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.