Life size half statue of Jack Nicholson as The Joker from the 1989 Tim Burton movie “Batman”
The Joker bust was started by deciding on a specific expression to aim for from the movie. Once that was determined,I then gathered as many photographs of Jack Nicholson in makeup as well as screen captures. Along with that, I sourced reference pictures of Nicholson as himself without makeup, so I could try and get Jack to show through the makeup in the final sculpture.
Sculpted in water based clay over a steel armature, the sculpture was refined over a few weeks until I was happy. Once finished and the clay sealed, a fibreglass mould was made in sections from which a fibreglass torso and arms. A silicone and fibreglass head was then cast. The head was then painted subtly to resemble the makeup using more than just block white as he appears to be, before the green human hair was implanted for his scalp. This was then cut and dressed with liberal coating of hairspray applied. Custom brown acrylic eyes and teeth were then fashioned and inserted to complete his look.
Finally he was assembled and dressed in an off-the-shelf costume similar to that in the film.
