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https://www.wikihow.it/Scolpire
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Whether you want to discover your inner Michelangelo, or create models to really enhance your "development and design" applications, sculpting is a great hobby and skill that can be learned, and doesn't necessarily require any kind of of innate artistic ability.Anyone can do it!There are many materials that can be used for sculpting, but the most common, and also the easiest to teach and learn, is clay.The instructions in this guide are aimed specifically at clay sculpting, but the basic principles can be applied to many different methods.
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Make a sketch of your project. You should always do this before starting.It doesn't need to be perfect, but it must provide valid indications on what you are going to do.Draw the sculpture from different points of view, in order to understand how the various surfaces join, the height that the different parts must have, the actual proportions, and so on.
- Sketching your sculpture at real scale can be extremely helpful.If it was very large, don't worry more than you need to, but if you have the chance, do it.
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Make the armor. Armor is a technical term that sculptors use to refer to "the support structure".Think of the armor as the skeleton of the sculpture.This is an important element because it prevents the sculpture from becoming too delicate and breaking easily.
- It is generally made of iron wire, the thickness of which depends on the size of the sculpture.However, if your sculpture is small or you don't have wire available, you can also use other materials.Simple sticks or toothpicks can work just as well.For larger ones, however, it may be useful to use PVC or plumber pipes.
- Referring to the sketch, determine the main "parts" of the sculpture.Check the lines that define the areas and how these connect to the other pieces.Again, imagine a skeleton.Form your armor along those lines.
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Add the filler material. Think of it as the musculature of your sculpture.It is generally abundant waste material, cheap and light.This is an important element as it allows you to save on material costs, and also keeps the weight of your final sculpture light (making it easy to move and lowers the risk of it breaking).- Materials used for this purpose are commonly painter's or masking tape, aluminum foil, newspaper, or even poor-quality clay (not recommended).
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Start with the widest sections. Once your armature and fill material are in place, you can begin adding the material you have chosen to sculpt.For the purposes of this guide, we will be using polymer clay (Super Sculpey or similar).Start with larger strokes to give shape.At this point you just need a base to work with.If you want to sculpt a living creature (like a person, or an animal), then it's best to make these parts resemble that creature's large muscle groups.
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Add smaller sections. Start defining the shape of your sculpture more carefully.At this stage, you should still add clay or other material.These additions, as with the larger pieces, define the overall shape of the sculpture, but will cover smaller surfaces.Continuing with the living creature example, these would be the smaller muscle groups, but also other elements such as the basic shape of long hair (not fur).
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Sculpt the details. Once you've finished the basic shape, you can start removing the material or arranging it better.This is the phase where you carve in the traditional sense.Move and smooth the larger parts to get the final shape, and start sculpting the smaller details (the corner of a cheekbone, the knuckles of a hand, etc.).
- In the previous two steps you will mostly use your hands, unless the sculpture is very small.For this stage, however, you may need to start using some tools.You can use special sculpting tools or you can improvise some.Go to the next section for a more in-depth discussion on the topic.
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Identify the structures of various surfaces. Examine your sculpture and think about the different materials that would form that object in reality (flesh, hair, fabric, stone, glass, fur, etc.).Using the original sketch, or using a completely new one, identify what type of texture to use for the various parts.
- Do some research.Look at many photographs that reproduce the various structures to understand how they work.You'll be amazed at how complicated it can be.Hair, for example, grows in strands and you will have to pay attention to the length, arrangement and direction of each individual strand.
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Give texture to various surfaces. Begin one section at a time, using traditional or improvised instruments.Only a limited number of tools suitable for sculpting are needed, and almost all of them can be improvised using common household items.You will have to experiment to discover the ones you feel best with;every sculptor uses his tools differently.
- Generally, tools with a broad tip are used to create larger details, while those with a thinner tip are used to refine them with precision.Spoon-shaped tools are used to create round surfaces.Those with a ring are used to scrape off excess material.Anything with a sharp edge can be used for cutting.
- You can improvise these tools using foil balls, peppercorns, toothpicks, x-acto cutters, a toothbrush, a metal bead chain, a comb, knitting needles, crochet hooks, large and small sewing needles, cookie cutters , teaspoons for cutting melon, etc.
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Let your sculpture harden. Once you've finished the big clay work, you'll need to put your sculpture through the hardening process (if you want it to be hard;otherwise ignore this step).Each type of clay has different drying methods (with hot air, in the oven, etc.);Check the manufacturer's manual for the clay used.
- As a general rule it is better to cook for less time (if possible, use a low temperature for longer periods) to avoid burning the clay.
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Paint your sculpture. If you want your sculpture to be colorful, and the material you used isn't, you can paint it.What type of paint to use will depend on the properties of the material used;acrylic paint is fine for most cases.Enamel paints are necessary (or at least recommended) for polymer clays.
- Prepare the sculpture before painting it by washing it with soap and water or rubbing it with alcohol.
- If the paint layer is uneven, you may need to re-coat it several times.
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Add gloss if desired. Gloss paints and enamels can be used to create surfaces that need to appear wet to be more realistic, such as eyes or an open mouth.Use polishes and enamels appropriate for the material you are working with.A good basic option is Modge Podge.
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Put together the various materials according to your needs. To create an even more realistic look, you can mix various materials as needed to achieve the desired effect.You may want to use real hair for a person sculpture, real fabric, or even dust, rocks and moss for the base of your sculpture.Advertising
Advice
- Soften harder clays by hammering them.The more you work them, the softer they will become, thanks to the heat and grease from your hands.
- Once dry, you could liven up your sculpture by painting it with the appropriate paint.
- Different clay brands vary in hardness.Firmo Firm is great and Sculpey Original is quite soft and weak.You can mix different clays to get the hardness you want, as long as they have the same firing temperature.
- Cover the project with plastic when you are not working on it.
- Check out the DIY programs on television.
- Practice with Moon Sand or paper mache.
- Popsicle sticks work well for smoothing.You can use any cutter to cut.
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Warnings
- Don't overcook the clay as it can burn easily.
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