Lifecast complete-best clay advice please

[TK7713Gra30]

Hi all
Please could I have some help

Did my first lifecasts over Christmas and pretty pleased as a first attempt.
I want to use this as a basis for an Emperor Sculpt

Please could someone help me as to the best clay for sculpting

I deally with a long working time rather than a fast drying as I like to take my time, I am also looking at taking casts of the finished sculpt.
I know there will be carving and reshaping involed but the basis form is there

I am uk so if anyone can point me in the right direction it would be great, I usually buy from Tiranti.
many thanks
graham

 

[halopepakura]

i would go with an oil-based clay so it doesnt dry out and it wont harden

 

[TK7713Gra30]

Hi
Could I have a name please, just some pointers in UK and type as I have never used clay before

Please
many thanks

 

[rollerboi]

Hey, very nice lifecasts! Did you follow an online tutorial? If so, I'd love to read it.

 

[Garthok]

Hey, very nice lifecasts! Did you follow an online tutorial? If so, I'd love to read it.

Oh no... you are not thinking of holding your sons head in alginate again are you? lol

Chavant NSP clays are great for sculpting and molding

 

[mrbungle]

chevant NSP medium. it is a hard clay that is sulfer free and can melted down in the microwave to make easier to do build up and stuff. holds detail really well.

 

[exoray]

I believe you will find that clay choice is really a preference of the sculptor, suggestions can only go so far... The only solid advice is make sure it's sulfur free so that you don't have any molding issues...

You are going to want an oil/wax based clay if you don't want it to dry out vs a WED or water clay... But beyond that how hard it is and how it works is personal preference... Some people like real hard clay, some like medium while others like soft clays, and that choice could vary with the ambient temp of your work area... In a hot area the soft might be way too soft or in a cold area the hard might be way too hard, the use of heat lights or hair dryers can also soften the area you ware working at the time...

I highly suggest before you purchase a 25# slab, that you get multiple 1# portions of a few different brands and hardness ratings and experiment with how it works and find what you feel is 'right' for you and the techniques you use while sculpting...

Lots of people use the Chavant suggested above and it's considered one of the better clays, but it still might not be 'right' for you, and since it's US made it might be cost prohibitive over the pond vs a local flavor in the UK... As long as you stick to the higher end clays available locally you will likely find one that works for you...

Maybe someone in the EU will suggest a local variety for you...

 

[skythecat]

PLASTILINE - GREY - GreatArt - Art Supplies - UK's largest range of discount art materials

This stuff is great, best oil based clay around. I suggest the standard 55.

 

[Ghost Host]

Chavant or Roma Plastalina are my favorites... oil-based clays.

 

[Forsaken]

I have had great experience with this clay and have no problem recommending it.
Monster Clay - (5 lb. Block) - Clay Mediums - SCULPTING & MOLDING - The Monster Makers

Sorry I missed that your in the U.K.

Al

 

[rollerboi]

Oh no... you are not thinking of holding your sons head in alginate again are you? lol

:lol I missed the window on that one. Now I'd have to chase him down, keep him still, and .. well, that just ain't happenin'. :lol

No, I've got some mask projects on the burner that I want to do a lifecast of myself for.

 

[TK7713Gra30]

Hey, very nice lifecasts! Did you follow an online tutorial? If so, I'd love to read it.

Hi and thanks very much
It is something I have always wanted to do, I am a military sculptor and paint in oils, but I am ok with making things although this site makes me feel like a school boy
I usually sculpt in milliput but my figures are small and it is ok for that as I work in small areas
This issmaller than a cigarette

I see something and want to try it
This was hard as I Ibought the materials and had to teach my wife to do it, never having done it myself

I got a DVD from tiranti, but I can actually put 2 hrs in about 20 lines
Most frustrating was I wanted a perfect cast and my wife was worried I was suffocating.

Price we pay for art
One cast caught an eyelash , I saw a programme with Napoleons unconfirmed mask and I felt quite honoured, being in the Royal Marines.
It is definatley the new way of passing images of yourself through the ages, I m giving one to my niece, hoping one day she will give it to her children and they will see what Uncle Graham really looked like rather than a picture, I think that is great.
The other is my template for sculpting


PM me mate, it is actually very easy, and now my wife is the better props maker
And thanks to all for the clay tips

 

[fettster]

For prosthetics, I Luke to use le beu touché from chavant, it's wax based instead of oil and is soft enough that it doesn't need constant heating.

You can work quite quickly with it and it holds detail amazingly.

Tiranti's are expensive, try Mouldlife in the uk, one stop shop for everything.

Also, if I were you, I would mould your lifecast and produce a fiberglass or urethane copy. That way, you don't run the risk of marring the lifecast with your tools and it's a ready made core for your mould.

 

[Garthok]

Mate your painting skills are incredible, that military figure is brilliant. Did you sculpt that as well??

 

[skynet]

Mouldlife

They carry almost everything you need, I've ordered some stuff from them myself. Friendly to deal with and fast shipping.

If you plan to use silicone as a mold material I strongly suggest sulphur free clay otherwise it would inhibit the cure and the silicone stays sticky.

Chavant is quite a commonly avaiable clay - I use Le beau touche.

 

[TK7713Gra30]

Hi, yes I scuplted it all
Regards
It got a silver at Euro Militaire last year
Thanks for your help
best wishes
Graham

 

[bluerealm]

Chavant NSP clays are great. Sulfur free so it wont react to silicons when molding. For water based clays the pro's use WED clay. Its water based but doesn't dry out to fast and you can maintain it with spray bottle and some trash bags.