Artist Proof Studio: Fat Zombie Mini Bust

Just finished painting up the newest release from Artist Proof Studio, the Fat Zombie Mini bust sculpted by Norman Meyers. It's one Helluva cool little creature study. Solid cast in the signature gray resin from Artist Proof at about 4" tall; so I believe it's in the neighborhood of 1/5 scale.










I enjoy this type of Art, as it's a great opportunity to hone your skills at whipping out fast color studies on a cool design. It's not a full figure kit or a larger scale bust that you must dedicate hours of work on. It's small and simple enough to simply scrape away a small seam line and start painting; a quick painting fix to knock out after work or just to perpetuate the creative flow.

As I understand it, this bust is loosely based on the full figure Fat Zombie kit Norman sculpted for Artist Proof last year. The bloated visage seems infuriated as it's tissues slip away. Check out the Artist Proof Blog to get more information on this piece and others slated to be released soon.

CM Studio 1/12 Albertosaurus

BONE CRUSHER





Aaah, it's good to be back. I've not posted anything in a while due to finally getting back to work (after an over year long layoff) and working some other projects. But getting back to business, I'd like to share my latest painting project. It's a 1/12 scale Albertosaurus sculpted by Charlie McGrady of CM Studio.








Charlie sculpted this animal with an immensely thick and brutish stature; barrel chested with extremely powerful legs and a massive gaping maw of bone crushing power. Since the time I first discovered Charlies work at a resin model kit convention called Wonderfest in Louisville, KY back in 1998, I always desired to paint one of his fantastic dinosaur pieces; Hell, at least hold one!




This project was a great challenge, allowing me to experiment with a subject I had never worked with before. I made the base myself using a wooden plaque, model railroad materials and some natural elements found outdoors. Though it didn't turn out exactly how I'd envisioned it I'm still pleased, and the important thing is that I did learn from the experience. I have several more amazing dinosaur pieces coming, and I'm quite enthusiastic about having more opportunities to work with such amazing creatures.

The Pale Man

From Guillermo Del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth" film, the Pale Man is a wan and emaciated thing; a nightmarish, child eating configuration shrouded in flaccid skin. It wheezes to life like an emphysematic sufferer when the young Ophelia decides to partake of a few bulbous grapes from it's buffet of tasty looking fruit.

The sound it's crackling bones makes as it stiffly rises to pursue her with ravenous intent...





An artist by the name of Jake Anderson sculpted a life sized replica of the Pale Man that's equally as unsettling as the thing from Del Toro's film. Jake conveyed the nightmarish form of this character wonderfully. To say I was utterly delighted to paint this piece would be an oversimplification of the fact that I enjoyed every moment of it.















Jake is a very talented artist with an affection for the macabre. To see more of his work, click Here.

Dead, Bloated... and Virulent.

I feel like Art is a two way door; enter the door in one direction and see something that's wonderfully uplifting. Enter the door in the other direction, and experience an unmitigated urge to vomit. Either way, Art has it's affect on you in some form or fashion.

More times than not, I choose to steep myself in the latter. Why? I truly cannot explain that. Any normal person would choose to commit ones self to lovely and wonderful things, right?! I don't know, that's very subjective, much like Art. Enter Artist Proof Studio: Fat Zombie. Sculpted by Norman Meyers.






There are many zombie kits out there in the Garage Kit hobby; some very cool looking zombies. But when I think about it, is a reanimated corpse supposed to look cool...? Organic human remains come back to feast upon living tissues; or in this case a fat, rekindled creature, plump with an unwholesome brew which it spews abroad to infect any flourishing organism.






Norman seriously pushed the envelope to create a repugnant creature indeed. He went to the edge of the cliff and plunged into the realm of objection...and I followed directly behind...

Norman and I spoke at length of the world where the Fat Zombie is from. His imagination knows no bounds, and he provided me with much excellent insight and interesting ideas; such as the bristly hairs growing from the tumorous shoulder mass. It might be hard to make out a face from within the twisted mass of broken flesh on the Fat Zombie's back; it's fire blackened face split apart from the concussive effect of delivering the destructive potpourri. Amid the cranial chaos I decided to include a traumatized brain that I sculpted, sliding out and surrounded by bone fragments taken from a coyote skull.










The crab claws emerging from the back side are not included with the Artist Proof release. I saw early work in progress photos of Norman's Fat Zombie vision with the crab legs, and I loved the way their hard sharpness just cut through the otherwise lumpy and swollen form of the zombie. I decided to add them myself.







Fat Zombie rides triumphantly atop the head of a giant, rotten carcass of an unnameable creature. It erupts from underneath the surface of a sea of putrescence, not unlike a humpback whale of Earth's oceans.




