In response to Ed the Atoms request I have been sifting out photographs and some took a bit of finding. The larger figures were done for an exhibition in the early 1980’s, the smaller figures were my Positive Figurines series in the late 80’s early 90’s. The business was doing well until I stopped some criminals stealing from a neighbour’s property; the following nearly three-year backlash caused me a severe heart attack and a long period of problems with stomach ulcers. Though I kept the business going the situation eventually took its toll on my output. We were eventually able to move, but to a much smaller property, so I can’t cast my figures now, there’s no space. We don’t have the money for a workshop to buy or rent hence the move to learn computer graphics. I did try colorizing the black and white pictures, but after two pictures I didn’t think it was that successful. The figures were just sprayed light grey and put against a black background, it worked well for the adverts. They sold in kit form for assembly and painting.
Dave
Man, Dave, I’m so glad you finally posted these where everyone can see them…
Fantastic work. As a carver in hard stone, I know how hard it would be to use a build-up process, and end with work of such quality. My hat is off to you, my friend and thanks.
Your artistry is amazing, and what you went through is outrageous. I sincerely wish you win a lottery or something so you can build your casting and modelling workshop again.
Wow. I’m just a tad taken aback. These are wonderful!
You’ve been hiding these!?!?!?
I LOVE the barbarian queen and the Shaman and the Private French Line Infantryman. His expression looks tired and a little frustrated.
You have an incredible gift!
First DM…thank you for posting these pictures. I would give my eye-teeth to be able to do work such as I see here. Your talent…fantastic! The form, line, proportions produce a wonderful style. In my eye…if this makes sense to you…you have captured the oneness I call art. The majority I see here also hold ones imagination hostage…I am sitting here in total wonder. Hell if I lived in the Uk I would be visiting you, giving you space to work…the only price being…you’d have to teach me the process of sculpting.
Wonderful wonderful.
I’m sorry to hear of your misfortunes, but in another breath …adversity heightens artistic talent…how your talent has not boiled over into more fine works is beyond me, as it seems to great to be stifled.
I certainly look forward to seeing your digital development…and future works on this forum…I’m positive they will be very fine indeed.
Again, thank you for posting these pieces Dm. I’m sure they will be an inspiration for many people who visit this site.
Right …I’m going back for another study of the pieces…thank you.
What beautiful work !! Astounding and wonderful…So glad you’ve shown these and told your story–this is great work --Glad Ed convinced you to compile these and post them here…Extraordinary 
DM ,these are wonderful! Great expressions,My favs are Bridgitte,the oils, private 1st,barbarian queen and my fav of all is Private French! Wonderful work!
dang…I almost let this thread get past me…You apparently are a master…It was an honor to view your works…I hope at some point you will be able to take some of it back up…or even write a manual on casting…I would be one of your first customers to buy that information…I dabble with plaster castings some, but not to the level you have achieved. I do some clay sculpting and then make a simple latex mold and fill em with plaster and huck em out…I would seriously though love to hear your techniques in this area. Thank you again for sharing with us…
Kind Regards,
Ron Harris
[email protected]
Thanks for all the positve comments, and Ed and Stonecutter for suggesting I put them on. Ron I shall be contacting you lateron.
Dave.
Wonderful art!
I have allways wanted to be able to sculpt like that…but my tries so far have gone to a private collector(the garbage can) ;).
While waiting for the gift of sculpting to fall down on me I have at least learned how to make silicone moulds and how to cast in resine.
If you ever consider doing a tutorial on modelling and/or casting or you have found any god resources on this matter on the Web (I have not) then I can assure that there is at least one reader!!!
Thanks for your comments Hellborn. As far as writing down what I do when I sculpt, I’ve found that difficult, I’ve shown people because thats just doing what I do. I used to just draw, and then found I could model just by playing around with plasticene. The larger figures were early stuff, but a miniature sculptor, with years of experience helped me to move on further by showing me techniques. Although mostly for smaller figures I used two part epoxy puttys, he showed me what a useful modelling material plasticene mixed with beeswax is. I have to be in a positive mood when I sculpt, otherwise I produce nothing, thats why I find it difficult to convey in words to others, it just sort of happens.
Dave
Awesome work,DM!
When you say you use two-part epoxy putties, did you ever use Magic Sculp? Best stuff I’ve ever used, and unmixed will last forever. It’s got the finest grain of ANY two-part putty, will blend down to zero, and has a nice working time, and the list of it’s qualities goes on…
You can find it here at Magic Sculp’s website.
Just to show you what kind of detail is possible with this stuff, look at THIS! Just scroll down and click on the pic of a girl sculpture being held by the artist’s hand. Unbelievable.
Here is an example of my work, using a mixture of Super Sculpey and Promat, before I found out about MagicSculp my Alien Thinker. This piece was molded with Urethane rubber (a mistake I will NOT make again) and cast with resin. The molds were a real PAIN.
Thanks Nikko, I had a look at your work it was great. The Small female figure at Magi Sculpt looked to be about 75mm, well modelled. The chap that gave me advice with my smaller figures, used to produce amazing 54mm Vallejo style figures. I may well order some of the epoxy putty it looks good stuff. Thanks for all the info, it was most useful.
Dave