Sculpting large

[jparker]

I have been sculpting for the past few years in a wax clay so that my sculptures can be produced in bronze, i have now gone back to using wet clay as i have missed the feel and enjoyment i get out of sculpting in clay, i am also wanting to create in clay so that i get to fire and keep the original piece, the problem i am finding is that to fire the pieces i can't use armature so i am limited to the movement and size of my pieces which brings me onto the next question - is it possible to do a life size sculpture without using armature or is there a wire that i can use and fire in an electric kiln??



Jennine

[HappySculpting]

Hi jparker,

Here is a link to an introduction thread posted by Ivona a few months ago. She shows her website in it. I checked out some of her work. She sculpts lifesize and I'm pretty sure with water clay. She says that she makes an armature out of metal and wood. She didn't say but it's obvious to me that she would then cut the sculpture in half to remove the armature once it is leather hard. This would be is she was going to fire it versus have a mold made of it in which case she'd need to keep it moist/covered so that it doesn't shrink on the armature and cause cracking.

You could maybe send her a pm or email and see if she can give you some tips.

http://www.sculpture.net/community/s...ead.php?t=2158

-Tamara

P.S. Yes, I checked and she said she uses water clay. She likes the old fashioned way of sculpting with just plain old clay. So she definitely would be the person to ask since she sculpts huge larger than life sculptures sometimes and definitely uses an armature.

[jparker]

Thank you for this Tamara - i will let you know how i get on! Its the first time i have used this site, its fantastic!

Thank you again
Jennine

[fritchie]

Jennine - I saw your question and had formulated a partial answer before I saw Tamara's reply, and she has given more or less the advice I planned. Water-based clay reaches a state of "leather-like" dryness, in which it can be self-supporting to a degree, but still won't crack. Lifesize is reaching a bit, but with practice, this probably could be done.

Hopefully you will receive advice from someone who actually has done this, or seen it in person.