When I begin a project, I usually have a really good idea where I want to take it. But that's not to say I know exactly how I'll approach it. The trip always begins with a ride on the internet. With the Fat Zombie, it was my intention to keep a stern anchor in reference to real life tissue decay; but at the same time maintain small bit of freedom for interpretation. Norman sculpted the Fat Zombie and it's mount with many textures, boils, yawning wounds and sloughing skin. There's even an area of the mount where it's skin is peeling back to reveal the gleaming bone beneath. So I was faced with a challenge of trying to detail all aspects of the sculpture without making it look entirely too busy. I made the decision to work in strong, but subtle details to the base so I wouldn't detract too much attention from the rotund rider.

Many of the elements I added to this piece I realized towards the end of the process. So in retrospect, I wish I had spent a bit more time browsing the plethora of possibilities that would potentially enhance the Fat Zombie before actually diving into it. So there's always learning to be done from each project.

In the end, I discovered many interesting techniques, and I feel I have relinquished an urge to paint something utterly stomach turning. There were several times I felt as though I was finished, but then entered the inauspicious urge to add something else. Honestly, about fifty percent of what I really wanted to do with this piece made it out of my head and onto the tapestry. I suppose the remaining ideas will remain Standing in wait for the next Fat Zombie...




To have a look at the other boundary obliterating artwork from Artist Proof Studio, click HERE. To contact Norman Meyers about Fat Zombie, he can be reached at: zombiejesus11@gmail.com

An Equine gift

First off, I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. And in a lovely red font, no less.

This year I thought it would be nice to paint something as a Christmas gift for my daughter. She's a lover of animals, especially horses. I watch her when we go on walks, and the curiosity, respect and genuine love she has for animals is amazing to me. Her affection for the equine creatures comes as no surprise; what with they're strength, beauty and independence they seem to issue as they gallop.

No doubt this is a departure from the subject matter I've been working with lately. But at the risk of sounding cliche', I must say it was quite therapeutic. The subject matter, indeed; but more so the idea this will be given to a person I love dearly. I hope she enjoys it.

Artist Proof Studio: Death Corps Zombie bust

This is the debut release from Artist Proof Studio, a new company consisting of
Paul Komoda, Erick Sosa and Norman Meyers. Death Corps Zombie is a 1/2 scale bust impeccably cast by Steve West of Cellar Cast. Measuring in at 13” tall, Death Corps Zombie is without a doubt one of the nicest pieces of art I’ve had the pleasure to work with; both in terms of casting quality and sculptural detail.

This piece has a look that’s best described, (in my opinion) as an amalgam of H.R. Giger, Takayuki Takeya and Yasushi Nirasawa; all polished with Paul Komoda’s own obsessively detailed fingerprint. Death Corps Zombie in a nod to the Germans ever captivating interest in the supernatural and the occult during World War II; the desire to create a squad of devastating, undead soldiers on the battlefield that were deemed unusable and ultimately too difficult to control.





The Zombie is depicted from the chest up in uniform with goggles, and is totally scarred with fantastic details by the hands of Mr. Komoda. The textures of the zombified skin range from desiccated to pitted, pruned, and taught; textures reminiscent of fish bones with all the tiny pits and etched lines that appear to be crafted by Mother Nature. Even the short cropped hair has an incredibly fleshy look to it with the worm like, backwards swept flow. All skillfully placed onto an accurate study of anatomy. With a stoic expression and upright military posture, the detail doesn’t stop there - the undead soldier’s uniform is a work of Art in itself, completing the look of a thing that’s been lying decades in wait beneath a lagoon. A uniform with a look so organic, it appears to have been grown onto the zombie. I should not forget to mention the SS lightning bolts and Deaths Head pins on the collar to complete the authentic look. All this wonderful detail is lies atop an uber smooth base refined by Toi Ogunyoku Jr.








As I mentioned previously, the casting quality is impeccable. All that is required to prep for painting is to remove a very weak seam line over the shoulders and head. It’s so weak, in fact, you could most likely glare at it threateningly and it would melt away. No offset lines or air bubbles, and the light gray resin even has a nice pungent odor too, reminding you that there’s an undead Nazi soldier that needs painted in front of you. The bust comes neatly packaged in an artwork adorned box and simple instructions featuring information about Artist Proof Studio.

I think it’s fantastic the talented individuals at Artist Proof are bucking up and visiting some extremely original and atypical subject matter. If Death Corps Zombie is any indication of what's on the horizon for this burgeoning clay provocateur cult, then I feel like we're all in for an unusual and interesting trip.

The Death Corps Zombie bust can be acquired from Norman Meyers, at zombiejesus11@gmail.com for $140 plus shipping. To keep abreast of what's brewing in the ever frothing vats at Artist Proof Studio, click here.





A.P.S. Death Corps Zombie bust as featured in Kitbuilder's Magazine #62, painted by me.