Portrait

[The Dark Power]

Hi

I recently completed a sculpture evening course. This is the last piece we did which was a portrait from a life model.

This was the first time I've done 'proper' sculpture before (i.e. not creatures). I actually found it kinda difficult trying to get the measurements exact. I'm so used to doing stuff straight from my head that observational sculpture was quite difficult.

Just thought I'd share ;0)

http://www.thedarkpower.com/portraitfingal/images/DSC_0065.jpghttp://www.thedarkpower.com/portraitfingal/images/DSC_0068.jpg

http://www.thedarkpower.com/portraitfingal/images/DSC_0071.jpghttp://www.thedarkpower.com/portraitfingal/images/DSC_0072.jpg

http://www.thedarkpower.com/portraitfingal/images/DSC_0069.jpghttp://www.thedarkpower.com/portraitfingal/images/DSC_0070.jpg

http://www.thedarkpower.com/portraitfingal/images/DSC_0075.jpghttp://www.thedarkpower.com/portraitfingal/images/DSC_0080.jpg

http://www.thedarkpower.com/portraitfingal/images/DSC_0093%20(3).jpg

[Aseyngel]

Looks very good. Hair and ears (which I see as difficult) seems very lifelike.
What was your timelimit on this project?

Was'nt it difficult for you not to add some torn of limbs or skulls? ;-)

[The Dark Power]

Looks very good. Hair and ears (which I see as difficult) seems very lifelike.
What was your timelimit on this project?

Was'nt it difficult for you not to add some torn of limbs or skulls? ;-)

Thanks! This was done over three sessions so I probably spent around 8 hours on it in total.

You know what I had to stop myself trying to add horns or a third eye on a number of occasions!

Once we’d finished the sculpture we had to prepare it for firing which, crazily, involved cutting it in half and removing it from the armature then scooping out most of the clay from the interior. This was so that it wasn’t too thick to be fired. Seems mad to me – it’s such a destructive way to work – you spend hours working on your piece getting it ‘perfect’, then you risk completely destroying it by chopping it up!

Anyway, I decided not to get mine fired as I have no idea what I would’ve done with the finished piece, so I squished it and chucked it back in the bag of clay ;0)

[Aseyngel]

Yes - getting locations for larger sculptures can be an unexpected problem ;-) My wife paints - and we have just moved to a larger house because we ran out of walls ;-)

You have some really nice photos for your portfolio now, and your adding-horns-psychosis is less aggressive now - (maybe your skills even improved on the way?).

I used to do clay way back then, and stopped because I found it dirty and annoying. The only reason I started sculpting/practicing again was due to this site and the fact that Super Sculpey was available.

(I have been down with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome for almost a year now - but hopefully I will be back soon....)

[Waipunga]

Very nice sculpt and so understand the desire to stick horns on it!

Surprised that your workshops have not used the polystyrene method? Rough form the 'skull" in solid polystyrene then apply the clay outer. Finish the sculpt, allow to dry a little (enough to be handled) and then use petrol or similar to dissolve out the polystyrene. Shortens the time and does not wreck the beautiful sculpt!

[The Dark Power]

Yes - getting locations for larger sculptures can be an unexpected problem ;-) My wife paints - and we have just moved to a larger house because we ran out of walls ;-)

You have some really nice photos for your portfolio now, and your adding-horns-psychosis is less aggressive now - (maybe your skills even improved on the way?).

I used to do clay way back then, and stopped because I found it dirty and annoying. The only reason I started sculpting/practicing again was due to this site and the fact that Super Sculpey was available.

(I have been down with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome for almost a year now - but hopefully I will be back soon....)

Thanks! Yeah I did find it useful to be honest and I think I do want to do a few more portraits (think I'll try and convince my mum or my sister to sit still for hours ;0)

I try to avoid using water based clay as much as possible due to the mess (most of my stuff is done in my kitchen) so sculpey and chavant are god sends!

Sorry to hear about your health, hope you recover ;0)

[The Dark Power]

Very nice sculpt and so understand the desire to stick horns on it!

Surprised that your workshops have not used the polystyrene method? Rough form the 'skull" in solid polystyrene then apply the clay outer. Finish the sculpt, allow to dry a little (enough to be handled) and then use petrol or similar to dissolve out the polystyrene. Shortens the time and does not wreck the beautiful sculpt!

Thanks very much! Ah, see I knew there'd be a more efficient way of doing it. As it was a course I just followed the tutor's instructions, but I figured clever minds would come up with something less risky. I wondered if you could perhaps sculpt it over wax which would melt during the firing process but the polystyrene method sounds great.

[Mah ' Crub]

Hi, yeah, this method works great, I have used it for years in pouring concrete. Where ever you want to leave a hole in it you place a chunk of styrofoam where you want your hole to be, and pour the wet concrete over it, around it, what ever, and when you pull off your forms from the dried concrete, you douse the stryofoam with gasoline and it melts away, slick as snot on a doorknob! { so to speak} Don't know what a solvent like gas would do to clay,,, back to the la'bor'atory!

Mah ' Crub

[Waipunga]

In my experience the Gasoline just evaporates away from the clay as well. You are left with a residue (the snot :-) ]) but that is burnt away when the firing takes place anyway. Another way, which also works brilliantly, is to take a heavy walled party balloon, place another inside it, inflate to the right size, then smear a 6mm or so mix of plaster of paris over the inflated balloon. And "hey" you have skull material! Deflate the balloons (if you want to) and then build your clay work over that. When the piece is finished deflate the balloons anyway and allow the entire piece to dry pre firing. Once fired the plaster of paris will become crumbly but it does not really matter and can be left in place after sealing with wax or resin anyway. If anyone tries this method it is highly recommended to do some trials first. The Plaster of Paris and Clay have slightly different expansion properties when heated and all brands of Plaster or Paris are not the same.