Studio Blog | Stéphan Angoulvant
An archive of my student work at Art Center in Pasadena.
Posts tagged with “study models”
3D Fundamentals 2 - Part 2
My second term/semester at Art Center has come to a close. While the first term pushed our limits in raw volume of work and number of projects, our second term was a more focused effort, which nonetheless ended intensely.
During the first half of 3D Fundamentals 2 we continued to learn different tools and techniques in the workshop, following the work we had done in 3D Fundamentals 1. The second half of this term was closer to Study Models in its approach.
The basic premise of the course is to learn the clay modeling techniques used in automotive design and in the process understand the development of industrial lines and surfaces by creating a so-called “speed form”.
We began with several pages of sketches delineating concepts for an abstracted form inspired by air, land or sea.
Once the direction was selected orthographic views were created.
From these, a basic armature was constructed from MDF and masonite.
Using Chavant Y2 Klay, we packed the basic form.
The templates allow us to roughly determine the section views of our model.
A variety of tools allows us to shave the clay.
Crossing the strokes creates a far more even surface.
Design adjustments were made, such as the addition of this outer ridge.
Using splines to check the quality of our lines.
Finding section lines allows us to balance the design over to the other side.
Using a height gauge to check the symmetry.
Tape lines allow a better read of the surfaces and where they need to be balanced.
Using blue steel scrapers we shaved a final thin layer of clay to make the surfaces perfectly sharp.
The final steeled model.
Spray shellac was applied to protect the clay and provide a surface for the primer to bond.
First coat of catalyzed primer.
The primer was sanded down in order to further smooth the high and low spots in the clay.
Metal Glaze was used to fill in low spots and other imperfections.
Yours truly, spraying a second coat of primer.
A guide coat of Krylon was applied to better differentiate the high and low spots.
One last coat of primer was applied and wet sanded smooth.
Applying the automotive paint.
Once the color was dry, a glossy clear coat was applied.
I was quite happy with the final result!
Study Models
This should wrap up the big posts from first term. Study Models was probably our most time-consuming class of the semester because it represented so many hours in the shop. The models that came out of it were quite impressive however. I’m skipping some of the more tedious work such as sketches, research and orthographics to show you the final results.
We kicked off the term just like Viscom 1 with boxes! This was a rather grueling exercise due to the strict expectations for craftsmanship. The basic cube had to be exactly 6 inches tall, no gaps, no pencil marks, no eraser marks, etc. The results aren’t particularly impressive but it got us working with foamcore and taught some valuable X-Acto knife techniques!
Our second project involved more foamcore and was mostly an exercise in creating interlocking shapes. This set us up perfectly for the following project, creating a quarter-scale car interior from foamcore. Using thick paper we added surface detail to complete the study.
Our next project was rather laborious, but again an excellent exercise in training our eye. We each chose a hand-held product to replicate, in my case an old Black & Decker iron. The first part of the project was creating orthographic views of the iron, measuring all its contours with a caliper so that the model could be as accurate as possible.
The model was built from various materials. Dense polyurethane foam for the handle and buttons, lighter polyurethane foam for the body and MDF for the base.
Lighter polyurethane foam can be a fickle material to work with. I accidentally carved the back portion too far and had to painstakingly rebuild the edge with spackle.
The last few weeks of class were dedicated to our final project, a companion to the Viscom 1 final: building our tracked vehicle. It was a long an arduous process which I’m condensing to just a few pictures.
We were allowed to use “found objects” as part of the model so I created the wheels by assembling all kinds of plumbing. The main body was sculpted out of polyurethane foam and the tracks themselves were made of foamcore.
It took a few hours just to carve out all the tracks.
In the last few weeks of the semester we were truly pummeled with work. Finishing everything in due time was a real challenge – especially when you add to poster boards and process books to the final models.
Our final presentation included a bit of Photoshop work to place the model in an environment. Credit goes to Bud Kuenzli for the amazing aurora borealis picture which works in the background below.
As a bonus, here I am looking rather exhausted as I make my final presentation (courtesy of my fellow classmate Peggy). Hopefully you can properly appreciate the size (and weight!!) of the model.
