Making Monster Claws with Bruce D. Mitchell
Juan (11) and Lucas (9) visit special effects fabricator and fine Artist, Bruce D. Mitchell in the midst of his Stan Winston School course shoot, and the result is an impromptu lesson aimed at younger monster-makers interested in sculpting their own realistic monster tooth or claw.
Jump To Section
- Bruce D. Mitchell’s Advice to Young Monster Makers
- Creating Monster Sculptural Pieces
- Encouraging Young Artists
To watch the complete video, click the PLAYER ABOVE!
Bruce D. Mitchell’s Advice to Young Monster Makers
First, Bruce takes the time to review Lucas’s sketchbook and is impressed with Lucas’s instinctive use of underframe shapes to layout his character drawings and his use of foreshortening and body proportion. Bruce shares some tips on how to layout proportions for a mask and tells the kids, “Don’t cross your stuff out. Just turn the page. You might get an idea that you can come back to.” Bruce suggests keeping the mistakes and abandoned drawings both in order to inform progress and to potentially salvage inspiration.
(At a very early age, Lucas is already practicing the building block techniques that Bruce suggests and encourages.)
When Bruce shares his own notebooks, he gives further tips, demonstrating how he uses the pencil eraser as a tool for highlights and texture. Juan and Lucas are captivated by Mitchell's variety of methods and subjects.
(Bruce gives the boys a guided tour of one of his sketchbooks.)
When Bruce offers the boys the opportunity to try on one of his custom full-head masks, their excitement is palpable. Who doesn't love putting on a cool mask?
(The boys try on one of Bruce's one-of-a-kind wearable dynamic works of art.)
Creating Monster Sculptural Pieces
Bruce helps turn Lucas and Juan's sense of wonder into action when he brings out some Magic Sculpt and shows the boys how to make their very own epoxy clay sculpture, from scratch.
The boys mix the material and begin to shape it. Lucas forms a raptor claw and Juan sculpts a tiger tooth.
(Magic Sculpt is one of Bruce D. Mitchell's secret weapons. Watch his 5-part Mask Making course to discover why.)
Once the Magic Sculpt hardens, Bruce shows the boys how to add detail and surface texture along with techniques for painting, sanding, and weathering, to create a very realistic sculptural piece.
Along the way, Bruce covers basic safety precautions (gloves, goggles) and the proper use of simple tools, from sculpting tools like the serrated metal kidney to sanding tools like the wire brush and even scouring pads to add a final layer of weathering.
(With sanding and distressing complete, Bruce teaches a quick and easy painting technique to help the boys finish the project.)
Encouraging Young Artists
Patient, informative and engaging, Bruce D. Mitchell’s instruction and guidance helps Juan and Lucas turn their imaginations into a physical reality and his mask making course series can do the same for your budding monster maker - or you! As Bruce says, “If you can get them started at an early age and they’ve already got an interest, they can do incredible things later.”
(A trio of happy artists. Start inspiring creativity in your kids when they're YOUNG. They'll thank you for it.)
by David Sanger
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Bruce D. Mitchell's "How to Make a Mask" Course Series
- How To Make A Mask - Part One: Sculpting And Carving
- How To Make A Mask - Part Two: Painting And Leather Work
- How To Make A Mask - Part Three: Sculpting Goggles & Mouthpiece
- How To Make A Mask - Part Four: Detail Sculpting & Adding Magnets
- How To Make A Mask - Part Five: Leatherwork, Painting, And Finishing