My latest work in progress

I've finally started sculpting the Steampunk Pirate Cat I've been thinking about for months now.  This will be my first Steampunk sculpture.  It was inspired by a Katy Mcalister book called A Steampunk Romance, and by my cat, Calcifer.  I got a better feel for what Steampunk was after reading the book (which had pirates).  And Calcifer, with his one bad eye, reminds of a pirate in many ways. 


Calcifer is fearless and adventurous, and goes charging bravely forward, even when he doesn't know what he's getting into.  I can totally see him as a pirate!
I got a miniature gun for the sculpture several months back, and I'm sizing the cat to the gun.  It's going to end up being a fairly large piece (for me, at least).  Sometimes it's nice working on a larger scale- I can add more detail and a larger piece can be easier to handle.  This is only the beginning.

 
And here he is with his head attached to his body and a pair of ears on.  I'm using a foil and wire armature for increased strength and to cut down on the amount of clay I need to use, although I will end up using quite a bit of clay for this sculpture.  I plan to add a lot of fur and make him fluffy like Calcifer.  I'm still deciding on the exact pose.  Right now I can't decide if I want him holding the gun in both paws, or if the gun should be in a holster with one paw on the butt.  First I'll have to get the rear legs and tail sculpted so he's got a secure base to stand on.  At first I was thinking of adding some type of Steampunk wings, but now I'm not sure if that will be quite right (or how difficult it might be).  I'll have to see how the piece progresses.  I tend to let the sculptures guide me in the direction they want to go.  I'll keep you all up to date as this sculpture develops.  I can see the finished piece in my mind, but I never truly know what they'll end up like.  That's just one of the joys of being an artist. =)
-Michelle of CreativeCritters