Clay Modelling Questions

Baffled

I would like to take up clay modelling as a hobby and I was wondering if someone could help me with a few questions.

Basically I havent a clue where to start. I would like to start hand moulding figurines such as fairies, angels, masks, faces, animals, etc. The objects will be no more than 12 inches high by 12 inches wide.

Now the question is: What clay do I use? I would prefer to use an air drying clay as opposed to something i'll have to put in the oven to dry. Bearing in mind that some of these figurines might be quiet thick and require a lot of clay and therefore I dont want something thats gonna take weeks to dry.

Also what tools do I need or what kind of surface is ideal for moulding/sculpting on. I only vaguely remember some of these things from art class in school so all help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Benster

I used to use a product called 'DAS' years ago for making scenery for train sets and tabletop battlefields. It's air-drying and comes in big, blocky packages, you can buy them in art shops:

http://www.daler-rowney.com/prod_catalogue/disp_Products.asp?category=13&brand=102

For harder-wearing jobs, I used another product called Milliput. It's a two-part epoxy substance that sets rock hard in a few hours. It comes as two separate rolls of "clay" and you break off what you need and mix the two together, then you have about 1-2 hours to work with it before it starts to really harden.

http://www.milliput.co.uk/home.htm

As for actual clay, like yourself, I haven't used it since school. I do remember it was nowhere near as easy to use as what I described above.

Tools-wise, I made my own. I got old plastic paintbrushes and glued pins to the ends, bent into particular shapes required. Or other bits of flat plastic, sanded down to give the shape I needed. You could go out and buy proper tools, but I'd only do that if I was really serious about it. Start out easy.

Hope that helps,

B.

Baffled

Thanks Benster. I'll enquire in my local art shop about those clays you mentioned. As for tools, I dont want to spend a fortune. Just need the basic shapers for the moment. I suppose if I raided my mums kitchen utensils im sure i'd find a few substitutes.

Obviously wont be re-using them for use on food though!

Im going down after work to have a look so i'll let ye know what I get.

Larianne

If you're looking for clay modelling tools, check out Evans supply store. It's just off Capel Street. Its the cheapest art supply store in Dublin from my experience. Also there's a hardware store there on Capel Street that have loadsa tool sets like Draper, cheap enough that you could use for modelling.

Just other ideas so you ain't taking the whole of your mom's kitchen utencils!

Also, RPM supplies sell loadsa different types of clay, more for if you wanna start making moulds etc. and bigger pieces. You could check them out aswell. They're on Dorset Street. Just to keep in mind if ya start going mad modelling making!

Benster

Baffled - A tip for starting is to create a wire frame of the figure. If you get that in the right proportions it will give you a good basis for going on with. I'm not sure if there are any articles on the net, but the sculptors that work for Games Workshop usually start with a wire frame for their figures, and they use Milliput almost exclusively. Their figures are a lot smaller than those you want to create, but the principle is the same.

Sculpting human figures can be difficult at the start, unless you're gifted, so don't worry if your first attempts are below expectations - keep at it because it's very rewarding when a figure comes out good.

Cheers,

B.

Baffled

I made my first model last night. Its the head of a man. Kind of like a pharoah (sp?). Long thin face with thin nose and high cheek bones. The top of the head is flat. Its ok for my first attempt.

Ive no idea what kind of clay im using. It was the only stuff I could get. Its in a big tub and it weighs about 2 stone. Greyish in colour. Its the same stuff we had in school.

Its a great hobby. Even my younger sister spent a couple of hours with me last night making her own little figurines.

Im not too sure if I could use a wire frame yet. Might be a little bit tricky. But maybe when I get a bit better I'll start using them.

o Fiac

This post has been deleted.

Baffled

Oops didnt think that would happen. Ah well its my first so I will with the next one.