Road to making a GOOB part 1

 So this will be part one of a long road of making a miniature or set of miniatures. My creative process is my own and this is in no way an endorsement of the way I do things nor a step by step guide how to do things exactly like I would, but merely an explanation and a way to sort of explain what I go through for each warband or sculpt really. 

So generally I tend to sculpt blind. I always have a and never have really done it any other way until just recently. What I mean by this is that I would sculpt without a sketch or roughing out the ideas on paper or anything beforehand. I enjoy doing this because it usually ends up with a product that is completely made in the moment. 

With that being said my past couple of warband sculpts were all drawn beforehand. for whatever reason I had the mindset that if I put the idea down in paper I would have to limit myself to what that drawing had. It makes no sense but thats just what it felt like. Once I realized that i could change anything I wanted after the fact drawing out ideas became a better way to sort of cement ideas in the moment. A shitty sketch can do wonders for bringing a fleeting idea to life and I tend to doodle randomly. This was the case for my set of "BIG HELMET" goblins.  

Terrible picture of big helmet goblins and some other random incredibly over stippled doodles. 

Big helmet goblins complete sculpt, mostly true to the drawings but more or less different. The moonheaded guy was also a quick doodle but made at the last second as an interesting "Musician" or "herder" for the warband. 

These guys were created as I was doodling because I kept saying stupid things to myself such pertaining to big helmets. "What do you think of my BIG HELMET" "Dont mind my BIG HELMET' "Oh, have you seen my BIG HELMET" This concept was really funny to me and it ended up being a fun idea. Whats more gobliny than a heavily armored goblin encased in a large helmet with some sort of grotesque visage on said helmet. I imagine they run at people or whatever and ram them down then continue to ram them down repeatedly sort of stun locking whatever theyre up against. The concept is very silly but I think thats the charm to something like this stemming from a doodle or something I said outloud and kept repeating because itd make me chuckle. 

Tangent aside, for this blogpost Ill show a crappy shitty doodle of a crappy shitty goblin whom will be sculpted based on the sketch. Pictured below is a goblin shaman and his little younglin helper who just carries a cauldron around. Theyre evil, mischievous, green, and happy to deliver misfortune to all. 

Goblin shaman and cauldron guy (wink wink nudge nudge to a game by Hillgiant Games)

The sketch is crude, very quick, and doesnt have much thought put into it. A lot of ideas not fully flushed out and a lot of concepts very similar to some creatures who are incredibly fond of the night. Once the armature is made Ill probably post some progress pics and how I make an armature (Spoiler: lazily) but it works for small things like robed goblins. This is essentially the base of the idea, I know the things I want but the details are not there. Generally Ill add them as I sculpt or come up with concepts and try them then and there and Im happy with the outcome. Sort of freestyle or improvised in the moment, it brings a lot pressure to an otherwise enjoyable hobby which I enjoy. Doesnt sound very pleasant though does it? Ill go more in depth on sculpting tools and whatnot when i actually get to sculpting this guy and his friend. 

Some things will probably be useful for you if youre new to sculpting or if youre an established sculptor maybe something new you havent tried? I doubt the latter however it should be interesting for whoever is looking for this Im sure.

The Goobening

 Got bored and decided to start a blog. Im not sure what Ill use this for, more than enough blogs explaining how minis are made and whatnot but maybe Ill do that in step by step posts from armature to epoxy to molding and casting. Maybe I can gather my thoughts here and post updates for warbands and ideas?

We'll see. The current matter right now is GOBLINS. I make a lot of goblins and only goblins really. Im planning on taking some sets to adepticon but well see how that goes I may have shot myself in the foot and ordered too late. 

The next set are some dusk goobs with a banner pole. I really think these are the best ones Ive sculpted yet but they are a lot smaller than my usual goblin sculpts. A lot truer to the classic Kev Adam goblin sculpts without being complete copies (I guess?) Just a different experiment in aesthetics and overall form in the way I sculpt. I hope to have these for adepticon but probably not, maybe Ill open a preorder for after. 

I made these guys specifically to antagonize Gabe and have him make a banner since thats all I've been doing these past few weeks. Lots of banner painting and for not much reason other than the joy of painting itself as Ive never really painted with acrylics until starting this hobby. Its real fun stuff and trying to figure out iconography or weird heraldry type stuff while using classic goblin iconography is interesting to me, a nice exercise in creativity. 

Dusk Goblin Malicious moon, Started out as 60s Psyche moon but came out more heavily influenced by a weird Oingo Boingo Brothers art style thing. Probably one of the quicker ones but also the most different one.

This was the original Dusk Goblin Malicious moon, I wanted to go for a more evil look so this sorta stayed as a rough go at the idea of what I wanted for this banner.

Banner for the Smoldering Eye tribe. Classic night goblin iconography, all of em. Thunderbolts, flames, eye the whole nine yards on a cream background. This is my favorite of the few flags Ive done since it was so clean and came out so nice on paper when I started painting and drawing it.

Banner for my main night goblin guys, not sure what Ill call the tribe but lets just say its an oderus inspired crooked moon flag. Nice flame gradient but the pencil marks show horribly. I still enjoy this one though as it was my first attempt at a freehand banner. 

Last but not least heres a mock up for the guys who will be using that gnarly flag. Little bastard boys ready to prod, bludgeon, bash, and stab whatever comes their way. 

Ill update this whenever I feel like it I suppose. I may give a heads up to shirt preorders or something here. Keep an eye out for a new goob shirt soon maybe? We'll see.