BATMAN ’89

Posted on November 29, 2021 by Mister Farrell

The comic book incarnation of BATMAN ‘89, as designed by Joe Quinones (from the comic book drawn by Quinones and written by Sam Hamm, screenwriter of the 1989 Tim Burton film) which I digitally sculpted with Nomad Sculpt for the iPad Pro.

Taking advantage of the layering abilities of a digital sculpture, I was also able to sculpt a complete Bruce Wayne face under the mask. The comic book version does not, by design, strictly resemble actor Michael Keaton, who played him in the film, but is instantly recognizable as BRUCE WAYNE.

Prior to this, I’d also sculpted a version that hewed more closely to the movie:

Mignola’s HELLBOY Digital Sculpture

Posted on September 9, 2021 by Mister Farrell

Mike Mignola’s HELLBOY, digitally sculpted on the iPad Pro with Nomad Sculpt.

I’m having a lot of fun digitally sculpting and learning a lot as I go. I’m self-taught, so I don’t know if I’m doing things the ”right” way, or even if some of these pieces will be printable with a 3D printer, but right now I’m having a blast and enjoying how these are coming out.

Plus I like sitting on the couch and sculpting without having to unpack or clean up any tools. That said, I feel like working this way is whetting my appetite and giving me ideas for my next traditionally sculpted project.

HEROESCON 2019

Posted on June 3, 2019 by Mister Farrell

I’ll be at HEROESCON, FRIDAY – SUNDAY, JUNE 14th-16th, 2019, and I’m taking commissions and producing mini-busts and reliefs right there at the con. Mini-busts are approximately 1/6th scale (about 3″ in height), made of durable gray polymer clay and epoxy. You pick the character and I’ll make them, and you can take it home with you bubble-wrapped and boxed.

Mini-busts are $100 each at the con, BUT if you’d like to pre-order they’re only $90!

I’ll also be offering sculpted reliefs. Reliefs will come mounted on ready-to-hang wooden plaques, and will approximately the same size and height as the mini-busts.

YODA RELIEF 02 Reliefs look like this when viewed from the side.

Relief sculptures are $75, but preorder and they’re only $60!

Contact me here, on tumblr tweet me @jfsculpts, or email me at jfsculptsemail01@gmail (dot) com. Commission slots are limited, so order right away!

The fine print: some characters are too complex or detailed to render in a timely fashion at a convention. Because of this, I ask that you don’t request characters with complicated costumes (such as Galactus), mechanical parts, or specific likenesses. Thank you for your understanding.

SEE YOU THERE!

Tezuka’s ASTRO BOY (Tetsuwan Atomu)

Posted on June 1, 2018 by Mister Farrell

Astro Boy (1) Astro Boy (6) Astro Boy (30) Astro Boy (5) Astro Boy (12) Astro Boy (16) Astro Boy (8)

Astro Boy (18) Astro Boy (33) Astro Boy (30) Astro Boy (56) Astro Boy (45) Astro Boy (41)

Created in 1952 by Osamu Tezuka, Astro Boy (or Mighty Atom) is one of Japan’s most enduring characters of both manga and anime. Astro is a robot boy powered by a “100,000 horsepower” engine whose greatest attribute is his giant heart.

I did this mostly from memory, knowing I was taking a lot of liberties with Tezuka’s design. I wanted to recreate how Astro feels in my memory, not make an exact replica. Tezuka often placed the artificial Astro Boy in natural environments, and I did the same, with man-made detritus (including the arm of an older, ill-fated robot) on the ground; nature reclaiming it.

In Naoki Urasawa’s wonderful manga PLUTO, an updated retelling of Tezuka’s Astro Boy story The Greatest Robot in the World, Atom makes his entrance saving a snail off the sidewalk, and I paid homage to that story with Astro’s little snail pal here.

Astro Boy is 1/6th scale, approximately 8″ high, made of Super Sculpey, and Apoxie Sculpt on an aluminum wire and foil armature. He’s painted with spraypaint, acrylics, and enamel. The base is mostly found materials like dried, used coffee grounds, bits of tubing, and glue. The severed robot arm is scratch-built from wire and styrene plastic, and painted with Tamiya enamels.

