Sculpting head 101, help please!

[Hydeous]

Was wondering if any of the pro customizers could drop a few pointers on how to sculpt head and if theres any good sites out there.

I tried youtube, but none seems to be detail enough.

Ive already bought a DAS "modelling material", is this the one you guys use to sculpt head? it seems that its air hardening type.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Doom Saber]

Although I am a beginner in sculpting, I will try to answer your questions.

From what I have learn, a lot of professional sculptors use wax or wax-like medium. for example, Castilene is a popular material that acts like wax. Wax are great as long as you are going to make molds from it. Wax is also preferred by most professionals who makes toys.

Most people on the boards use brands like Fimo and sculpty/Super sculpty. These harden via cooking in an oven. Some would use a combination of sculpty and fimo; fimo is more firm than sculpty if l'm not mistaken.

In my opinion, using air hardening clay is hard especially for us amatures because it would harden when exposed to air.

 

[Hydeous]

Thanks mate!

so I guess I will be needing sculpey huh?

Also what kind of tools do you use to sculpt?

especially those fine areas like the eye brows, hair, eyes.

And how do you smoothen the cheeks and skin tone?

 

[Nek74]

Smoothing is usually done using a brush and some isopropanol alcohol or lighter fluid.

Here's a very useful pdf on how to make your own tools:

https://www.ringert.com/sculpting/MAKE YOUR OWN SCULPTING TOOLS_ebook.pdf

If it's not your thing, you can probably find some clay shapers and micro metal tools on eBay.

 

[**16k**]

I use super sculpey (grey) or fimo puppen to sculpt heads. Das is a great material but since it's an air hardening clay, it tends to retract when dry.
Sculpey and fimo can also be smoothed using turpentine and a paintbrush...
Like Nek said, nothing like your own tools as they'll do exactly what you want The tools I use the most are paper clips at the end of a wooden rod. To sculpt hair, first sculpt the overall shape of the strands, then sculpt individual hair with different sizes of needles.

Hope it helps!

 

[Hydeous]

Whats a turpentine?

thanks for the pointers guys!

I'm gonna try getting some super sculpey online, as they dont have it in my country. Anybody could recommend a good online site that selle these?

And also any good books or sites that teaches bout sculpting etc?

Cheers.

 

[**16k**]

Well in my country, turpentine is called "therebenthine" so I don't know if this other name helps you. As for a website, it might help to know where you're from!

 

[Hydeous]

what is the main substance for turpentine? I might be able to search for it here, kinda dangerous to be ordering chemicals and have it shipped to me

I'm in Jakarta, Indonesia.

 

[Doom Saber]

As for tools, I use stuff I buy online; sculpting dental tools and kempfer wire tools. However, as the other ppl have mentioned, you can make your own tools. Try whatever suits you best since store bought tools are useful but you might prefer makin your own tools to make detail work.

 

[Doom Saber]

for smoothin sculpty, you can use water or alcohol

Sculpty even produces a bottle called sculpty softener

 

[**16k**]

what is the main substance for turpentine? I might be able to search for it here, kinda dangerous to be ordering chemicals and have it shipped to me

I'm in Jakarta, Indonesia.

You don't have to order anything man! Every hardware stores carry it! It's used to clean brushes, it's a bit like white spirit and it's a thinner used for oil painting!

If you're in Jakarta, I'm pretty sure you can order Sculpey in Asia, but I don't know any store over there, sorry!

 

[shocktrooper_au]

I use Super sculpy my tools consist of a mix of standard clay tools & some tools women use for scrap bookings with round heads so makes getting natural curves easier for me. As for as smoothing I use a combination of clay softener & brush & my finger tips. You may be able to order from Australia as far as sculpey goes but not the chemicals

 

[SkyZero]

Just FYI, turpentine fumes are toxic so if you do use it, make sure you are in a well ventilated area. There is a non toxic version called turpenoid natural that's supposed to work pretty well too without the health dangers. I like isopropyl alcohol 91% myself as others have mentioned since it's readily available at most pharmacies as rubbing alcohol. Different chemicals smooth sculpey to different degrees. Lighter fluid is more aggressive than alcohol for example, so be mindful of that when trying to preserve fine details.

 

[Hydeous]

thanks for the pointers guys, I'm gonna try and source out some sculpey and will post more questions when I have start later

cheers.

 

[Hydeous]

Just did some browsing and found this site, which sells sculpey at a decent price. Some interesting stuffs they have there, and was wondering does any of you use this and which would you reccommend; the glossy finish or the matte:

https://www.misterart.com/store/view.cfm?group_id=1203&store=003

 

[Doom Saber]

Just did some browsing and found this site, which sells sculpey at a decent price. Some interesting stuffs they have there, and was wondering does any of you use this and which would you reccommend; the glossy finish or the matte:

https://www.misterart.com/store/view.cfm?group_id=1203&store=003

Unless you prefer to have all your heads in sculpty unpainted, you don't need any of those since those things are for finished pieces; the Studio by Sculpty are sprays you use on your sculpty if you do not plan to paint your heads and display them as they are sculpted


From the site you linked, here is fimo:
https://www.misterart.com/store/view/003/group_id/793/Fimo-Soft-Polymer-Clay.htm

If you are one of those who finds ithard to sculpt usin the pink sculpty brick for being too soft or hard to make out the detaail, try this:
https://www.misterart.com/store/vie...uper-Sculpey-Firm-Gray-Sculpting-Compound.htm

 

[**16k**]

Don't use those products. Once you've sculpted your heads, paint them with acrylics or oil painting then spray a matte acrylic sealant. Works perfectly!

EDIT: If you choose fimo instead of sculpey, make sure it is " fimo puppen". The classic fimo doesn't hold details as well!

 

[Hydeous]

unfortunately that site wont ship internationally, and would only ship to US

anyone could reccommend me an online shop that will ship internationally?

Thank you in advance

 

[Doom Saber]

https://www.polymerclayexpress.com/

 

[SkyZero]

Just another thing to add about different types of Sculpey. Regular Super Sculpey(which is pink) has a translucent quality about it that can make it difficult to see details/ smooth properly (harder to see irregularities). That's why many either mix up their own colors (for example mix up white SS + black SS + Regular SS to get gray) or use Super Sculpey Firm which is already gray. Regular Super Sculpey is softer, and so easier to manipulate, but also harder to get in fine details. Super Scupey Firm holds details better, but can also be a bit more crumbly.