Clay question from complete newbie

[Capt Infinity]

I've been interested in casting appliances, masks, etc. for a long time and have decided to finally try my hand at it.

But first...if anyone could offer me a few tips on sculpting clay. I was planning to try Monster Clay, but the weight causes outrageous shipping charges. I've been trying to find somewhere locally to buy clay so I don't have to pay shipping.

I found a Jerry's Artarama nearby and was wondering if Plastalina clays are good for casting, which hardness of clay is best, and all sorts of questions like that.

Any advice for a newb would be greatly appreciated.

 

[SampleName]

How much clay are you buying? I bought 15 pounds of Monster Clay and the shipping was only a few dollars under $20. I didn't think that was too bad.
If you do decide to bite the bullet and pay shipping, I think you'll like the Monster Clay. It's great to work with and isn't too soft, nor too hard.

 

[Banner]

Shipping for sculpting/makeup supplies is always brutal when you're ordering in large quantities. The good thing about clay is most of the time the majority of it is reusable (if your using plasteline oil-based clays) after you've done your casting.

 

[woodman]

I have to be brutally honest here if the cost of shipping on clay is concerning you may change your mind about getting into this. I'm not trying to disuade you but almost all of the supplies to do this type of work are costly and heavy. The Ultracal to do the molds comes in 50lb bags and if you dont have a local supplier that's a deal breaker. The latex/silicone and specialty supplies can run into the $100's of dollars just to do 1 mask.

 

[SampleName]

I have to be brutally honest here if the cost of shipping on clay is concerning you may change your mind about getting into this. I'm not trying to disuade you but almost all of the supplies to do this type of work are costly and heavy. The Ultracal to do the molds comes in 50lb bags and if you dont have a local supplier that's a deal breaker. The latex/silicone and specialty supplies can run into the $100's of dollars just to do 1 mask.

+1 for this. We see lots of people that come into the hobby all excited, but get in way over their head and realize just how expensive it really is.
I do wish you good luck in your endeavors! I look forward to seeing what you can come up with! :thumbsup

 

[BeastOfTheDeep]

I'd try the monster clay- even if you only buy one block for now. My thought on it is this: if you want to get into it, at least give it a shot and see how it goes. If you decide to stick with it and you can afford it, buy more supplies later on. If you decide it's not for you and/or you can't afford it, no real harm done - you have a block of clay that you can use to sculpt on at your leisure. Maybe try to find some cheap water clay locally? Just remember to keep your sculpt wet if it's water based. The oil clays are always more expensive. As far as hardness, I've tended to stick to the medium, but that's just a personal preference. It really depends on what you're sculpting (right tool for the job, so to speak). Hope this helps and don't get discouraged!

 

[zuexeus]

ac moore, micheal's, hobby lobotomy all have some sort of modeling clay in various colors. i have a huge block of various brands like van aiken's, kleen clay, etc all mixed up with ample amounts of wax and other goo. it's about 15 years old and still works great. avoid sulfur based clays... it will usually say it's sulfur free on the label. if you are just starting out it's a cheap alternative.

 

[MaddMaxx82]

Michaels and ac moore, only sell 1 pound blocks of van aken plastelina. You will spend more money on gas and waisted trips to the store finding they are out of stock. Clay flies off the shelves quick especially during the school season. Michaels does allow you to bulk/special order clay and have it delivered to the store. Talk to customer service about it.

I have used dickblick.com for van aken plastelina purchases in the past. They sell it in 4.5 pound blocks. It runs a little less expensive than buy it 1 pound at a time. They used to have a deep discount for bulk purchases as well.

If you have never worked with oil-based clays, van aken is very soft. Monster Makers clay is very hard in comparison. The difference is van,aken, is very easy to work and shape with being so soft. Monster Maker clay will allow you to get more detail being harder and more rigid.

Sent from my SGH-T959V using Tapatalk 2

 

[Chaank]

I've used some stuff called Newplast. It's OK for stuff. It's just hard plasticine and worked for me when casting but as said above the rest of the supplies will still need shipping too.

I should say also I'm in the UK so donno if you guys have the same stuff there.

 

[Ozymandius]

I got three blocks of Monster Clay you can have for cheap and I can throw them in flat rate boxes to save cash. PM me if you want them.

