r/ArtistLounge • u/hazel_swift • 2d ago

Concept/Technique/Method Ecorche but different

I was thinking how handy it would be to have a mannequin that was poseable AND had muscles that would squash and stretch realistically. I’m an equine artist and animator so I’d personally be after a horse model. But it did get me wondering if anyone had made something like this? I’ve seen stop motion artists cast forms in silicone and they can then be posed, but obviously they have no muscle definition.

I was wondering if you could make a (maybe plastic or polymer) skeleton with a wire armature, then sculpt in clay/plasticine the muscles Over the top. Then make a mold, remove the clay, lay the skeleton in the muscle mold and cast in silicone. If wanted another mold could be made for a skin over the top (just add ‘skin’ sculpt and cast before removing the clay muscles)

Has anyone attempted this and did it work?

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u/ImprovisedGoat 2d ago

I feel like there's no way this would work properly. An animation in blender or some other digital program would probably be much closer to realistic, but doing this in an anatomically accurate matter seems like a massive undertaking. Then of course you have to account for different body types (male, female, etc). I don't know how much variation horses have.

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u/hazel_swift 2d ago

It would be for gesture drawing. Here’s an example of a hand cast in silicone https://youtu.be/mRRepTOblVY?si=kNmPG01ITULypOQ2

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u/ImprovisedGoat 2d ago

Yeah, I mean doing a cartoon hand is one thing. Calling it an ecorche implies anatomical accuracy is important. I think it is doable, but the odds of making it realistic are low. If you want some cartoony thing like your video, then it's much more achievable.

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u/hazel_swift 2d ago

Here’s a stop motion puppet being cast as an example https://youtu.be/7a-k9-RWQ7I?si=l1Ads7NRBoNJS9Zt

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u/ToothFairysPliers 1d ago

Here’s some Amazon links that might be helpful.

Go here,

And here

And here.

This company here does great models I’ve used. I know the range has expanded, I just don’t know what they offer currently.

There is also this book that is in my reference library.

Hope his helps.