Sculpting Pygmy Seahorse | Hippocampus bargibanti | Polymer Clay @LifeofClay

Hi everyone!
I sculpted this #pygmyseahorse #seahorsesculpture out of #cosclayusa polymer clay
Please enjoy the video process and hope that you may find it entertaining and useful.
If you want to see more of my sculpting videos in the future, please consider subscribing and turn that notification bell icon so UA-cam may notify you guys.
Direct link of my channel is here: @LifeofClay / lifeofclay
Your support will be highly appreciated, Thank you so much!
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MATERIALS:
• Cosclay Grey (medium firm)
• Stainless steel wires
• Aluminum foil
• Cyanoacrylate glue
• 2 parts epoxy
• 2 parts Resin
PAINTS:
• White gesso
• Titanium white (Folkart)
• Alizarin crimson (Folkart)
• Bright red (Monte marte)
• Black (Folkart)
SEALER:
• Matte Water based Varnish (Decoart)
And lastly - “LOVE”
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FACTS:
Hippocampus bargibanti, of the family Syngnathidae is found in the central Indo-Pacific area and is one of the smallest seahorse species in the world, usually less than 2 centimetres in size. It lives exclusively on fan corals called Gorgonians; clinging on it using their long prehensile tail.
It has a short snout and irregular bulbous tubercles on the body that matches the colour and shape of the polyps of its host species of gorgonian coral, while its body matches the gorgonian stem. It has a rounded spine above each eye and on each cheek.
Two colour morphs are recorded for this species, one is pale grey or purple with pink or red tubercles, the second is yellow with orange tubercles. They are so well camouflaged that this pygmy seahorse was only discovered after a host gorgonian was collected and observed by marine biologist George Bargibant in 1969. The next year they were officially named by Whitley as "Bargibant's pygmy seahorse."
Adults are usually found in pairs or clusters of pairs, As with other seahorses, the male carries the young. The female lays her eggs in a brood pouch in his trunk region. Then he fertilized and incubated them until birth then he expelled a brood of 34 live young called fry which look like miniature adults and are independent from birth, and receive no further parental care.
Pygmy seahorses presumably feed on small crustaceans and zooplanktons and they can live to be 1 year on average.

[@Clayperday]

As a sculptor and creature geek myself, your models are like museum display quality!

[@LifeofClay]

Thank you so much ,my friend! 😊

[@somewhereinbetween3]

I’ve watched this like 5 times! it’s absolutely incredible. as someone who loves marine animals and has studied them for most of my life, it looks exactly like the real thing. you have so much talent!

[@LifeofClay]

Thank you so much, my dear friend🤗

[@seadragonfruit]

Absolutely beautiful! I’m always blown away at how much detail you’re able to capture in each of your pieces ❤

[@LifeofClay]

I truly appreciate it, my friend. Thank you so much😊🙏

[@kashan29]

Now please start making prehistoric dragon from dragons a fantasy made real ok

[@randbasic]

Great video! Thank you for sharing!

[@LifeofClay]

you're welcome, my friend. thank you so much!😊

[@delabud8978]

That is stunning!! Love seahorses

[@LifeofClay]

Thank you so much, my friend🤗

[@amiemarieart]

Thankyou for another awesome video, and another awesome sculpture ❤😊

[@LifeofClay]

Thank you so much, Amie😊🙏

[@AmyBuccilla]

I love it! Your creativity is amazing!

[@LifeofClay]

Thank you so much, dear friend😊🙏

[@cerisekappes580]

Such a gorgeous sculpture!!! ❤😊❤

[@LifeofClay]

Thank you so much, dear friend😊

[@cerisekappes580]

@@LifeofClay you are very welcome 🤗

[@tiny-gc8fs]

hi

[@erikbrush]

Nicely sculpted. The only issue I have with it is that the coral is too small.
This species of hippocampus cannot hide/blend in on thin exterior branches. They hide among the thick stalks where the buds and polyps are nearly identical in size to their body diameter.
This allows them to freeze and appear as another bud to the coral branch when predators approach.
Your sculpt has the seahorse precariously exposed to would-be predators. That is not the way these fish are seen in the wild during studies.
Aside from that issue, the sculpt itself is otherwise quite detailed, as is the case with all of your work.

[@LifeofClay]

Thank you for your insights and the compliment, my friend.
However, the reasons why I presented this seahorse clinging on a thin/slender coral stalk/branches are
1st - the Seahorse is my main subject and is to be the center of attention.
2nd - is that I have had used several "real" photo references where the pygmy seahorse is clinging near the tip of the gorgonian coral, so if we say (can't hide/blend) means we're ignoring the fact that it can choose to change places around the coral whenever they like to. I can be more technical and accurate if I want but this is an art and I choose to present it in a simple and in a fun way😊