10. Reflection on Final Exam

5th June 2024

Reflection is a massive part of learning and is the way that we can improve on our skills. I leant a lot this year, and more than I expected too. 

I had some challenges with sculpting, as the surface wasn't smooth, and my teacher had to sand out the imperfections. It took me 5 tries to get usable pieces, and I definitely faced some hurdles. These mistakes were mostly due to my lack of experience with conform moulds, which are a new concept at level 5. They are trickier than flat moulds, and I appreciate how each step can impact the next. I am proud of my exam, but there are some areas for improvement. I need to work on my hair-wrapping skills, especially with bald caps. I should have used the washing machine method, but the method I used was still okay, although I didn't hide the grips well, making the bald cap a bit bumpy. Blending the pieces was another challenge. Although I didn't spend too much time blending perfectly on the covered pieces, the blend underneath the chin wasn't the best. I should have thinned down the edges of the sculpt slightly, and the cap plastic was not the easiest to blend in that area. However, overall, it was easier than my trial pieces, and the cap plastic was certainly better. 

Figure 1: Left side Bold cap (Keites-Gorman, 2024)
Figure 2: Back Bold cap (Keites-Gorman, 2024)
Figure 3: Right side Bold cap (Keites-Gorman, 2024)
Figure 4: Back Left Bold cap (Keites-Gorman, 2024)

I had some issues with the colouring, as I discussed in my exam blog. There was a point where the body paint looked more blue than grey. Greys can appear blue because they have a blue undertone. Fortunately, with layering and drying, it turned into a more natural grey, which matched the wings. I wish I had used the airbrush more, as it would have been a lot easier. I also need more experience with airbrushing, especially for full body looks. I definitely need to try that. Luckily, I had a fairly big brush that covered a large area. 

I had an issue with the right cheek and aligning it with the eye. I had to cut it before applying it slightly so it would not poke my model's eye. This made it line up much better and was more comfortable for my model. I should not have brought the sculpt that close to the eye, so I will definitely consider that if I sculpt around the eyes again. 

Looking back, I love the moss; I think it was a great addition and brought dimension to the gargoyle. However, I would have loved to add some to the wings just to tie it in a little more to the body, especially on the top where we would most likely get more weathering and moss. 

Figure 5: Gargoyle (Keites-Gorman,2024)

The hands were very tricky to paint, so I wish I had used some setting powder to decrease the chances of the paint coming off and needing to reapply after a few photos. 

Figure 6: Close-up Hands (Keites-Gorman, 2024)

Another thing I would change is the outfit; it should be a darker grey. This is a little nit-picky, but I would have liked it to match better with the body and face. However, I still like it, and I think I managed to achieve the weathered look. The most important thing to me was to ensure the comfort of my models. They had a full day ahead, so I did my best to make sure they were comfortable. This involved arranging things in a specific order so they could eat, making sure they took regular breaks to move around and providing a straw so they could drink with their prosthetics on. I've had experience modelling for quite a few people and being transformed into various creatures, so I understand how uncomfortable it can be to sit for long periods, especially with prosthetics on your face. Having the perspective of both a model and a makeup artist makes me more understanding of my models' needs and allows me to ensure they are comfortable at all times. 

Figure 7: Profile (Keites-Gorman, 2024)

Figure 8: Gargoyle pose (Keites-Gorman, 2024)

Overall, this was a significant challenge to overcome, and there are both positive and negative aspects, as with everything. I'm eager to apply the lessons I've learned for next year.

P.s You can find my final images of my gargoyle on the tab 'final sfx images' :)

Thanks for reading this blog!
Evie 

Figure List

Figure 1: Keites-Gorman, E. (2024). Left Side Bold Cap. [Own Work]. York College, UK.
Figure 2: Keites-Gorman, E. (2024). Back Bold Cap. [Own Work]. York College, UK.
Figure 3: Keites-Gorman, E. (2024). Right side Bold Cap. [Own Work]. York College, UK.
Figure 4: Keites-Gorman, E. (2024). Back Left Bold Cap. [Own Work]. York College, UK.
Figure 5: Keites-Gorman, E. (2024). Gargoyle. [Own Work]. York College, UK.
Figure 6: Keites-Gorman, E. (2024). Close-up Hands. [Own Work]. York College, UK.
Figure 7: Keites-Gorman, E. (2024). Profile. [Own Work]. York College, UK.
Figure 8: Keites-Gorman, E. (2024). Gargoyle pose. [Own Work]. York College, UK.