It's a good clay for masks and prosthetics but crap for figure sculpting, which is why I don't want it.

 

[v3d]

Try your local ceramic or pottery supply houses. They buy it in bulk and it is sometimes cheaper than a general craft store like say, Michael's. Many of them carry Roma Plastilina as well as the water based ceramic clays. I always used Roma for sculpting creatures and appliances. The Van Aken plasticine is what Will Vinton studios used back in the day for Claymation.

 

[Dracogt]

Just want to echo the importance of using an oil-based clay that does NOT contain Sulfur. Sulfur inhibits the curing of silicone molding.
I for one love Monster Clay. It has no odor, doesn't leave a residue on your tools or hands, It's super hard when cool, which can really capture details. But if you heat it up in the microwave it can be incredibly soft and usually stays pretty soft for a good 20 minutes, depending on the amount.

And as far as cost, look at it as an investment. Monster Clay is infinitely reusable so it will last you for many projects.

Couple tips with monster clay, get a hair dryer and some mineral spirits(seems to work better than isopropyl) for smoothing.

 

[smellyscot]

I have been using just an oil based clay as I am new to this too. As its reusable, I get a chance to work on my techniques and practice practice practice. YouTube has been great for me too, heaps of tutorials and this forum has been the best source of all.

 

[Balmung]

you can use plastiline, but you need to be extremely careful, it is very soft, I did not have enough skill so I had to buy a harder professional clay

this is a brazilian sculptor, he uses plastiline and does a fantastic job.

https://www.facebook.com/GlaucoLonghi/photos_stream

 

[SuperBoom]

On the shipping note, its not so much the cost that gets me as it is the ratio of cost to product. Don't know, maybe its the little man in the back of my head, but I'm one of those guys that reads the MSDS and makes the stuff myself for peanuts. I'm currently working up a formula for epoxy clay
Like everyone else said a month ago, 'til you get in deep enough that it is too late to escape, just your regular air dry clay is super cheap to experiment with. 5lb block for six bucks at most art places. Heck, there's a crayola tub you can usually get at Wally World for around nine clams and a wink at the cashier.
Put on some tunes, get a cup of water and go for it!

 

[v3d]

Plasticene and Plastilina can be very soft but it comes in different densities or degrees of "hardness". I would use a harder grade on small maquettes and softer for large sculpts like masks and appliances. The softer version makes it easier to imprint fine details like skin pores with texture pads.

 

[Vmasterbuilder]

Hi.
I would start off with a cheap block of wed clay or if you can get it Klean klay.. Klean klay is a softer clay then chavant medium but it is easy to use at room tempreture. you can also use the Klean klay later as Dividing walls as it is perfect for all molding materials. the best thing is to get suppliers for each material you use as I can save a pretty penny if i hunt for the best price's for each product.
everyone has there own working style, so don't just go for what everyone else use's,
find the right clay you are happy working with..

 

[Snikt]

I have a couple questions too, being a total newb and all. Is there a preferred method of getting Chavant Medium clay to stick to the lifecast? I made it out of Ultracal, and I tried putting it on last night and man, I had to really grind it on there so it would stick. For this particular type of clay, alcohol is used to smooth it out right? Its a very rough interpretation of a skull so far. I made a box lined with foil and used a light to keep it warm while Im working with it. Would using a heat gun in little spurts get it too warm? Thanks for your input guys!

 

[kwalsh0000]

To keep my chavant warm I use a rice cooker set to warm (or crok pot would do too) and keeps it a nice softness and won't burn your hands.

As for smoothing, I am still learning but have been using mineral spirits/white spirits to smooth mine followed by talc rubbed in with my fingers after its dry. I have tried alcohol but maybe that is only for smoothing wrinkles etc as opposed to large smooth areas?

No idea for how to make it stick to ultracal but on the resin bust I just got it as soft as I could and started to press it on and eventually it stuck

 

[Snikt]

Ahhh... Good call. Ill have to see if my GF has a crock pot. The talc rubbed into your fingers doesnt make the clay weird afterward? Im new to the whole make up of clay etc, like a said, total newb haha.

Ill have to go to Home Depot and buy some mineral spirits. How do you apply it, you just brush it on with a brush? Do mineral spirits burn your fingers etc? Thanks again for the info.