Newbie head armature question

[mrbanana101]

I'm having a terrible time getting started..

I ordered four pounds of Chavant plasticene clay, as well as a head armature.

I didn't realize the clay would be so hard and cold when it arrived, so I microwaved it for about a minute to soften it, and I was finally able to mold it without too much of a hassle. However, when it came time to start building the head, I ran into so many problems...

To bulk out the head armature, I used a bunch of wadded up newspaper sheets taped together with masking tape, and the end result was a pretty general shape of the head. I tried to put the clay on, but it doesn't seem to want to stick too well, and I know if I push too hard, the newspaper part of the armature will be indented. I just feel like I'm having the worst time covering the armature in clay... the rest doesn't seem too difficult, molding the eyes and the nose and adding cheeks and such, but I just can't get past that initial phase of getting the clay to stick on the newspaper and get that clay grounding...


Any suggestions?


(btw, I've looked at tutorials and such, and somehow I just can't do it... not sure what I'm doing so wrong?)

[Paul]

Mr. Banana,

Use styrofoam instead of newspaper. You can piece it together with a hot glue gun. Then you can carve it into a general shape with one of those knives with a long retractable blade. Wrap some duct tape around the carved styrofam head-shaped block for extra security, and you should be all set. I know this means starting over, but you'll have to get used to starting over when something isn't going right, as it's the only way to make progress.