Caudipteryx

In 1987 the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, launched its model dinosaur line, “The Carnegie Collection”. I’ve worked with them since the beginning of that series, creating each creature with the guidance of the Carnegie’s experts, and learning a great deal the process. This is Caudipteryx, first the polymer clay original, with two painted resin prototypes below. Needless to say, we have some leeway on the colour, though we try to refer to appropriate living species. I use either Kato Polyclay or Classic Fimo for these models, with inset glass-bead eyes.

Comments

[Erin]

This is so cool! It's giving me some ideas for dragons. :) I love the delicate stance.

~~Erin~~

[carisa]

Beautiful! I am curious...do you bake your pieces all at once, or in steps? Do you use your home oven?

[Forest]

Oh, I do many bakings, Carisa! This piece must have been in and out of the oven a couple of dozen times, at least. That's one reason I turn to Kato Polyclay (usually, now) or the Classic or Puppen Fimos. Those clays take multiple bakings very well, as opposed to, say, Super Sculpey, which seems to prefer single, or few, bakes. Fimo may have shifted its formula since I last used it regularly, so take that into account with my comment. Kato clay is both very strong and and excellent for multiple cures.

Oven: I use a dedicated electric convection oven. I do so much of this that I just don't want it in my 'food' oven. I find a bit of a film builds up in my poly clay oven over time, and that's not something I really want to consume! I also keep my clay oven near a window, for ventilation, particularly since I have a bird to look out for.
(Note on Birds: they're very sensitive to fumes that we might not notice -- I keep all art materials that even hint at fumes far, far from my bird.)

[j gawlik]

Beautiful work, Forest. That is so neat to be able to do your work and learn something new. I like the stance also.

Did you work from sketches that the museum provided?

Thank you for sharing.

[Ed Boles]

Beautiful work Forest, I have many of the Carnegie figures, and find that as the years have gone by, the quality has continued to improve. I'm very impressed with the detailing in this clay original, I imagine a lot of that gets lost in production. I'd be interested in seeing more of the prototypes of some of the older figures.

[tyler]

I just recently purchased this model and wanted to let you know how impressed I am with this sculpt. It's gorgeous! So incredibly detailed and meticulously formed. Amazing job, I love it!

[Forest]

Thank you, Tyler! I'm so glad you like him (or her)! He was a fun one to do...