"When Matteo first got in touch with me about a collaborative project for Mindwork I was really thrilled.
He is always searching to make new opportunities and develop the hobby with the help of the best artists. This time it was no exception as Bjorn has a quite impressive CV.
I'm happy to see some room for traditional sculpting and I think that the grim work of Bjorn is a perfect opportunity for the more sensible and gritty rendering that we have in traditional sculpting.
After years working with the boardgame industry Matteo gave me the opportunity to go further with my own sculpting skill, making a strong 2D artwork into a cool 3D figure.
I spent a lot of time refining the textures, insuffling some life into this big brutal Orc. As the final product is resin it can register the tiniest of wrinkles, scratches and craziness we can put on a mini.
Bjorn -as the nice guy he is- helped me a lot by drawing directly onto the WIP pictures of my work to insure that the mini was faithful to his vision. Nonetheless I still had a lot of freedom to make the mini look great and I took a lot of pleasure building those bulky muscles, and adding the leather equipment, layer by layer. I hope that you'll have as much joy to paint this mini as I had sculpting it with the team at Mindworks."
-Rémy Tremblay-
For me, it has been an honor to work with an artist like Rémy. I have admired his work for a long time, and when I finally had the chance to connect with him, it felt like another piece of the puzzle in my creative journey fell into place.
In the past, I collaborated with another traditional sculptor, Patrick Masson, and Romain Van Den Bogaert, who initially sculpted miniatures in traditional mediums before transitioning to digital.
I have never held any prejudice or criticism towards digital sculpting. To me, it’s simply another medium, a tool among many but, when it used by someone with a background in traditional techniques, digital sculpting can be even more powerful.
That said, traditional sculpting holds a unique fascination for me. From the wire skeleton to the first block of clay, the refining process, and the meticulous attention to detail, there’s an inherent risk of ruining the work. Unlike digital sculpting, there's no quick fix with a simple Ctrl+Z. While digital sculpting is certainly an art form, traditional sculpting embodies a kind of magic, especially when working at such a small scale.
Here, you can appreciate some pictures of Rèmy's sculpt for the Bjorn Hurri figures. The small imperfections and the lack of perfect symmetry lend a sense of realism to these creations.
I hope to bring you a step-by-step, commented process of the entire sculpting journey for this figure very soon. This will allow you to appreciate even more the incredible techniques involved in sculpting this intricately designed orc figure.
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As I wrote this article, I found myself reflecting deeply on the current landscape of miniature sculpting. In an era where STLs are proliferating and access to digital sculpting is more widespread than ever before, I wonder if we are facing an oversaturation of available sculpts. The rapid advancement of AI in this field is also a source of concern for me. This overwhelming availability often lacks the quality and originality that characterizes true artistry.
Recently, I’ve noticed a growing trend towards sculpting or making concept and illustrations through prompts, which feels increasingly tangible. While many enthusiasts celebrate this as a democratization of the market, I see it as a significant misstep. The notion that a digitally generated sculpt might be equated with a piece created by a dedicated artist, someone who has devoted years to mastering their craft through toil, mistakes, and countless sleepless nights, is disheartening.
I've received numerous messages requesting an STL of this Rémy sculpt, which, while made my funny at first, left me with an immense sense of sadness. Are we losing our ability to recognize and appreciate the "physical" reality of a traditionally sculpted figure?
The "thin" line between reality and fiction is becoming dangerously blurred, and it’s unsettling. It seems that there is an increasing expectation for everything to be quick and easily accessible, with little tolerance for failure. But why avoiding mistake? Why demanding so much?
Is this hobby evolving too rapidly? Perhaps. It should be a journey of learning, making mistakes, exploring, and enjoying the creative process without the pressure of haste. Yet, it feels as though we’re rushing for instant recognition on social media, losing sight of the artistry behind each gesture and the passion that fuels countless late nights.
I sincerely hope this is not the end of such a kind art form as miniature sculpting.
I will stand firm against generative AI art and advocate for the integrity of traditional artistry and digital ones who spent their whole life to learn, who paid with a piece of their souls to become a keeper of art knowledge.
Wishing you all the best this holiday season! Enjoy your hobby!