When I first wanted to sculpt, I started to watch a lot of sculpting videos that were available on the Internet, particularly TH-cam! Then I started to buy books about drawing, sculpting and buy tutorial DVDs that artist had made. I even bought Computer programs that helped me learn to sculpt, like ZBrush, Blender etc. Meanwhile I was sculpting with wax candles, Bread dough, and modeling clay. Just get started and don't wait. :)
I've been watching sculpture in clay videos for a long long time and believe me, this(these) are some of the best of all. Thank you 3DworlD2 for sharing your work.
Thank you for your comments and suggestions! That is a great idea! I started to use foam as filler to conserve on clay and reduce weight. Love to see your sculpture when it's done.
My very first clay sculptures were very primitive, but as time passed and I did more and more, they got better. Clay is forgiving. Wood is hard to carve and one cannot correct the flaws. Give it a try! :)
If you are going to use an oil based clay which stays soft for ever and is not fired, you can use any material for armature. For example: wood, cardboard, aluminum foil, paper, wires, pvc pipes or anything that holds shape. for more detailed sculpting I would recommend harder clay consistency. Lately I have been using Roma Plasilina #2. They also have harder and hardest #3 and #4.
Thank you for your comments! I'm sorry for the late reply. Think of sculpting as drawing in space. Set your lights to create shadows on your sculpture. don't flood the sculpture with lights from every direction. Using your skills of drawing create different values of shade on the sculpture by adding or subtracting clay from the sculpture.
Thank you! My sculptures were made either with air dry clay or oil based clay. Neither of them go in the kiln. I have seen videos on the TH-cam showing how to fre bake able clay. The short of it is to have no air bubbles in the clay, howlow out the clay with no more than 1" thickness and using a tool like fork on the inside of the sculpture to poke indentation then fire it.
Sculpt the lower jaw separately use 2 eye screws inserted in each side of the upper jaw, then insert a piece of wire that is bent in a L shape into each side of the lower jaw with half of the L buried in the clay an the other half exposed. Insert the exposed ends of the L shape wires into each eye screws you had in the upper jaw.
@cstrikemaan I don't remember exactly, but it took several hours to this point. Usually the sketching part goes pretty quick. As the details are added, works get slower and take many days and several hours a day.
Another way to solve the weight problem (front heavy) I made a small satchel out of some scrap cloth and filled it with BB's, sewed it closed. works great and reusable!! BTW thanks for this video. working "along" with you. so far so good.
I want to do a replica of that to use it for halloween even if in cyprus there is no such thing, i do celebrate it... Nice job and very well done Keep up the good work
There are several clay consistency available; soft, medium, hard and extra hard. There are also special sculpting wax that are very hard and can be carved and if need be the wax can be melted or softened to add to sculpture.
Thank you! That thought has occurred to me as well. Yes, it is posible to carve out the clay from a block. I wasn't able to fined the video I saw on the TH-cam long time ago, but I have seen a very skilled sculptor do that.
Thanks for your comments! These videos were recorded for hours each day. I had to edit the videos and take some parts out and speed up what was edited. Talking during the sculpting would have been useless. :)
@DocWyldeCard Thanks for your encouraging words! I just love to sculpt and draw. I recently started oil painting. I'll make mistakes and I learn from my mistakes. :)
Thank you for your comments! Sorry for the late reply. You know wat they say, practice makes perfect. I'm not there yet, but I will keep trying. I recommend oil based clay to start with. They will not dry out. There are many brands and soft or hardness. I think this particular one was made from J-Mac Clay. A 10 lb slab cost around $33.00
Thank you for your comments! I don't remember exactly how much this clay was, but I have checked Amazon not long ago for J-Mac Clay and it was like less than $4.00 a pond. This was an oil based clay that stays soft and will not harden, but to make a mould the clay doesn't have to be hard. Check the TH-cam for how to make a mould for a sculpture.
Ok thanks! I put a moist towel over it it worked a bit as well but i think a plastic bag is better hehe. I finished the skull today and it doesn't look as good as yours but I like it ! Thanks for the vid :)
Thank you for your comments! There are many places that you can get your materials from. You can buy many of the supplies from your local art supply store or from internet websites like "dickblick". they have the basic tool sets and the clay to get you started. Air dry clay is a good medium to start with, but they dry up quickly. If you think it will take you several weeks to finish a job get oil based clay like "J-Mac" from Amazon. get instructional DVDs from "Philippe Faraut". Cheers! :)
Nice! This is the first of your videos I've watched and I'm very impressed. I'm sure you tell this information somewhere but... what kind of clay are you working with?
