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PDF: How to sculpt rock bases using modelling putty
🕑 Added 2023-03-08 13:37:31 +0000 UTCHi everyone!
Today I would like to share a new PDF tutorial with you and it about sculpting rock bases using modelling putty (Milliput). I have attached a PDF version of this tutorial for your convenience. I will be creating more PDF tutorials to go alongside the video tutorials so hopefully everyone will be happy :) Let's get into it!
1. Start by forming a firm piece of foundation for the future rock by squishing some kitchen aluminum foil together. Adjust the form of the squished foil until you are happy with how it looks. Using foil like this is very useful as you don’t have to use the modeling putty for the entirety of the rock.
2. Next you will need some modeling putty for the actual rock sculpting part of the tutorial. In this step we will just add a few blobs of the putty on top of the foil. I highly recommend using Milliput – in my opinion this is the best modeling putty in the world. It’s cheap, easy to work with (as long as you have wet hands, so it does not stick to your fingers). I use it all the time, for sculpting small details on models, filling gaps and creating rocks like this.
3. Start using a clay shaper to smooth out the rocks. You can get clay shapers on Amazon, eBay or in your local hobby/art shop and they are not expensive. I recommend using the flat one (middle one on the picture below) for this step.
4. The next step will be adding some texture to the rocks, while the putty is still active (soft). Use the round bottom end of your brush or clay shaper to form small dents in some areas of the rock. I have also filled the gaps in the plastic rock on top of our custom formation and added a few pre-sculpted rocks on the base. These have been done with the same technique but without the aluminum foil step as they are much smaller.
5. The final step of the sculpting process will take place after the putty has hardened (I usually give it a good 12/24 hours). Use your exacto/hobby knife to cut small pieces off the sides of our rock. You want to create sharp edges of the rock. This will make it look realistic and it will make painting it super simple and fun! Try to connect every cut with it’s neighboring cut – this will allow you to have a matching pattern all over the rock. You don’t have to cut every single square mm of the rock, just do it in some places and add more cuts if you like. Also, make the cuts different in size – you wouldn’t have a perfectly even rock in real life :)
6. Here is how the rock looks like in after painting. As you can see, everything that we have been doing is now clearly visible. You can see the soft, round formations done using the end of our tools, you can also see the areas where we cut the putty (after is has cured completely) and so on. On a side note, I have poured a water effect all over that rock after it was sculpted, you can see the “after” shot on the next picture.
I really hope you like it! If you try it out, please share the results with me. You can do that by tagging me in your posts on social media or by using the #MamikonsWizards hashtag. Alternatively you can also join the Necromancers tier here on Patreon and gain access to my Discord Server where you can show your work, ask questions and receive feedback from me and the community we have there.
Cheers,
Mamikon
Comments
Mike
Thank you! I use clear tape :) You can see how I do it in this tutorial: https://www.patreon.com/posts/winter-themed-76654226
John Sebastien Henley
Very cool! Quick question what did you use to wrap around your base before pouring in the resin? I've seen people use transparent plastic sheets and a lot of tape :P Keep up the great work Mamikon!
