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Page 2
 LMC:
What's your favorite clay for masks? What about for models?
CL: My favorite clay for masks is Wed
EM-217 water based. I also love this stuff for doing quick concepts
and even busts for model kits. It's by far one of my favorite clays.
As for the resin kits I use super sculpey. usually mixed with black
and white sculpey three to make a grey colored clay. But now there's
a company producing a grey color super sculpey so I'm using that. I
sometimes just use super sculpey pink as is right out of the box for
creature design. I also like to have the sculpey on the hard side, I
hate trying to sculpt in bubble gum.
LMC: What sculpting tools do you rely on
most?
CL: I rely on a wide variety of sculpting
tools, but I generally end up using just a few when I get right down
to it. It took me a long time to find my favorites. Some are home
made rakes and some are store bought. I like alot of Kemper tools,
especially the small wire loops with the wooden spoon shapes at the
back. I also love Walter's tools from
www.Perfect-Touch.com
. He makes some very small tools that work great for the resin
kits. But like most sculptors, I have more tools then I really need,
and I guess my hands are the best tools I own. Generic but it's the
truth.
LMC: Give us some sculpting tips (masks and
models)
 CL:
Sculpting tip's 101........Study anatomy!!!!! I can't stress this
enough. Also, practice as much as you possibly can. If you are only
sculpting a couple hours on the weekend then you will be come a
Sunday sculptor. You should at least try to sculpt a half hour to an
hour everyday. The same goes for painting, practice!!!! practice!!!!
practice!!!! Also study real life as much as possible.
LMC: When you spent all that time studying
anatomy, did you find sculpting these features to just become
ingrained or second nature to you?
CL: Yes and no. Some of the anatomy is like
second nature but still even today I find myself looking into
anatomy books for occasional reference. Anatomy is just one of those
things that almost can't be completely mastered. I rarely use my
anatomy books these days because I have sculpted things so many
times over and over. For the most part I can tell what's going on
and how things need to look, but even still I'm learning all the
time.
 One of the biggest challenges was knowing how the muscles
move and look both with and without skin and then learning to sculpt
the muscles in different positions. You can learn to sculpt
anatomy in a stiff standing pose and for the most part that's the
best way to start, but once those muscles start to move you can
loose all track of what's going on and you just need to practice
alot of different poses to really grasp everything. Then you have to
tackle body builders and heavy over weight people or really skinny
people. It's a never ending situation and that's why it's nearly impossible to master everything to anatomy. But it pays off ten fold
in the sculpting of creature design.
 LMC: Give us some molding tips
CL: Molding tips 101. Again, practice makes
perfect. I hate to be generic with these answers, but it's what I
did to get where I'm at. You have to practice your molding just as
much as you practice your sculpting. If you aren't as well rounded
as another artist in your field, then it could mean the difference
in you getting the work. We all have are weak points but if you can
generally do great work in all aspects you are more likely to land
more jobs.
LMC: What do you feel makes the biggest
difference between a good mask and a not so good mask? How do you go
about making sure yours are good?
CL: I think what makes a good mask over a
bad one is quality control and just the lack of good or bad design
sense. Most masks I see lack character. I think too often things are
repeated because of a lack of thinking outside of the box. Sure
zombies with blood all over the place sell, but at least be somewhat
different with your design. I like to see different things being
done, not the same old garbage. What Steve Wang is now doing is
great!!!! I think Jeff Death of Death Studios is doing a great job
keeping the quality high on his mask line and he is
doing some of the best stuff out there. That's going to be the
goal at The Clone Factory when we do our masks, they will be quality
over quantity. I won't do it any other way.
LMC: What are some common mistakes you see
beginners doing in their work?
 CL: The biggest common mistake I see beginners
making is trying to sculpt with a lack of anatomical knowledge. If
you don't know how to sculpt a nose or ear, then you should learn.
Also one big mistake I see all the time is simple misplacement of
the anatomical features or stiffness to the pose. I also see alot of
flat looking sculpts, where the general design just needed to come
out more, become more three dimensional if you will. These are areas
that beginners should look out for early on, so they don't develop
bad habits.
LMC: Any funny or interesting stories about
the work you've done? ie. disastrous molds
CL: Well yes, I have a had quite a few molds
go south on me, even now a days things can happen. Even with all I
have learned about molding and casting. I still make mistakes from
time to time, but it's knowing how to fix those mistakes that makes
the difference. I have had alot of things go horribly wrong in the
molding process, but now I can look back and laugh. It's just part
of learning.
LMC: What are your near term plans for your
work?
 CL: Well there's alot of near term plans
for work. The Clone Factory just attended the Imagination Expo in Las Vegas
in August. I'm getting pretty busy as is, so I will
try to just ride things out and see where it takes me.
LMC: Are Expos typically how you advertise?
Is that where your largest customer base comes from?
CL: As far as resin kit sales yes, but for
exposure on a FX level not really. However, going to the Vegas show
is a must because it has a FX mix to it that the other shows don't
have. You will see people like Greg Nicataro,Chiodo Brother's, Bob
Burn's, John Brown, Mark Alfrey, Jeff Taylor, Crash Mecreery and
Phill Tipette etc.........so it's good to always expose yourself to
these guys. And it's fun to see all the cool resin kits being done.
LMC: Got anything on the sculpting table
now that you can talk about?
CL: Yeah, I've got a new sculpt called the
Arachnid Sapien that is coming out soon. It's a full figure spider
kit. Should be pretty interesting. A new alien kit called the Seeker
and a new creature mutant called the Gumbo Brother's as well. Other
then that, just some private commissions and the mask line up will
start in September for Halloween 2003.
LMC: What makes you happy?
 CL: I guess creating new and interesting
creatures, hanging out and sculpting with my good friends Steve West
and Melinda. Talking with other fellow sculptors and helping them
out. Also talking with Mark Brokaw always crack's me up!!! Hanging
out with my family etc....Oh, and the occasional visit to Jordu's
studio is always great. Very up lifting!! Also web sites like this
that support all artists from beginner to pro.......This is a great
thing!!!! Thanks Casey
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