I don't remember the clay I used, but it was very similar to J-Mac Clay. It is an oil based clay that will stay soft and will not dry out. I think Amazon has the J-Mac Clay and it was a very good price for it, less than $4.00 a pond!
I'm 50, my wife has finally convinced me i should try my hand at sculpting. she has seen some of my plaster and ceramics i carved on for fun and her and everyone she shows this to think the same. plus maybe a chance to supplement our income to. Not knowing anything technical about this, any study materials books or dvd's you recommend? and starting tools ?, thanks loved the video.
Thank you for your comments! Usually working with clay is an additive method of sculpting. If one is working with stone or wood, they use subtraction method.
3DworlD2 Cool, I didn't know that about clay. Thank you for a prompt reply. I was watching your other video series as well that used foam for the core (it's of the head that's your avatar here on TH-cam)... any plans on posting the rest of the videos? It stops on #9 and I'd love to see the rest of the process. I watch your videos to help me fall asleep (I have a hard time falling asleep), since they're very relaxing. :) Hard to find great videos like yours.
bkboggy lol... I have been a little lazy and a little busy and didn't get to edit the last videos I have of that sculpture. I will soon upload the rest after editing the videos. I have also started on another portrait and it is almost ready. I will also upload those as well.
Thank you! Use references either 3D or 2D images when you sculpt. Watch videos of sculpting others have done. I have many sculpting videos on my Channel that might help you. Try to sculpt every day if you can.
can i ask why you leave the skull so flat for so long? it seems like you waste alot of time on the facial bone structure before even having the proportion right.
When I first wanted to sculpt, I started to watch a lot of sculpting videos that were available on the Internet, particularly TH-cam! Then I started to buy books about drawing, sculpting and buy tutorial DVDs that artist had made. I even bought Computer programs that helped me learn to sculpt, like ZBrush, Blender etc. Meanwhile I was sculpting with wax candles, Bread dough, and modeling clay. Just get started and don't wait. :)
I had people actually thanking me for not putting any music on my videos!
I've been watching sculpture in clay videos for a long long time and believe me, this(these) are some of the best of all. Thank you 3DworlD2 for sharing your work.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Wow, my comment is OLD. Crazy how time just flies by.
If you are gentle with the sculpture. The glue only gives it a slight protection against accidental rub off. the clay under the glue is still soft.
Can I just say that I have a project in college and you have just saved me with all your skeleton and skull videos thank u very much 💖💖💖
Thank you for your comments. I’m glad the videos were helpful. Cheers
Thank you for your comments and suggestions! That is a great idea! I started to use foam as filler to conserve on clay and reduce weight. Love to see your sculpture when it's done.
My very first clay sculptures were very primitive, but as time passed and I did more and more, they got better. Clay is forgiving. Wood is hard to carve and one cannot correct the flaws. Give it a try! :)
lol... I did what you suggested and I really enjoyed watching the sculpting and listening to the song. Thanks for the heds up! :)
Great work. I can't wait to see it finished.
If you are going to use an oil based clay which stays soft for ever and is not fired, you can use any material for armature. For example: wood, cardboard, aluminum foil, paper, wires, pvc pipes or anything that holds shape. for more detailed sculpting I would recommend harder clay consistency. Lately I have been using Roma Plasilina #2. They also have harder and hardest #3 and #4.
Thank you for your comments! I'm sorry for the late reply. Think of sculpting as drawing in space. Set your lights to create shadows on your sculpture. don't flood the sculpture with lights from every direction. Using your skills of drawing create different values of shade on the sculpture by adding or subtracting clay from the sculpture.
That was fun : ), on to part 2. Great video.
Thank you!
Nikolas Demetriou Thank you for your comments! :)
You are welcome! Looks like you knew what to do! :) Thank you for your comments! Would love to see your hard work.
Wow! Fantastic!
Thank you! My sculptures were made either with air dry clay or oil based clay. Neither of them go in the kiln. I have seen videos on the TH-cam showing how to fre bake able clay. The short of it is to have no air bubbles in the clay, howlow out the clay with no more than 1" thickness and using a tool like fork on the inside of the sculpture to poke indentation then fire it.
Sculpt the lower jaw separately use 2 eye screws inserted in each side of the upper jaw, then insert a piece of wire that is bent in a L shape into each side of the lower jaw with half of the L buried in the clay an the other half exposed. Insert the exposed ends of the L shape wires into each eye screws you had in the upper jaw.
