My First Sculpt - Crits please

[nicodemus3d]

Hey Everyone,

I've been looking at all of your beautiful sculpts with envy and decided to give it a go.
Below is my 1st attempt at a physical sculpture. I'm a visual effects artist so I have dabbled with zBrush before but never with real clay/wax etc, so this was a real eye-opener for me and so many tools that I've used in zBrush make more sense now

For my first sculpt I didn't want to attempt a full on finished sculpt so I decided to do an anatomy study. It took 2 evenings, and I could definitely carry on with it and refine and improve it, but I think I will learn more by moving onto a full figure, or at least a full torso now. Only doing half the torso made it harder I feel.

I learnt a lot about making the armature and would do it differently if I had to do it again. I also found the super sculpey to be a little soft for my liking so I've ordered some firm to mix in for the future.

I'm going to attempt to bake it this evening. Not so much because I want to keep it, but more so that I've tried that part of the process too. I'm planning on baking it like this:

"225 degrees for three hours, turn the oven down to the minimum- 170 degrees on most ovens, bake for another three hours, shut the oven off and leave the sculpt to cool overnight."

Does that sound about right?


Please give me any crits you may have, it's the best way for me to learn


Thanks all

[nicodemus3d]

And THIS is why I decided to try out baking on something I wasn't too precious about!

Just as well I looked in on it a few mins after putting it in! Luckily I managed to get it out before it burnt too much.

1st amateur mistake. Putting the model in the oven at 225°C instead of 225°F! Must engage brain!

Note to anyone who uses °C. The temperatures that I should be using are:

"110°C for three hours, turn the oven down to the minimum- 80°C on most ovens, bake for another three hours, shut the oven off and leave the sculpt to cool overnight."

[jade_hunter]

Wow, you did a good job on the sculpting part, on the baking part: how thick is the torso, you should try wrapping foil around the thiner parts like the neck and arms so that they get less heat. Or you can get a heat gun and do it by hand and you can control the areas that are getting hot.

[nicodemus3d]

@jade hunter
Thanks. The torso is just under 2 inches at it's thickest part. I realised shortly after sculpting it that I should have used foil to bulk out the inner mass in order to save on sculpey, and also help prevent cracking. I've just checked on the baking, and there are a number of cracks which I was expecting. Also, the sculpey has gone a dark brown. Is this normal? I think I may have still used too high a heat in the oven.

[martinmack]

if your sculpey is turning brown in thick areas you're probably too high on the heat, or the piece is too close to the element in your oven so it's not heating evenly. Generally the thin areas, like capes or hat brims may discolor because of the thinness of the material, but the thicker pieces shouldn't be discolored if baked properly. I am definitely on the low end when it comes to baking times as I'll go no longer than 25 minutes at 275 F for even thick pieces. I've found that as pieces are repeatedly baked as more layers of detail is added, they get harder, and by keeping my times and temps low I don't have to worry about burning or cracking. It's worth experimenting a little to find out what works best for you since ovens can vary wildly in how they read temperature.

[martinmack]

P.S. the sculpt looks very good! You may find the shoulder is a bit low if you add a head, but it's a really good start...

[Fovos]

Nice work man. Always try to use something to give the inner mass.It is dark brown because you overcook it. Some people like to overcook it some dont. As long as you sculpture is ok and your happy with it then its all good, nothing that a paint can't fix. Eventually with practicing you will find the best temp and timing, it happens to all of us i believe.
Cracks you can fix them either with filler, milliput or apoxie sculpt.

[nicodemus3d]

Thanks guys. My oven heats pretty unevenly anyway, so a lower heat is definitely necessary. I guess experience will help. Also, you're right on the shoulder thing Martinmack. Hopefully having a whole figure for my next study will help with proportion and positioning issues like that.

[Alaneye]

Thanks guys. My oven heats pretty unevenly anyway, so a lower heat is definitely necessary. I guess experience will help. Also, you're right on the shoulder thing Martinmack. Hopefully having a whole figure for my next study will help with proportion and positioning issues like that.

Pick up an oven thermometer, then you will know the exact temperature inside the over rather than relying on guess work. My advice is to go for a long bake at a low temp. I have older sculpey pieces that have begun to crumble because I only used the packet recommended bake times. If you are moulding the piece, the hardness isn't quite as important as the sculpture is only a means to an end.

Al

[nicodemus3d]

If you are moulding the piece, the hardness isn't quite as important as the sculpture is only a means to an end.

Al

Making a mould is definitely something I want to explore at some point, but it's yet another thing at this stage, that I have no clue about. Is there a good thread or tutorial that someone can point me to that would explain the basics?

[nicodemus3d]

Just for illustration sake. Here are photos of the baked model. DEFINITELY overcooked if you compare it to the uncooked sculpey. You can also see the cracks that formed along the back because of the thickness.

[cuptow555]

LMFAO @ the 225 degrees C instead of F. When I read that I was ON THE FLOOR! And seeing the end result... OMG! xD (Laughing WITH YOU not at you xD )

But yeah, REALLY good first attempt! Can't wait to see what you come up with next!

[Joshua A.C. Newman]

Dude, your final looks really cool. Chalk that one up as a happy accident, I think.

[nicodemus3d]

Thanks guys.

[zanpakatou]

For real, see if you can't fill some of those cracks with a fluorescent color of orange or something. It would look planned, and pretty cool.