Sculpting

PfhorRunner

Alright, I found myself sketching the other day, and half way through a drawing i wanted to draw another angle... After about 6 times of doing this, and looking at my paper filled with unfinished artwork, I decided that i'd rather sculpt it out...

Having never done such a thing in my life, I know that starting now i'm prone to giving up early in the game. But hey, its worth a try.

So, I was wondering several things, if any of you know.
1. What type of scupting substance do you use?
2. Any suggestions/techniques that you may be willing to share?
3. What are some things you've scuplted your self?
4. What am I getting myself into?

Thanks so much, you guys are always so helpful and awesome!

Toomas

You can dig some clay from the ground and sculpt from it, it might not allow very fine detail etc. but its free and you can atleast try your hand at sculpting.
Or you could start with the placilines (spelling) as they are cheap too but they are not very permanent.
With cheap stuff you can do larger things that allow to work more with your hands and not with some dentist tools.

Anyways my point is not to invest large $ to perhaps find out that sculpting isnt your cup of tea.

MoP

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=10

Check out the tutorial links at the top of that forum, by smellybug (aka Pete Konig) ... they might help you out a bit.

Personally I like using Super Sculpey, but it's pretty expensive especially if you're just trying it out for the first time and wanting to mess around. You don't really need many tools, your fingers are fine for starting out big shapes, then a little wire loop works well for lots of detail.

Cthogua

Something as simple as a couple of lumps of Plasticine can help when trying to rotate some form for a drawing. It also forces you to think about the simple basic shape of whatever you're drawing since the Plasticine is too squishy to really get any small detail.

SkullboX

Go to a hobby shop or whatever it's called in Seattle and pick up one of those huge packs of clay, look for a smooth one, not the rough kind. Along with that pick up som basic clay tools (something like the fourth from the left) and start creating. Once it start looking good stard worrying about techniques and detailing, as it's an extremely intuitive medium.

Bear in mind that when baking it, you'll need to make whatever you've created hollow.

oXYnary

Super Sculpey isnt for begginners. Start out with plasticine or an oil based clay to begin; get a medium viscosity. Or go traditional with a regular block of clay, though it can get messy. Also, think of what you are making will require a a frame or not. If you making a full character, then you need to pick up a small block of wood, a staple gun and some wire to create the frame (armature).

Many of the local art stores in seattle barely have any sculpting materials (and Skullbox hobby stores here are far and few between unless you go outside of Seattle ). The few that have them would be arts and craftman in the u district and believe it or not the University of Washingtons Bookstore. Since your beggining you dont want to invest much into materials. Also think the scale of what you want to build. The little sculpting packages they sell in art stores though coming with basics are first focused more for clay working and larger scales. If your working very small, look for a dentist throwing out smaller tools.



Here are some examples of mine.

Clay "sketching":
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=57761

Sample of clay:
http://www.oxynary.com/portfolio/models/graphics/pig.jpg
http://www.artsubversion.org/drew/images/siam.jpg

Sample of sculpey:
http://www.oxynary.com/portfolio/models/graphics/body.jpg

Sample of professional work:
http://www.joyridestudios.com/halo2_8_jackal.asp
[Note: helped not main sculptor] (variety of materials used- from extremely hard plastacine, 2 part epoxys, to multiple recasts in plastic to add details.)

If you find yourself enjoying sculpting, which can help with your 3d visualization, I would suggest looking at a few courses at the Gage Academy of Art. Professional instructors, and you will learn ALOT (more than I did in my undergrad degree).

Im also taking a ecroche class this summer. She is a independant sculptress, but she is a goddess in my book in her skill and anatomy knowledge.
http://www.kimgrahamstudios.com/classes.html

Daz

I've recently started a clay class and it's tremendous fun. I'm really enjoying myself. I don't need to worry about any of the materials since that's all in with the cost. Not to mention the nude life subject. I'd definitely recommend it.