How can I learn to sculpt a face from clay?

Question

I have a bunch of FIMO clay lying around and I want to sculpt a realistic looking face from it, are there any tutorial sites/videos online that I can learn from?

Answer 1

There's a lot of info at my website about sculpting with polymer clays... sculpts can be simple to very realistic.

Here's the page just for faces and heads:
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/heads_masks.htm

And these pages give more info on sculpting with polymer clay in general, sculpting particular body parts and more on facial features, and on using armatures underneath the clay when necessary (polymer clay shouldn't be *solid* if it's over about 1 1/4" because it can crack etc., when baking... use an armature if it will be thicker than that at it's thickest point):

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/sculpture.htm
(brands and mixed brands considered best for sculpting, techniques, avoiding fingerprints, sculpting groups, lessons for figures, etc.)

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/sculpting_body_and_tools.htm
(body parts + clothing,scales,wings + abstract figures, etc.)

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/armatures-perm.htm
(permanent support when needed)

Depending on how familiar you are with polymer clays, you might also want to look at these pages:

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/Conditioning.htm
(preparing polymer clays for use)

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/baking.htm
(baking clays, especially without darkening)

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/translucents-glow.htm
(special considerations when using SuperSculpey or other flesh-colored clays which have a lot of translucent in them ...they're more realistic looking though than opaque flesh-colored clays... look esp. at "Plaquing")


HTH, and have fun!

Diane B.

Answer 2

First of all, if the FIMO has been laying around very long, it's dried out, so check it first. Your best first efforts would be to use Sculpy, just remember to follow the low temperature and baking times for the thickness. Second, there are numerous sites and as many expensive videos out there. Use a search for the sites and try the local library for the videos before you spend the money on them; not all are worth what they sell for. As another answer advised, soften up the clay and go to work, that's the best way to get started if you have no wish to take a class at your local college. If you want it life size, make and use a foil center for the head and yes, wad it up good since you want a sturdy surface to work on. As another person suggested, get a full sized photo and get to know your subject well at the same time you are sculpting them. If you are going for the fantasy like I do when making fairies, have fun and use your imagination.

Answer 3

the subject with creating an entire-sized head is that maximum components that dry or are cooked will shrink which may bring about cracking and powerful components the dimensions of a head are heavy. hence, each and each form of cloth must be dealt with in the thank you to steer away from issues. Pottery clay would desire to be outfitted up as a shell a million/2-3/4" thick to help the load and dry uniformly. additionally it has to in part dry (enterprise up) at the same time as working so the decrease section can assist you the top. Polymer clay, in case you used it, might additionally would desire to have thickness administration. Air dry clay might would desire to be vented (open on the backside and get right of entry to provided there for air. Plaster is an exception because it instruments chemically, and it particularly is further on after the backside is set so this isn't any longer only adverse (carving) besides the fact that this isn't any longer extensively used and a instructor won't be accustomed to each and all of the innovations.

Answer 4

Take a good clear picture of the subject's face. Have it enlarged to 11x15. Study the picture for days. Roll and work your clay to the desired height you want to make. Begin sculpting the face, using your fingers and then your clay tools to carve lines.

Answer 5

first, do it the easy way.... get a plastic skeleton head, and apply clay... w/ a skull you'll at least have everything in the proper place already, and you can keep on changing the face to what ever way you want it to look like. After you get the idea of how things should feel, you can do your own faces.

Answer 6

I suggest taking a sculpting class at a local museum.