if some one could help a newbie sculpter i would like to know good product for there price i could use such as clay tools manikins so forth and so on
if some one could help a newbie sculpter i would like to know good product for there price i could use such as clay tools manikins so forth and so on
i would suggest starting with chivant soft, its about 8-10$ for a 5 lb brick, if working on figures you wont need more than 2 blocks, if a head, 5-7 would be be better. The reason i suggest it is, that its reusable, and a good starter clay. for tool, 1 loops tool set, and 1 assorted pack, you can find at most arts and craft stores, though be careful, a lot of tools that crafts stores have are terrible quality, avoid plastic tools, some are good, but packs of them are always bad.
as for mannikins, you can really use anything as an armature, they sell foam heads at beauty supply stores for under 10$.
Only thing you need an actual body form or face, is if you are doing prosthetics or suits.
Yeah Chevant ranges of Plasterline are great NSP seems to be the favorite for alot of people, it's versitile works well with silicone for molding because it has no sulphur content, is plyable when heated and can even be melted down for making molds . .seems whatever you do to it it keeps it's original form . . I've used talcum powder with it if rolling out as it tends to get sticky when warm and that doesen't even dry it out!. . comes in soft med and hard cheapest i found it is from 4D modelshop in London for 7.95(pounds) 900g block. As for tools I got a basic wooden modeling set with loop tools and stainless and wooden kidneys these are all fine but moved on to more precise tools for detail work I got a set of 6 metal from MODELZONE for a tenner! they're awsome! ABS
Chevant have a website with all distributors on. . I got my basic wooden set of sculpting tools from Amazon.com
Good product for the price: Water Clay. Yep, the same stuff you used to make ash trays in Kindergarten.
You get 50 lbs for $10. It is very easy to use, and if you don't like your sculpt, you can throw it away and start over, or re-use it.
Here is why I like it: It is very soft and pliable right out of the bag. This makes it the quickest to block-out your sculpt. You can work very fast with it, and as it dries, and gets stiffer, you can begin to carve finer detail.
It also works well with your cheap home made tools made from wire.
If you want to work with it over a long period of time, wrap the sculpt in a trash bag to keep it from drying out. It will keep for years.
Some good tools are: A spring-steel kidney, some wire loop tools and a sponge.
Happy sculpting. Be sure to post pics
If you plan on going to a mould after the sculpt, I like the chevant NSP as well.
Personally prefer working with the 'hard' version over the 'soft' or even the 'medium', as it holds all the fine detail through the process. Can be softened under a lamp or on a warming tray for hand sculpting and when it cools to room temp can be cleanly tooled.
Is also reusable and relatively clean to work with over water based clays and has no negative effect to most moulding materials.
A set of loop tools are important from hobby, pottery or art supply shop or you can make them.
Shaped wooden tools are your choice depending on what you are doing....they are the easiest to make as well.... I found a plain Popsicle stick is one of the most handy and versatile.
Last edited by tEAG; Jun 28, 2012 at 3:30 PM. Reason: add point
For wire tools, can't beat Kens Tools by Ken Banks. I make my own but for the price why would you. have a look at Kens Tools
In terms of premade tools, I bought $15AUD (incl shipping) wax carving steel double sided set. Its very much perfect for sculpting (12 tools, 24 heads in total). EXCELLENT PURCHASE
I also bought 17 dollars worth of mont marte sculpting tools from a local art supply shop (Not the best quality, and ive got epoxy putty on hand to repair them when they break) - total of 18 tools
AND the best tools you will ever have - Use old paint brushes, and make your own custom wire tools with paperclips or small strong wire. More than often what you're instinctively trying to sculpt wont be in the form of a premade tool.
You can also use dowel with a hole drilled in it, and jam some metal or wire in the end held in place with epoxy (you can also make the epoxy into a grip shape as a bonus)l.
Also, anything that provides the right shape on the clay is a perfect tool. We all instinctively use the tools slightly different to each other, so make the given tool work how you want it to
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