How to Make a Sculpture
Sketch your sculpture., Create a base., Build an armature., Fill in the basic form., Move from large forms to smaller ones., Add in details., Add in textures., Cure your sculpture., Paint your sculpture., Mix media.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Sketch your sculpture.
Always draw out the sculpture you plan on making first.
It doesn't have to be a great drawing, but it should help you get an idea of where everything goes and how the shapes will meet up.
Draw the sculpture from multiple angles.
You may want to draw a more detailed sketch as well, for areas that are highly detailed. -
Step 2: Create a base.
If your sculpture will have a base, it's a good idea to build that first and build the sculpture on the base.
The base will be less structurally sound if added later.
You can build a base from wood, metal, clay, stone, or any other material you want. , "Armature" is a word sculptors use that just means "support structure".
It's like the bones for your sculpture.
It keeps pieces from breaking off and while not every part of your sculpture will need an armature, it's important for pieces like arms or legs, which move away from the body and are easy breaking points.
Armatures can be made out of thin or thick gauge wire, plumping pipes, pvc pipe, lumber, sticks, dowels, or any other material that works for you.
Generally start with the "spine" of the piece and create branches for the "limbs".
Using your design sketch can be helpful for forming the armature, especially if the sketch was made to-scale.
Anchor your armature in or to your base before continuing. , Depending on what your sculpture will be made out of, you may want to form an underlayer with a different material.
This is most common when sculpting with polymer clay.
An underlayer can help reduce materials cost and weight, so consider using one.
Common materials are newspaper, tin or aluminum foil, masking or painter's tape, and cardboard.
Loosely tape or join this filler material to your armature, forming just the basic shapes of your sculpture.
You want to leave yourself room to build with your final sculpting material, though, so don't go overboard! , Start adding on your sculpting material.
Start by creating the largest pieces (the "large muscle groups") to the smallest ones (the "small muscle groups").
Go from larger details to smaller ones.
Add on and take away material as necessary, but avoid taking away too much material, as it can be difficult to add it back on. , One the general form seems complete, start blending, carving, and generally creating the finer details.
These are items like hair, eyes, the outlines and curve of muscles, fingers, toes, etc.
Detail your sculpture until it looks fairly finalized. , The final step in the actual sculpting is to add textures to your sculpture, if you want to.
This is important for creating a more realistic look, but isn't necessary if you want to work in a different style.
You can use sculpting tools to add texture or you can create your own from household tools.
With proper tools, the general rule of thump is that the smaller the tip, the finer the detail that tool is meant to create.
Looped tools are for scraping off clay and any cutting edge is for pretty much what you would think it would be for.
You can fashion your own tools from tin foil balls, black peppercorns, toothbrushes, toothpicks, necklace chains, ball bearings, combs, sewing or knitting needles, knives, etc. , You will need to bake your sculpture or allow it to dry, whichever is appropriate for the material you chose.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for your material. , If you want your sculpture to be painted or colored, do so after baking.
You may need to use special paints, depending on the material you chose.
Painting polymer clay, for example, requires model enamel paint. , You can create extra interest for your sculpture by mixing media.
This can make it seem more real or add interesting color and texture to a piece.
Consider things like using real fabric for clothing, or using fake or real hair instead of sculpting the hair. -
Step 3: Build an armature.
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Step 4: Fill in the basic form.
-
Step 5: Move from large forms to smaller ones.
-
Step 6: Add in details.
-
Step 7: Add in textures.
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Step 8: Cure your sculpture.
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Step 9: Paint your sculpture.
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Step 10: Mix media.
Detailed Guide
Always draw out the sculpture you plan on making first.
It doesn't have to be a great drawing, but it should help you get an idea of where everything goes and how the shapes will meet up.
Draw the sculpture from multiple angles.
You may want to draw a more detailed sketch as well, for areas that are highly detailed.
If your sculpture will have a base, it's a good idea to build that first and build the sculpture on the base.
The base will be less structurally sound if added later.
You can build a base from wood, metal, clay, stone, or any other material you want. , "Armature" is a word sculptors use that just means "support structure".
It's like the bones for your sculpture.
It keeps pieces from breaking off and while not every part of your sculpture will need an armature, it's important for pieces like arms or legs, which move away from the body and are easy breaking points.
Armatures can be made out of thin or thick gauge wire, plumping pipes, pvc pipe, lumber, sticks, dowels, or any other material that works for you.
Generally start with the "spine" of the piece and create branches for the "limbs".
Using your design sketch can be helpful for forming the armature, especially if the sketch was made to-scale.
Anchor your armature in or to your base before continuing. , Depending on what your sculpture will be made out of, you may want to form an underlayer with a different material.
This is most common when sculpting with polymer clay.
An underlayer can help reduce materials cost and weight, so consider using one.
Common materials are newspaper, tin or aluminum foil, masking or painter's tape, and cardboard.
Loosely tape or join this filler material to your armature, forming just the basic shapes of your sculpture.
You want to leave yourself room to build with your final sculpting material, though, so don't go overboard! , Start adding on your sculpting material.
Start by creating the largest pieces (the "large muscle groups") to the smallest ones (the "small muscle groups").
Go from larger details to smaller ones.
Add on and take away material as necessary, but avoid taking away too much material, as it can be difficult to add it back on. , One the general form seems complete, start blending, carving, and generally creating the finer details.
These are items like hair, eyes, the outlines and curve of muscles, fingers, toes, etc.
Detail your sculpture until it looks fairly finalized. , The final step in the actual sculpting is to add textures to your sculpture, if you want to.
This is important for creating a more realistic look, but isn't necessary if you want to work in a different style.
You can use sculpting tools to add texture or you can create your own from household tools.
With proper tools, the general rule of thump is that the smaller the tip, the finer the detail that tool is meant to create.
Looped tools are for scraping off clay and any cutting edge is for pretty much what you would think it would be for.
You can fashion your own tools from tin foil balls, black peppercorns, toothbrushes, toothpicks, necklace chains, ball bearings, combs, sewing or knitting needles, knives, etc. , You will need to bake your sculpture or allow it to dry, whichever is appropriate for the material you chose.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for your material. , If you want your sculpture to be painted or colored, do so after baking.
You may need to use special paints, depending on the material you chose.
Painting polymer clay, for example, requires model enamel paint. , You can create extra interest for your sculpture by mixing media.
This can make it seem more real or add interesting color and texture to a piece.
Consider things like using real fabric for clothing, or using fake or real hair instead of sculpting the hair.
About the Author
Sharon Ross
Creates helpful guides on pet care to inspire and educate readers.
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