Sculpture materials help!!!! Please!!!!

[Hybridstar]

Hey guys,

Im in desperate need of a little advice with materials for sculpture. Im running an anatomy workshop that will use life models and clay sculpture to explore anatomy. Only problem, ive only ever done sculpture at university, once!!!! Im doing it with another artist and i was only meant to be taking the technical anatomy side of things. There are some awesome sculptors on the boards, any advice on what materials to use for armatures, bases, bulking material, clay and modelling tools?

[lukejordancartoon]

ha I have some know on the tools you could use I dont know if you live in the us so the price might be wrong if you live out of the states. first thing check out smellybugs tut on sculpting, the pellets,round wires,texture scraps,and saw end pelltes could be purchesd from about $25-$60 us the calipers he has can get pretty pricey from about $30-$130 us these i think are some of the most importent tools for all artist you can find your way around proportions quickly. i like to use hevy duty brass phone wire for armatures, its much cheaper and stronger than armature wire which could also be used. phone wire is about $0.79 a foot. there is also pluming pipeing that you can fit pre therded bends and straights to make the size armature you need but i dont like this because you can bottom your sculpture out this leaves you with no depth, but pipes are for more full size sculpts of heads etc. iam doing a sculpt this way off my six month old daughter full size portrait. if your not real picky about clay i have got some ok results from simple poters clay pretty cheap stuff to. i stay away from filling with multi clay some things dont mix so well wet clay to oil clay will give you a dry expensive mess. you cold use styrefoam i know its not a very good way to things and dont even think of baking it (fire and in your home or studio) and the fumes could kill you. also grab a sheet ply wood cut to the desired size. carfull,saftyclases eyes are good. also i like the threded rod nut and wing nut washer to mount your armature,smellybugs uses this methoed for a quedped but can be used for a biped. some other odd and ends as you find theme of need like squre brass tubing helps to pull parts for more detailed study. sodergun,stplegun for wire to base contact. stuff like that. and most inportent refreance b&w,color, plus your model flat ref and 3d ref give differt points of view. I hope this help a little. luke

[Hybridstar]

Hey Luke,

Thats some sweet advice, thanks for taking the time.

Cheers.