Useful Sculpting Tips For Beginners

For the beginners who are just starting to get into sculpting, we are going to provide you with tips so you can start your career. Granted, these may be basic, but everything starts from the basics, right? There is nothing wrong with learning from that and then turning it into your own, yeah? The point of teaching the basics is so you could take it as yours and make something of your own, therefore fleshing out your very own talent.

You should also take note of some of these and make them a habit.

Keep it clean

Before anything else happens, you have to set up a clean surface so you can work on it. Get something that is smooth and easy to clean up whenever you are done with a sculpture. This is the first most basic tip for sculpting.

Make a framework

This is your clay will hold up the entire thing. It needs a sort of framework so the sculpture would hold. It has to be at least more than 50mm thick and slightly bigger than an egg.

Tools

Go for the ones with steel tips when you are going to be working with polymer clay. For blending joins and smoothening the surface, get the mini wooden modelling tools.

Condition your clay

This means you have to knead it to become soft enough to meld. If you skip this part before even going in to make your sculpture, you will find yourself having trouble with the clay itself.

Build up the shape

Build your clay up as you go along with your sculpture instead of immediately dealing with a huge chunk of it. As a beginner, start out slow and easy so the sculpture doesn’t turn out too horrible.

Cut the excess clay

When you are done making the sculpture’s rough form, cut out the excess with a hobby knife. A fine ribbon tool is also ideal in this, for it can be used to define the shape of the whole thing.

Seamless clay joining

When adding smaller pieces of clay to the sculpture, make sure that it is conditioned very well and is actually soft.

Keep your sculpture workable

Because of the warmth of your hands, the polymer clay may become sticky and soft. When that happens, put the clay in the fridge for ten minutes then take it out. By then, it will be ready to sculpt.

Smooth the surface

When there are unwanted bumps on the thing, simply rub a clean flat out paint brush on it in circular motion. After that you can roll the handle on it to flatten the surface easily.

Clay storage

To keep it in good condition, keep in a cool, dark place where it is stored in an opaque container. This way, it will remain undamaged by heat or direct sunlight and will remain in perfect condition to play with later on.