I met Stefan at the "Spiel 2000" in Essen. There he demonstrated to me some of his sculpting skills and we agreed to do an interview.
Q: How did you get into painting and sculpting miniatures ?
A: A friend of mine infected me with Batteltech miniatures. After the first miniatures it got worse and worse...
Q: Which was your first scratch built miniature ?
A: Hmmm .... (minutes later) when I was about 10-12 years old I carved a 10cm tall "Kiepenkerl" (Münsterlander cult figure [editor's note: German folk figure]) ... no, really it was the blue Wyvern from Excalibur-Miniaturen. (Thanks Olaf)
Q: Do you have miniatures that you would call milestones in your sculpting career ?
A: Yes, of course. There are surely a lot. The best thing about sculpting is, that from almost (I say almost because one can have a bad day now and then) every figure you learn something. So the proverb "Practice makes perfect" proves to be right... Oh, I guess I have been carried away a bit .. It is hard to tell most of the time. I like the newest things best. I got a big boost from the Assassin miniatures. The giant was a real challenge. Every figure that has something I like or where I learned something is a milestone.
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Q: How long have you been sculpting now ?
A: I think about 5 or 6 years now. Of these 2 1/2 years professionally.
Q: For which companies have you worked so far ?
A: First I sculpted for Excalibur-Miniaturen. Mic bought my first more or less good miniatures. That was probably the reason for me to say in the scene. (Thanks Mic) Then through Werner Klocke (here also a thank to Werner, our time together has helped me a lot) I came to the company Hobby Products, where I sculpted Demonworld miniatures for almost two years in full employment. Up until now I have worked for:
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Q: When and how did you decide to make your living from sculpting ?
A: I don't think that one really decides to do so. It happens or doesn't happen. In my case it was the moment when I began to work for Hobby Products.
Q: Would you do so again ?
A: Yes, I would. But then I would do it in a different (more direct) way.
Q: Do you prefer to work from conceptional artwork or rough descriptions ?
A: This depends on the expectations of the orderer. For me it is easier to make something from artwork than to make up something from scratch then have the company dissatisfied with this freedom. (From a sculpting viewpoint I don't care.)
Q: Which other artists did influence you most ?
A: As I said before, Werner. but there are influences from everywhere, other miniatures or artwork. The most important is to see an idea, understand and to be able to put it into practice.
Q: Do you have a preferred topic when sculpting ?
A: What kind of question is that ... women of course, no, women have always been a challenge but for me to master the project is important. Since the beginning of this year I try to follow a rule (well, not one originating from me): Always give your best .
Q: Do you prefer sculpting fantasy or science fiction miniatures ?
A: Both is nice, there is technically no true difference.
Q: What is the greatest challenge for you when sculpting ?
A: After I finished the figure, to get the "Ahhhahh" effect from my friend and greatest critic. Then I can be sure I was able to meet the challenge.
Q: What projects are you working on right now ?
A: Right now I am working on some new figures for Excalibur-Miniaturen and Assassin Miniatures, and on a secret project that hopefully will show first fruits on the "Spiel 2001". (In no case a game)
Q: Did you learn from other sculptors or did you teach yourself sculpting ?
A: I learned a lot from Werner. But to know something is only one part. The implementation is something different. You develop new techniques all the time. Look how others do it and try to understand it and do it yourself. The biggest problem for most people I think is the time and patience. Anatomy studies, books, the "Körperwelten" exhibition [editor's note: An exhibition displaying anatomical preparations of humans], other classical masters like Michelangelo.. Look, learn, implement.
Q: Do you have any formal artistic education ?
A: I studied sculpture for 4 semesters .. but I also studied computer science for 2 semesters .. well you take something with you from everything.
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Q: What hint would you give someone who would like to learn sculpting ?
A: The point I see here is that the newbie sculptor stands at the beginning of a learning process. Sculpting is actually easy. Take a look at children and how unbiased they are working with plasticene (editor's note: the stuff children play with). An adult is able to do this too. He also had the advantage that he can compare the sculpt in progress more objectively with the model. So when I am practicing (as I said practice makes perfect), I take a lump of plasticene (plasticene, clay, supersculpy, what ever) and play around. The experimentation in a tiny scale would be very hard. A second hint is that complex things should contain an armature, for example some wire or a pre sculpt. Don't try to get everything done in one step. Let the things cure. Work in thin (controllable) layers and sizes. practice ... practice .. practice ..
Q: Which tools do you mainly use ?
A: I mostly use dental tools from Trianti. It depends on the work. But you do not need too many tools. The main tool is the hand anyway and the tools should work to cut or to be a miniature finger.
Q: Which putties do you use ?
A: Mainly I use greenstuff (available through Assassin Miniatures) and Milliput Standard Yellow Gray (available through Trianti UK, where you can get the tools too).
Q: How do you build the armatures for your miniatures ?
A: I take a piece of wire, make a loop, and for 28mm I make 4 to 5 twists in the middle of the loop. Well, I better make a sketch :
Q: Which are the general steps when you sculpt a miniature ?
A:
Q: Which is the last trick or technique you learned ?
A: I can't really tell, since I make them up when I need them. I wouldn't call it technique, but the start of a new innovation. Right now I am trying to create realistic drapery. Take a look at the new wizard that will be released by Assassin Miniatures.
Q: In your opinion, which is the most important trick or technique ?
A: Create a figure with correct proportions, smooth it (keep your tools lubricated), and then work on from this form by cutting, pressing in folds and adding panels.
Q: What kind of reference material do you use ?
A: My own sketches, art books .. anything I can get my hands on...
Q: Which reference material would you recommend for beginners ?
A: The anatomy books from Burne Hogarth and Luise Gordon .. and the hint to sculpt monsters, monsters and even more monsters.
Q: Are there special issues when sculpting 15mm miniatures ?
A: Not really. Everything is just smaller and the details have to be exaggerated a bit more.
Q: How long do you need for a typical miniature ?
A: 15 to 20 hours.
Q: Do you accept commissioned work ?
A: Yes, of course. I am open for everything. It is nice to get at least one cast from your work. In the next few days my homepage will be back, shiny and new at www.NiMiN.de.
Q: What is your relationship to painting miniatures ?
A: I love to paint miniatures, but I see this as my hobby. So I don't have much time for it.
Q: Do you want so say something not mentioned before ?
A: I could still say a lot of stuff, but all in its own time. Just take a look at my homepage around the middle of December (www.NiMiN.de). And have fun with your hobby ...
Thank you for your patience and answering all these questions.
