here is my beautiful new MC half-mask, custom-made by an artist who sets no limits to customer satisfaction. Dealing with this guy has been an absolute pleasure the likes of which I've never experienced in my life. The mask is completely customized to my specific requests, too. It's so amazing that I just have to let the pictures speak for themselves:<img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260520.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260471.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260466.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260454.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260470.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" />And of course, a photo of me being stupid. <img src=\"style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif\" style=\"vertical-align:middle\" emoid=\":biggrin:\" border=\"0\" alt=\"biggrin.gif\" /> :<img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260720.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" />Second, here is my sculpture in its current stages, along with some reference pictures that I have been using to give you an idea of the look I'm going for:<img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260478.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/422816807_effb4deb72_o.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260494.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/MC-Condorman.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" />More pics below...

[🪦 The Death Curse ●]

More sculpture and reference images:<img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260496.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/MC-Michael2006afterConcert.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260498.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/MC-pensive.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/MC-Barnum14d.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/mcunmasked.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260506.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/422816818_99b410ed82_o.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/HOTmagazine.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/22MC-profileBW-Broadwaycopy.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" />Finally, due to the large amount of images I need to use to display precisely how PERFECT the half-mask fits my sculpture, I'll make a new thread with even more sculpture/reference pics. Until then, feel free to let me know how I'm doing! I'm trying to hit around a 40 to 50 year-old mark with the age of my Phantom...IE: slightly fatter face and neck, many lines, wrinkles, crow's feet, etc...My reasoning for this is that a lot of monsters tend to look better in mask form when the actors' likenesses are aged 10 to 20 years beyond their role as the character. The DP Calendar Lugosi is a fine example...I want my piece to have a similar sinister feeling, though with much more realistic and accurate characteristics based on existing wrinkles and folds. After all, MC is looking a lot older these days...Thanks very much for looking, and cheers!Ryan

[🪦 The Death Curse ●]

Here are the pictures I mentioned in the first post....It's amazing how <b>exact</b> this mask lines up with the current dimensions of my sculpture. Even the wire sits correctly over the head, and that's keeping in mind that this wire was sized to fit a particular hat size. Though I still need to make a lot of changes to it, this is a HUGE and LUCKY step in the right direction for my project. I hope everyone enjoys the pics!:<img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260524.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/MC-london_pub_phantom.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260572.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/Phantom_454873a.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260587.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/i137362558_72213_7.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/MC-article-1165322-01A8BD940000044D.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260622.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/i204448905_44738_7.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" />More below...

[🪦 The Death Curse ●]

<img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260604.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/MCsarahnew65.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/i140465373_14257_7.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260598.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/i58609096_99329_7.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/i110241817_75299_7.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/CoolMCPhantompic.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260643.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/MC-0a_1_b.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" />More below...

[🪦 The Death Curse ●]

<img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260541.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/MC-POTObootInterview.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/P1260638.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /><img src=\"http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h98/MoonlitDevil/MCphantom3.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" />Thanks again for looking and cheers,Ryan

[🪦 Jasonlivessince1980 ●]

Wow dude this is coming out really nice!! That half mask is amazing too... this is making me want to go see Phantom of the Opera now

[🪦 Mutilated ●]

Looking awesome as always Ryan, can't wait to see you finish this guy up.

[🪦 souleater666 ●]

looks great

[🪦 frosty ●]

Its looking good, if i can make a suggestion though, work on your eyes a bit more, your upper and lower lids need more definition, carve out more between the brow and the lid and add more clay to the eyelids themselves, beef them up a bit, just an idea <img src=\"style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif\" style=\"vertical-align:middle\" emoid=\":thumbsup:\" border=\"0\" alt=\"thumbsup.gif\" />

[🪦 Hydrocephalus ●]

Fantastic work, Ryan! Seeing that this is only your second bust sculpture, it is quite apparent that you are a natural sculptor. I have to agree with Frosty on the eyes. Really focus on eye anatomy from multiple sources, not only from your references, but from sculptures, illustrations, and photos of other live subjects as well. And since you want to age the subject, look at images of middle age, and elderly eyes to see how, and where the wrinkles and bags form. Also, look very closely at the profile angle of the eyes. One thing to be careful of with using primarily 2 dimensional references is that it can cause you to flatten certain details. Basically, just concentrate on anatomy overall. Focus on the proportions, and structures on and below the surface. But, hey, I know that you are already thinking about a lot of these things anyway. so, just keep up the good work. One very good resource that has helped me is the forum at portrait-sculpture.com. There are a lot of very skilled artists on that forum.Just curious, do you plan on casting this as a display bust, or as a wearable mask? My reason for asking has to do with the armature. As I'm sure you already know with my work, I hate armatures, and knowing the meticulous level of exactness you strive for in your work, you may find the armature to be a bit of a burden down the road. That is, unless you wish to make this a wearable piece.