How I Create Sculptures
Here I'm making a sculpture made with clay that needs to harden in the oven before it's finished. Curing time depends on the volume of clay used. First I start out with creating a wireframe based on my own sketches of the sculpture.
I cover the whole wireframe with clay to build up a general shape of the figure I'm creating. This shows me if I need to make any changes to the wireframe before continuing.
When I'm happy with the shape I can start smoothing and build the shape out so that it's easier to start the detail work.
I often layer the details from the shoulder region and work from front to back. I tend to finish the head last because it's often the area which call for the most delicate and precise details.
When the sculpture is finished I fire it in the oven. When it's done I let it cool down inside the oven, because if it's brought into a cooler environment right away, the temperature-shock may break the sculpture.
After the sculpture is done it's time to paint it. Here I've started the painting process, laying down a primer.
Now that the paint job is finished, I finish it up by applying a primer. The primer helps the tones of the paint smooth out and stick to the sculpture properly. After I'm done with the primer I protect the sculpture with layers of protective coating, this protects the sculpture against the environment, dust and touch. If the sculpture has details that needs to be painted with glossy paint, for instance eyes, it has to be done after the protective coating is applied so that the coating doesn't remove the glossy finish of this type of paint.
Frequently Asked Questions
The sculptures are made of different types of polymer clay and various materials such as wood, foil, glue, cotton, thread, fabric, etc. Brands I use to make my sculptures are supersculpey, premo, panduro dough, fimo, monsterclay and various others. I buy a lot of the materials online from abroad.
First I draw what the sculpture should look like with different dimensions and
details. Then I make an armature
that works like a skeleton, here I take care to follow the measurements that are written
on the drawing. Reinforcement can be made from different materials; I prefer steel wire and silver foil. I sometimes reinforce some places of
the armature with milliput if needed, preferably
y on larger sculptures. Milliput is a 2-component epoxy which is mixed together into a clay
that cures over 24 hours. This provides a nice basis for good
sculpture.
Then I put clay over the armature and block out a general shape of what I am making. Then I keep working with the anatomy and placement of, for example, muscles. Once that is done and I have gotten all the measurements in place, and a general sense of what the sculpture should look like; I can start working on the details. I often start at one end and work
my way to the other. When all the details are in place and the sculpture is finished, I bake
it in the oven if I have used clay that hardens during baking. After baking/drying, I pain
t the sculpture and finish with a seal that will protect the paint from touch, dust and other environmental happenings.
This all depends on what the sculpture will be, how detailed it should be and how big it should be. It can take days, weeks or longer. When the sculpture itself is made, it must also be painted. The actual painting process can take several days as well.
The final price depends entirely on what you want to get made, style, size and level of detail. I estimate prices based on material and time used.
I have made everything from pets to game characters, and it does not have to be just a sculpture. For example, if you want a unique bookend, decorations to have on top of a cake or something unique to decorate the Christmas tree with, feel free to contact me to inquire about what is possible. By the way, I do not make cars or other mechanical things, as I prefer to do more organic work.
The sculptures must be treated with great care. The sculptures I make are not toys and cannot withstand falling to the floor or standing outside. If I have used a pencil to draw on small details, the seal I apply will protect the pencil details from being smeared by touching the sculpture. The seal does not protect against washing. The sculptures are therefore not water-resistant and must be carefully cleaned with a dry cloth or soft brush. The sculptures are best stored inside a cupboard where they are protected from collecting dust. The sculptures can be bleached in sunlight, so it is strongly recommended to place them away from direct sunlight. The sculptures should always be stored at room temperature; low temperatures over a long period of time can cause them to crack. If you are unlucky and a bit breaks off, it is fine to glue it carefully back on again.
If you have bought a sculpture from me and have questions, just get in touch and I will help you!
