gregorygarver.com

[CrystalF]

I'm doing an art project for spanish class, where i have to sculpt out a painting by a famous Hispanic painter i was assigned to. This is the first time i've actually done a project with molding clay (i bought from Micheal's) and i have absolutely NO idea what to do. Like, i don't know what i should do BEFORE i start handling the clay and what to do when i'm finished and so on and so forth. i've tried google and search engines but they were no help to me. Do you think you could help me out on this ? Thanks and God bless .

[JohnH]

you haven't said what type of clay you purchased... it makes a difference...Plasticine is a clay that sculptors use that doesn't truly get hard and is reusable... molds are made from the finished product and then some other material is cast into the moldCeramic clays require firing in a kiln [there are high fire clays and low fire clays]Polymer clays can be baked in a home oven...there are other composite "clays" that air dry..

[Mike3244]

If the clay you got gets hard as a rock when you leave a pea-sized piece of it out of its container, say on a coutertop, for 24 hours, then it is ceramic clay. It it does not get hard at all, then it is a synthetic clay. With either clay, you should consider the basic proportions and geometry of your sculpture. If your piece is going to be tall and slender -- say, a standing figure, a palm tree, a horse, etc. (see : http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/rodin/rodin_torso1.jpg), you should create an armature to support the clay, because it will slump over under its own weight if you don't. In this link, there is an example of a fancy armature, (http://www.dickblick.com/zz349/23/) but you don't have to get so complicated -- a simple rod stuck to a board would be sufficient, like this: (http://philippefaraut.com/images/tools/armature-blk.jpg).Only if you are making a pretty squat piece, such as a toad or a person lying down, can you get away without an armature (usually -- if you are using ceramic clay and can maintain it to a "leather hard" concistency, you can work some more vertical pieces without support, but this takes experience).As you sculpt with ceramic clay, you will need to keep it moist, or it will dry out, crack and fall to pieces (unless you have experience). To keep it moist, cover your work with a plastic bag when you are not sculpting, or LIGHTLY mist it with water as you work. Check it every day you are not working on it to make sure it is not drying out. Synthetic clay can be left alone and will not dry.When you are done, I would suggest you NOT fire your ceramic clay piece, since it will almost certainly not survive the process (armature, trapped air bubbles, uneven thickness). With either your ceramic or synthetic clay piece, you will have to transport it and present it in a pliable state, unless you are willing to tackle the process of making a plaster waste mold and casting a final piece (which is complicated and, again, requires experience).If you are willing to work at it, you will gain all the insight of experience with experimentation and a little guidance. It will only cost you time and a little money, so go for it!