Since many people have asked me for tips on how to do models, I've decided to just post up how I work on my sculpts. For those interested at least:

I'm not pro yet , I just learned this by myself...but this is a better update to use….it may get you guys off to a good start. Conceptart.org.... has a great tut as well!!! [link]


Materials you will need: You can get all the material you need at Compleat Sculptor [link] (they ship internationally as well)

Clay (Super Sculpey or what ever you are using)"Gray Compound"
Armature wire 1/8th small, 3/16th medium, and 1/4th Large (bones of character)
Wire Cutters/Pliers
Wooden Plate (to stand the armature on)
5-Minute 2 part gel-epoxy and/or 20 minute Pro Poxy-get at home depot (to mend the armature together)
Rubber Tipped tool/Exacto knife/Spatula tools, rake tools [link]
Aluminum Foil (to bulk up character if needed)
Mesh Wire
Turpenoid
And your hands...


Clay Medium:

I use Super Sculpey for all of my models! They now sell already mixed gray sculptey sold at Compleat Sculptor [link] but if you can only get the regular pink Super Sculpey, then mix a block of black and white sculpey 3 into a pound of Super Sculpey. This is to make the medium gray, which allows you to see the flaws in the surface a lot better as opposed to the pink super sculpey where it's more transparent.

Armature:

Print out the 2d character out the size you want it. So if you want the model to be 9 inches, print the character out at 9 inches, etc. Then measure out with the armature wire against the 2d ref (for the spine of the character, length of the arms etc.) and use the epoxy to mend the wires together. If the base doesn't already have a hole, drill one or two as needed into the base. Once I have the lengths I need for the body, arms, and legs... I use liquid epoxy, pro poxy or both to mend the arm/leg wire onto the spine wire (let it cure) then pose the character how it is in the 2d character ref.

Here is a step by step progress showing how I start my model using the Motti Marloid model, there are other sculpt process in my scraps:

[link]

Blocking:

Blocking is something that is important in the structure/building of the model. This is the process to get the shape and width of the character. I cut up slices of clay and apply it to the armature....building it up slowly until the width, and shape is to my liking. (If you want it really precise you can use a surface gauge to measure out the levels of the features) If there are places that are very wide, then you can use Aluminum foil as a filler, then apply clay around that.

Once you have to shapes perfect, then you can start detailing.

Smoothing:

Smoothing can be achieved a few ways.... with rake tools, your handy dandy fingers, sponges, small spatula tools. Also using my rubber tipped tool to help me out in small places. Once all the detail is added..I go over the whole model with the turpenoid. I add this to the body and face with a paint brush, brushing a little on at a time...smoothing out rough edges and such.

Baking:

The final stage: I usually use a cookie sheet, and lay aluminum foil on the pan, and put the model still on the wood (yes you can cook the wood too) in the oven. Sometimes I use pieces of foil to prop the arms/legs up just incase it moves or shifts in the oven. Then I cook it for about 30 mins to a few hour at 240 degrees F, depending on size and width, and let it cool in the oven once its done firing.

I think that is about all I do for a model... Good luck! Its extremely fun, hope I helped!


If there are any more questions, feel free to shoot them my way! I always enjoy someone interested in clay works; I know how fun it is, so I wanted to share my experience with you guys!!!!

Thats it for now! Stay tuned!

Alena Wooten

NOTE: Painting.....

I know a lot of people (including me) would like to see my models painted but I don't paint any of my models for several reasons:

I don't have the right tools to paint them, I don't know how to paint, I'm very nervous that I might mess it up, and I don't have time to paint..hehe. I just want to focus as much as I can to sculpting. And maybe after I become pro enough, I'll work on painting...that will only make me become a well rounded sculptor. But for now I'll just stick with sculpting!



Commissions!!

-jessie (Commission)-Starting on
-Happy Face (Commission)Started on
-Inventor Conlin (Commission)
-bust (Commission)




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For Fun, Don't know when I will get to these:

In No particular order:

- avatar model -a Character -25 minute challenge/rabbit -TotemPole Horsey -a character -orange guy - a character -Simpler Times Ace Character Character -sphish/and another character -a character monster character -a character -Insect Raven -a character (trex?) -Alien -a character -a Character -a Character -Cowboy Character -zombie jr Gaelin_Colors Mischevious_duo

Note:

Commissions are closed for now:

Not all of these characters are commission; the ones listed as commission are the only ones! This means that they are for ownership, uniquely made and I spend MUCH more time and efforts on them, adding details and making sure they are the right sizes, and quality. I use Super Sculpey, with a wire frame base! Each of my models take any where from 2 hours to about a week and range from 4-14 inches in length. And unfortunately, I don't/can't paint any of my models.

For all the other characters that I got permission to model, those will be posted up on deviant art, but you don't get to actually own it. If you want to own it, then please let me know, otherwise this is just fun for me to model with and I get to use AMAZING artist's characters to play with!!!

Thanks!