Reef Creatures - Entry#1: Giant Moray Eel Bust
Over the last few months I had the
opportunity to sculpt some very impressive reef creatures for a
diorama that will portray a pacific coral reef in the Natural
History Museum Senckenberg in
Frankfurt, Germany.
With every model I make for this
specific project I try to not only build an ambassador for its
particular species but also to show an individual with its own
personality, and even beauty and charm (especially
the giant moray eel, that I really learned to love like a cute old granny by working on it).
Studying
these sea creatures with all their gestures, facial expressions and
unbelievable colors and patterns left me in respect, affection and
wonder.
Here is my attempt to do it justice.
Giant Moray Eel Bust
The giant moray eel (Gymnothorax
javanicus) can reach a total length of 3 meters.
That is why
I decided to only sculpt the head – which will be stretching out of
its den menacingly, once the reef diorama is finished.
The base body is carved out of PU, followed by a rough layer of air-hardening clay. The
detailed outer layer is made of Apoxy sculpt that is colored with mixed
media.
Eery eel fact: Did you know that moray eels have a second set of jaws in their throat that reach forward into the mouth, seize prey and drag it back for swallowing? - very Alien-esque...
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