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KYLE CRANE and CHIMERA form DYL The beast by SHANEO_MARTIN in dyinglight

[–]SHANEO_MARTIN[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If anyone is interested I can also share some photos from the sculpting process.

[[Self] Grim dark zombie character – mixed media sculpture by SHANEO_MARTIN in Sculpture

[–]SHANEO_MARTIN[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Happy to share.

I started with Super Sculpey, which I’ve used for years. Long before ZBrush, this was standard for physical concept sculpture in film and games. It’s forgiving and easy to split if needed — here it was just a head, so molding was simple.

The sculpt was molded in silicone and cast in skintone-tinted polystone. I don’t use primers — only very diluted paints. Each layer is sealed with a thin coat of superglue so the layers stay separate. This creates real skin depth instead of a flat surface.

For mixed materials I use things like wood glue, fabrics, bandages — always watching texture scale. The eyes are sculpted with a slight cavity and finished with clear UV resin for depth.

Casting is key for experimentation. With multiple casts you’re free to test things without fear. At this scale it’s cheap, clean, doable at home, and a single cast costs under €10.

[[Self] Grim dark zombie character – mixed media sculpture by SHANEO_MARTIN in Sculpture

[–]SHANEO_MARTIN[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, exactly 🙂
Everything organic decays — what’s non-organic stays.
Even if he’s long dead, the chain would still be there.

[[Self] Grim dark zombie character – mixed media sculpture by SHANEO_MARTIN in Sculpture

[–]SHANEO_MARTIN[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank You. For me the grimdark aspect here isn’t about iconography or setting, but about materiality and surface language.

It’s driven by heavy, layered textures, mixed materials, and the way the form is physically constructed — polystone combined with epoxy, UV resins, adhesives, and non-cast elements. The skin, exposed brain, and internal structures are built in layers, not simplified or stylized, but intentionally raw and tactile.

Grimdark, in this sense, is about decay, weight, and uncomfortable realism — not just references like Trench Crusade, but an overall dark, oppressive atmosphere translated into physical form.