Sculpting for Beginners - Suggestions

[Sean Hebein]

Hello,

Well, needless to say, I am a noob at sculpting but I would like to get more into it. I have seen some of the awesome sculpts that some of you have been kind enough to post pictures of and it has really sparked my interest. I have done some research online and got a few tips on where to start but I figured that the RPF would be a great resource. Anyone have any tips for beginners? Also if there are any really good books available that have helped you out, post that as well! Thanks to everyone in advance!

 

[chuckyAPP]

try this website, there are many sculpting videos you can rent them and return them thru the mail, really great stuff.

http://smartflix.com/

good luck

 

[franz bolo]

Here's some good Articles at the bottom of this page:

http://www.danperezstudios.com/workshop.htm

FB

 

[DaddyfromNaboo]

There are also lots of videos on youtube.

 

[clonesix]

Yes, youtube has all kinds of videos. 25lbs of water clay is $10: go nuts for 10 bucks.

 

[Sean Hebein]

Here's some good Articles at the bottom of this page:

http://www.danperezstudios.com/workshop.htm

FB

This is awesome! Thank you for this!

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Check out The Clubhouse - http://theclubhouse1.net/phpBB3/index.php - for lots of tips and helpful feedback. Lots of talented sculptors there. What do you plan to sculpt, as there are tips for different sculpting materials and tools, depending on what you want to sculpt.

For small scale there are waxes or sculpey, but for large objects, like 1:1 busts or in that size, then clay may be better. All depending on what your plans are, the advice and tips may be different.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Oh, one thing that stays true regardless of what you want to sculpt is to practically immerse yourself in the subject. If you want to sculpt a face, more importantly a likeness, then find as many pictures of the person as possible from every angle and study the lines and the curves and the idiosyncrasies of that person until you feel comfortable that you know the shapes well enough to be able to start work.

The first thing I do when I get up is look at pictures of that person until I find the pictures that resemble the expression I want to make, gather them together in a separate folder and then study those exclusively. And it's the last thing I'll look at before going to bed.

Mechanical sculpts are probably easier, I don't know, as I've never attempted them, but human or animal sculpts, where you have to figure out a shape from a 2D image and extrapolate it into 3D is a very interesting process and it's amazing to watch all the intricacies that for instance makes up a face and the exact likeness and how all the minor details are what creates the perfect whole.

I would probably be a better human likeness sculptor if I had studied anatomy, rather than just going by my gut feelings of what seems right. Currently I have gone back to a project I've attempted, but failed before. A new buzz drove me to attempt it again... and it is already turning out much better than the craptastic work done before, that was scrapped and turned into other projects.

Looking forward to hearing what type of sculpts you'd be interested in making.

 

[propologist]

trail and error is the best method too. I know a lot of sculptors that can't draw a lick and painters that can't sculpt , so whatever you do enjoy it.

 

[Sean Hebein]

I'm actually interested in trying to make a Stormtrooper Helmet. I have spent a lot of time looking at photos of different angles, lighting, and I have watched all of the movies at least a hundred times if not more. Does this seem like it would be too big of a project to start with? I know my first sculpt is probably going to be less than perfect but I would like to take a crack at it and not have it coming out looking like complete crap.

 

[Sean Hebein]

In addition to the Stormtrooper helmet, I am also working on some Pepakura Halo Master Chief armor and I think that sculpting out some of the finer details would give the suit some more depth.