GRAY GHOST (Goodbye Adam West)

Posted on June 14, 2017 by Mister Farrell

Adam West died last Friday. Synonymous with his portrayal of Batman in the 60s, he also provided the voice of Batman’s childhood hero on the animated episode “Beware the Gray Ghost.”

This relief was done on Sunday afternoon in Sculpey Medium.

Farewell, old chum.

HEROESCON 2016

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Mister Farrell

I’ll be at HEROESCON, FRIDAY – SUNDAY, JUNE 17th-19th, 2016, and I’m taking commissions and producing mini-busts and reliefs right there at the con. Mini-busts are approximately 1/6th scale (about 3″ in height), made of durable gray polymer clay and epoxy. You pick the character and I’ll make them, and you can take it home with you bubble-wrapped and boxed.

Mini-busts are $100 each at the con, BUT if you’d like to pre-order they’re only $90!

I’ll also be offering sculpted reliefs. Reliefs will come mounted on ready-to-hang wooden plaques, and will approximately the same size and height as the mini-busts.

YODA RELIEF 02 Reliefs look like this when viewed from the side.

Relief sculptures are $75, but preorder and they’re only $60!

Contact me here, on tumblr tweet me @jfsculpts, or email me at jfsculptsemail01@gmail (dot) com. Commission slots are limited, so order right away!

SEE YOU THERE!

John Henry Irons, STEEL

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Mister Farrell

From a recent photoshoot with Tony Martins (@TonyM_Photo), this is Steel. This 1/9th scale figure was sculpted with a mixture of Super Sculpey over an aluminum foil armature, primed and painted with acrylic paints.

When Superman was (briefly) killed by the monster Doomsday back in 1993, construction worker John Henry Irons was trapped by falling debris from the battle. When he finally pulled himself free, he declared “Gotta stop Doomsday!” as though he had to continue the fallen Superman’s never-ending battle.

Art by Jon Bogdanove, words by Louise Simonson, from The Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993).

In subsequent comics, Steel built a suit of powered armor with which gives him superhuman strength and the power of flight, and is probably best known for the movie in which he was played by Shaquille O’Neal.

But I liked Steel best in that first appearance, where he looked for all the world like an amalgamation of two American myths, John Henry and Superman.

Steel was created by Louise Simonson and Jon Bogdanove.

WINTER SOLDIER

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Mister Farrell

WINTER SOLIDER for #Watsoncon. Based on actor Sebastian Stan as he appeared in CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER, this 1/6th scale mini-bust was sculpted with Sculpey Firm over an aluminum foil and Apoxie armature, set on a wood-block base. Photos by Tony Martins Photography (@TonyM_Photo).

Bucky Barnes (the Winter Soldier) was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

PROFESSOR X AND MAGNETO

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Mister Farrell

Marvel’s Mutant fremenies mini-busts for my friend Kait’s birthday. These were made with Sculpey Firm and Apoxie over an aluminum armature, finished with black matte spray primer and silver and metallic red leaf. The X emblem in the stand was hand-carved, stained, and polyurethaned. Each bust is about 3″ high.

Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Batgirl of Burnside

Posted on December 22, 2014 by Mister Farrell

I was excited by the new creative team on BATGIRL- writer/breakdown artist Cameron Stewart, co-writer Brenden Fletcher, artist Babs Tarr, colorist Maris Wicks and letter Jared K. Fletcher– and I wanted to sculpt Barbara Gordon in her new costume.

I based this pose on the cover of her first appearance in Detective Comics #359, as drawn by Carmine Infantino, with additional design input by John Vukelic. This was done for the 6th Annual Hub Comics DARK KNIGHT ON A DARK NIGHT Batman art show.

These pictures were shot on-site in the display case. I’ll try to get some better pictures soon.

JFsculpts

Art by Jesse Farrell

Tag Archives: Superheroes