Tanglemane - Clay sculpture

[Puzzlebox]

Submission for Christmas Giveaway

If you go down in the woods today, you'd better not go alone. It's lovely down in the woods today, but it's safer to stay at home...

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3376418461&fileuploadsuccess=1

Deep in heart of Invimona's woods, amongst the tallest fir and pine trees, a forest creature stalks the padded earth, siphoning spirit and using its instinctive vine magic to ensnare prey. The Tanglemane is the size of a bear and is adorned with bristling spines that trail from the top of its head to the tip of it's tail. Those bristles are sharp, and can be flicked with vicious accuracy while also acting as a deterrent should any threats get close. If magic and ranged tactics fail, the Tanglemane also boasts sharp teeth and claws, and powerful back legs allow it to launch itself in a ferocious pounce towards threats. Since their recent discovery several binders have set out to control this beast to make use of its powerful abilities... but none have yet returned...

Below you can find images of the sculpture in its actual colour and several angles, and the several stages of creation. The keen eyed amongst you will notice the early drawn concept art, from which I stayed true to the pose, but little else!

Tanglemane Finished Sculpture

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3376422958&fileuploadsuccess=1

Tanglemane Sculpture Steps

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3376425336&fileuploadsuccess=1

Details!

At the top of this post is a scene of my sculpture, using some light Photoshop editing for shadows and colour matching, and a free forest scene from Matt Antonioli (Unsplash - Free to use under the Unsplash License). The border is meshed together from screenshots of BoF dialogue window. I have tried to recreate the game's stylistic flair and chose to use modelling clay as (a. I am awful at drawing, and b. I think the texture really matches the game design). This sculpture represents a Forest beast. A metal and foil armature was used, then covered by black clay as a base, before the addition of layers of colour. Glass eyes and pine needles (a little nod to Christmas) provide round off the model! This is the first time I have ever made a model for a contest, and is also the first time I have shown one of my little sculptures online. I am curious and excited to hear your feedback!

[hannahandjosephgames]

Puzzlebox this is amazing! The pine needles!

This would fit this world wonderfully and make some groves extra dangerous - siphoning spirit from others to create vine prisons, shoot quills at them, and then pounce on groups! Size of a bear, good grief.

This sculpture is wonderful, the painting and technique has such a wonderful shaggy effect! How long have you been doing sculpture work?

[Puzzlebox]

Thank you for the kind words! I'm very happy to hear that this creature is a good thematic fit! :D

As for sculpting, a couple of years now, but only as a hobby and quite infrequently. I fell into it by accident when I was given the chance to try it once and since then have made maybe a dozen or so models. I was quite pleased with the shaggy effect on this one, I was trying to make something that resembled fur and think this worked well. The pine needles were inspired following a woodland walk at the weekend and i'm very happy how they look!