Chaney - Laugh Clown Laugh bust

[derekc62]

This 1/4 scale solid resin bust of Lon Chaney as Tito/Flik in the 1928 silent film Laugh Clown Laugh was sculpted by Mark Van Tine and produced by Saul Alvarez's Silver Screen Icons.

The most challenging part of the build was the ruff. I tried masking the ruff to paint the three color stripes but soon gave up on that idea and just painted them free hand. There then followed a lot of touch-ups.

The face make-up was first outlined with a red pencil and then painted. I went heavy on the eye gloss because I wanted some tears showing.

Mark did a great job with the expression.

[bucketfoot-al]

I am ... SPEECHLESS .... This .... is a MASTERPIECE of Painting!!!!!! BRAVO!!!!!!

[derekc62]

You are too kind, Vlad.

Thank you very much.

[llricmc]

Beautifully realistic rendering!

[derekc62]

Beautifully realistic rendering!

Thank you Ric.

The only exposed bit of skin was painted the same way I painted the Karloff Body Snatcher bust and I'm happy with the result.

I do feel the eyes have a nice expression about them.

[tay666]

OMG!
Stunning!

Those eyes are beautiful. And all that work on the ruff really paid off.

[Tim Casey]

Excellent show of patience (and skill)!

[timetraveler]

Fantastic!

[Trekkriffic]

This is masterful work. Very well done!
The eyes really do have it!
Cudos to you sir!

[Tim Fortuna]

Absolutely phenomenal Derek! So crisp, hats off to you Sir.

You are too kind, Vlad....

I caught that one, nice. lol

[bucketfoot-al]

Absolutely phenomenal Derek! So crisp, hats off to you Sir.

You are too kind, Vlad....

I caught that one, nice. lol

Seriously would you believe I just got that?

[derekc62]

Thanks very much everyone.

For those interested in the process and color choices this is what I wrote to someone who inquired:

I took a little artistic license with this one. The frill around the neck (ruff) may have been white, but the black and white photos show a slight variation in the value so I opted for yellow....
Same goes for the three color stripes; I picked them because of the color values vis a vis the B&W references.
The circus-tent base colors were chosen to make the piece a little brighter.

[bucketfoot-al]

Derek, you made absolutely brilliant choices for the colors.

I have to ask did the movie poster come colored or did you color that as well?

See paint-ups like this are the reason why I'm merely a kit basher.

Oh and one more thing, I do hope that you're going to wonderfest, because this piece absolutely deserves some exposure and recognition!

I'll go further and add this is my favorite painted bust that I've ever seen. As you may know, I don't do busts, and am generally not interested in in them at all.

However, this is one that I would display front and center of my collection if it was in my possession.

[bucketfoot-al]

Your paint up reminded me immediately of "Puddles The Sad Clown" ... who is an absolutely incredible singer. If you're not familiar with him, I've linked to his YouTube channel below where you can take in one of his incredible vocal performances.

I think the sad vibe in Chaney's expression is what reminds me of Puddles.

Personally, I can't help but think that he would love this paint up as much as I do.

"Puddles The Sad Clown" Youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@PuddlesPityParty


.

[Trekkriffic]

Your paint up reminded me immediately of "Puddles The Sad Clown" ... who is an absolutely incredible singer. If you're not familiar with him, I've linked to his YouTube channel below where you can take in one of his incredible vocal performances.

I think the sad vibe in Chaney's expression is what reminds me of Puddles.

Personally, I can't help but think that he would love this paint up as much as I do.

"Puddles The Sad Clown" Youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@PuddlesPityParty

I love Puddles Pity Party! Saw him for the first time on AGT when he sang “Chandelier”. He blew me and everybody on the show away with that performance.

[derekc62]

Derek, you made absolutely brilliant choices for the colors.

I have to ask did the movie poster come colored or did you color that as well?

See paint-ups like this are the reason why I'm merely a kit basher.

Oh and one more thing, I do hope that you're going to wonderfest, because this piece absolutely deserves some exposure and recognition!

I'll go further and add this is my favorite painted bust that I've ever seen. As you may know, I don't do busts, and am generally not interested in in them at all.

However, this is one that I would display front and center of my collection if it was in my possession.

Vlad,

Yes, the color poster comes with the bust as shown. All I had to do was trim it to fit.

I considered changing it and found a few other examples on-line, but once I realized I'd have to start fiddling with it to resize it I abandoned that notion and went with the one supplied.

Sadly, I will not be going to Wonderfest this year. I went two years ago and I think that's going to be it for me. The cost is simply too high with airfare, hotel, meals and a roughly 40% rate of exchange on the Canadian dollar. To be a Canadian in this hobby you really have to love it.... Were I to go I would have taken this and the Karloff Body Snatcher bust I did just before this one.

[bucketfoot-al]

Vlad,

Yes, the color poster comes with the bust as shown. All I had to do was trim it to fit.

I considered changing it and found a few other examples on-line, but once I realized I'd have to start fiddling with it to resize it I abandoned that notion and went with the one supplied.

Sadly, I will not be going to Wonderfest this year. I went two years ago and I think that's going to be it for me. The cost is simply too high with airfare, hotel, meals and a roughly 40% rate of exchange on the Canadian dollar. To be a Canadian in this hobby you really have to love it.... Were I to go I would have taken this and the Karloff Body Snatcher bust I did just before this one.

Sorry to hear that Derek. I think both busts would have received recognition at Wonderfest! Frankly I am hard pressed to imagine any busts beating either one of those for the top spot in the category!

[spock]

Sorry Derek, I'm out of adjectives. So, just WOW !

[derekc62]

Sorry Derek, I'm out of adjectives. So, just WOW !

Well, I think that says an awful lot - so, I humbly thank you very much

[LOBOREX]

Beautiful work.