I guess you need to make some sort of hinge and sculpt the lower jaw separately to attach it to the upper part.
Excellent Work!!!
If you are using an air dry clay, spray water on it and then cover it with a plastic bag.
@cstrikemaan I don't remember exactly, but it took several hours to this point. Usually the sketching part goes pretty quick. As the details are added, works get slower and take many days and several hours a day.
Another way to solve the weight problem (front heavy) I made a small satchel out of some scrap cloth and filled it with BB's, sewed it closed. works great and reusable!! BTW thanks for this video. working "along" with you. so far so good.
I want to do a replica of that to use it for halloween even if in cyprus there is no such thing, i do celebrate it... Nice job and very well done
Keep up the good work
There are several clay consistency available; soft, medium, hard and extra hard. There are also special sculpting wax that are very hard and can be carved and if need be the wax can be melted or softened to add to sculpture.
Thank you! That thought has occurred to me as well. Yes, it is posible to carve out the clay from a block. I wasn't able to fined the video I saw on the TH-cam long time ago, but I have seen a very skilled sculptor do that.
Thanks for your comments! These videos were recorded for hours each day. I had to edit the videos and take some parts out and speed up what was edited. Talking during the sculpting would have been useless. :)
Thank you.
Your way to sculpt is what i need,
Thank you.
The half inch PVC pipe has a 21 mm outside diameter and the 45 degree PVC has a 28 mm outside diameter.
That is so clever keeping the clay warm, ugh I feel so dumb I didn't think of a basking lamp!
lol... I think I saw this method on TH-cam myself. I just love TH-cam! :)
@DocWyldeCard Thanks for your encouraging words! I just love to sculpt and draw. I recently started oil painting. I'll make mistakes and I learn from my mistakes. :)
I don't get it... How come you don't have (at least!) thousands of views? Your sculptures are amazing!!
Thank you for your comments! Sorry for the late reply. You know wat they say, practice makes perfect. I'm not there yet, but I will keep trying. I recommend oil based clay to start with. They will not dry out. There are many brands and soft or hardness. I think this particular one was made from J-Mac Clay. A 10 lb slab cost around $33.00
Very impressive!
Thank you for your comments! I'm sorry for the late reply. Great idea, but unfortunately I don't have the time.
you should do a video of the entire modeling (all parts) in one at ultra speed
I am studying skulls now and making various sizes. I am creating molds, casting them and attaching them to my van, a new project.
Sounds interesting!
@yuhad I think I used J-Mac Clay to sculpt this one.
That would be interesting to see! :)
@Sukomoto00 TH-cam videos have an Embed feature, feel free to use it in your forum.
Thank you for your comments! I don't remember exactly how much this clay was, but I have checked Amazon not long ago for J-Mac Clay and it was like less than $4.00 a pond. This was an oil based clay that stays soft and will not harden, but to make a mould the clay doesn't have to be hard. Check the TH-cam for how to make a mould for a sculpture.
what material do you use for your sculping?
I have a material but after 10 minutes, i can´t work again with this material.
Awesome work :)
can you give some advise for not making it explode in a kiln btw u r amazing
By the Emerald Eyes of Lady Luck! That is truly incredible. Where'd you learn to do this?
Thanks for your comment! :)... This was sculpted using oil based clay and it will not dry.
@lowriderdaniel Thank you! I'm using an oil based clay. It will never dry.
Yes, this is an oil Clay. I applied Elmer's Glue at the end. No molding or casting. Thanks for your kind comment. :)
You're amazing man. Love your videos! Very helpful and entertaining.
Isn't it easier to start with just one big glob of clay, and then start carving away at it? OR... is that a stupid question?! :) Great vid, btw.
Ok thanks! I put a moist towel over it it worked a bit as well but i think a plastic bag is better hehe. I finished the skull today and it doesn't look as good as yours but I like it ! Thanks for the vid :)
Thank you for your comments! There are many places that you can get your materials from. You can buy many of the supplies from your local art supply store or from internet websites like "dickblick". they have the basic tool sets and the clay to get you started. Air dry clay is a good medium to start with, but they dry up quickly. If you think it will take you several weeks to finish a job get oil based clay like "J-Mac" from Amazon. get instructional DVDs from "Philippe Faraut". Cheers! :)
@Horis573 Yeah, I thought less distraction in the background would help consentrating on the sculpting. :)
Very helpful. Im doing a project for halloween. Thank you for posting
nice use of the black back round
Awesome work!!!
