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I would like to take a shot at making small sculptures. Just very simple human or animal figures, less than a foot tall.
The thing is, it has to be easy and fast. I have no patience whatsoever, I am not going to sit for hours working on a non-creative aspect of a project.
My ideal is something which is as easy to sculpt as play-doh or plasticine, and then you say a magic word, and bam, it's hard as rock...
You'd think somebody would have invented something like that by now. But if they haven't, what's the next best thing?
Do you have any tips for me?
Update: A very good option seems to be Super Sculpey Firm Gray.
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It was surprisingly hard to find images approaching the kind of thing I am imagining I'd like to make. Apparently my idea of what a sculpture is, is more original than I thought. But Elizabeth Waugh's work comes close.
9 comments:
"My ideal is something which is as easy to sculpt as play-do, and then you say a magic word, and bam, it's hard as rock..."
Then use play-do, and have someone else cast it into copper (or whatever material you have in mind). The "magic word" is your credit card number.
We artists are supposed to be creative. Not just in the substance of our work, but also in making it happen (work methods) and making it sell (marketing).
If, like you say, you have "no patience whatsoever" you might want to organise your work flow around this trait. I can see two ways:
1) Use technology. Even for sculpting, you could investigate 3D printers. These are very expensive still, but you do not have to own them to use them. Of course, then you'd have to model it on the screen, or, alternatively, 3D-scan the play-do piece.
2) Delegate the tasks that require patience to someone else. This, I think, is what most successful sculpturers do.
If, on the other hand, you only want to dabble, and not really offer your sculptings to the marketplace, then what's wrong with leaving it at the play-do stage? Dabbling with shapes is exactly what the product was designed for.
I hope this helps.
Some good thoughts there. Rock on, dude.
I wonder if Polymer clay would be a good material for "prototypes"? (After all, plasticine objects would be hard to ship without denting them.)
Now, how big did you want it? If you are working around 4"-8" then you may want to try a thermo-setting polymer clay, such as Fimo or Sculpey. These clays work like a stiff Play-Doh; you can work with sculpting tools, or just your hands. You stick your creation in the oven for 10-20 minutes, and you're done, solid as a rock.
You have a choice of colours which you can blend, or, as I prefer, build in white, then paint. I use Sculpey for war-gaming terrain.
Check out your local hobby or craft shop. Good luck.
Polymer clay appears to have some interesting characteristics (from Wikipedia):
"A piece may have additional layers or enhancments added to it, and re-cured with no ill effect. As long as the maximum curing temperature is not exceeded there is no limit to the number of times a piece can be re-cured."
Eo, if you use this material you need to join the National Polymer Clay Guild (just joking).
Yeah, but I wonder what's the downside (apart from it being a bit pricy), if the work is larger, like up to a foot tall?
Looks, Olive! Isn't our daughter purty now that she's all growed up?
She has your slim grace, and me muscles! [;o)
An' she's a skulltin' muddle, too. I'm's so prowd! Ko-ko-ko-ko-ko!
(Toot! Toot!)
Sculpting is hands on stuff so I suggest you use whatever feels best and experiment. I began using plasticine but moved on to using the same type of wax used to cast from. It is a bit harder to fashion but stays in form and shape with little distrortion for detail. If you prefer the computer, see some of Gil Bruvel's works he now has taken from his painting!
How are your beginning pieces looking?
This being my first post I chose comment on sculpting, a form of art I have moved from to begin painting. I do admit having used some of the beautiful girls at Domai to perform mine. Please view them and share your feelings as to my use of captured nudes on line.
Thank you very much.
Where can I view them?
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