Is this a 1/3, 1/2 scale or life size skull? What size are the PVC pipes?
Man, thats inspiring.
Thank you! :)
@alexlozaartist Thank you! I didn't measure it, but I would say about 1/2 actual size. The PVC pipes are 1/2".
Very cool.. are you going to add flesh?
Hi. Trying to learn to sculpt. Got any tips/tricks/advice?
I think this one was sculpted from an oil based clay called J-Mac. You can get it from Amazon internet store.
Amazing!
You are absolutely right! :)
I would recommend J-Mac Clay. I have seen it at Amazon at a very good price.
Nice! This is the first of your videos I've watched and I'm very impressed. I'm sure you tell this information somewhere but... what kind of clay are you working with?
Thank you! I think it was "J-Mac Clay" it is an oil based clay.
Nice video sir it is amazing
Thank you!
I don't remember the clay I used, but it was very similar to J-Mac Clay. It is an oil based clay that will stay soft and will not dry out. I think Amazon has the J-Mac Clay and it was a very good price for it, less than $4.00 a pond!
I'm 50, my wife has finally convinced me i should try my hand at sculpting. she has seen some of my plaster and ceramics i carved on for fun and her and everyone she shows this to think the same. plus maybe a chance to supplement our income to. Not knowing anything technical about this, any study materials books or dvd's you recommend? and starting tools ?, thanks loved the video.
Very cool. Is there a reason why this is additive, rather than deductive?
Thank you for your comments! Usually working with clay is an additive method of sculpting. If one is working with stone or wood, they use subtraction method.
3DworlD2 Cool, I didn't know that about clay. Thank you for a prompt reply. I was watching your other video series as well that used foam for the core (it's of the head that's your avatar here on TH-cam)... any plans on posting the rest of the videos? It stops on #9 and I'd love to see the rest of the process. I watch your videos to help me fall asleep (I have a hard time falling asleep), since they're very relaxing. :) Hard to find great videos like yours.
bkboggy lol... I have been a little lazy and a little busy and didn't get to edit the last videos I have of that sculpture. I will soon upload the rest after editing the videos. I have also started on another portrait and it is almost ready. I will also upload those as well.
Have any tips for how to make it open and close ?
what clay would you recommend?
When does it begin to look like skull during all part of this video? Because at first it was too flat.
Awesome!
Thank you! :)
what kind of clay do you use? van aaken?
Do you know how to make one of those but with the skull opening and closing Need it for school:/
lol... That's cool! :)
@DrummerElliott I don't know. I feel like Cinderfella. I appreciate your kind words!
Thanks! :)
im thinking of taking up Sculpting. that way i can sculpt my self some abs. lol
@cstrikemaan I think I sculpted this one using J-Mac Classic Clay.
loved the video. any advice for an up and coming sculptor? was this process done by a specific style of sculpting?
Thank you!
Use references either 3D or 2D images when you sculpt. Watch videos of sculpting others have done. I have many sculpting videos on my Channel that might help you. Try to sculpt every day if you can.
how many kilograms of clay did you use for this skull? your sculpture and painting works was fantastic.
+Kevin Gibran Royhan Thank you for your comments! I think it was about 4 lbs.
Thank you! this is the best comment I ever had! :)
Thank you! That is a great idea! :)
How long did this one take to make?
lol... I think the music could be distracting.
With the 45 degree pvc pipe, what diameter is it in mm? thanks
Amazing
Thank you! :)
Thank you! :)
@ZombieNamedJosh lol... I know what you mean. To get started is the hardest part! ;)
I think the Skull took like 4 lbs.
@HumbleVoyager Thank you!
@clayguy1 Thanks. Yes, I will eventually add flesh to it.
can i ask why you leave the skull so flat for so long? it seems like you waste alot of time on the facial bone structure before even having the proportion right.
You are welcome! :) Cheers!
Thank you! I'm glad it was helpful. :)
Do you bake them? If so does the inner plastic melt?
This is an oil based clay and it is not baked. It stays soft always.
@KustomFu Yes! lol. Some parts were sped up even more!
very nice
what clay did you use?
Thanks! I think I used J-Mac Clay. Check Amazon for it.
3DworlD2 thank you very much ...
What sort of clay is this?
ich grüsse was für ein material nehmen sie und kann mann human skull auch kaufen