Help a first time sculptor

[john17]

Hi all:

This is my first post here. I've been a long admirer of many of the work I see coming from you guys. I even know a few of you from Armorama.

Anyway, I finally delved into the wonderful world of sculpting and need your help/advice. I am doing a high relief of Quanah Parker (Comanche Chief) in Super Sculpey. The choice for this medium is that a friend at work sculpts high reliefs using this material, and he is sort of my inspiration. I like the fact that I can work it and rework it until it is baked.

The problem I'm having is that when I get to a point where I want to bake it, I lightly brush the surface with baby oil to help smooth out any rough spots or seams. Everything looks good at that point, but after I bake it, cool it, and prime it, I see a whole bunch of pits and splotches and gouges that werent' visible when working on the figure. Once baked though, it seems that much harder to fix any imperfections on the surface.

Would any of you have advice on what I can do to obtain a smoother finish with this medium?

Here are a couple pictures to illustrate my problem. Take note of the areas around the mouth (the eyes aren't done yet). I'm also including a photo of my subject.

Any help you can offer is greatly appreciated! Thanks all!

John

 

[garyjd]

John, Welcome to Planet figure. You've done a really nice job on that relief, the folds and other drapery effects are well done. What kind of sculpey are you using? Super Sculpey that comes in the green and white box? If you are using the original formula sculpey (not sure of the packaging) that may be why. I use the first one mentioned or the various colors that make up the Sculpey III product line. When using sculpey make sure you knead it enough as sculpey with a spent shelf life can be a bit hard to work.I would also stay away from the baby oil for smoothing. It may very well be breaking the sculpey down, which could be the cause of your problems.I would use fine steel wool to smooth and take tool marks out your sculpey. The steel wool is a godsend, although I also use fine sandpaper also. Lastly you might just have a bad batch of material. Let me know how it goes, and keep up the great work.~Gary

 

[john17]

Gary:

Thanks for the encouragment!

I am in fact using Super Sculpey (green and white box). It's my first time with the material, but from what I've experienced so far it seems to work well. My friend suggested the baby oil and also said laquer thinner. He said it does soften it, which I guess is his point. I assumed by brushing it on it would soften the surface and help fill in any cracks or pits. Doesn't seem to work that way for me...at least with the baby oil. I haven't tried laquer thinner yet.

You said you use steel wool and sandpaper? I have to assume you mean after it's baked then? When it is hard? If so, how do you get into crevices with it? As you can see in my pictures the cheeks and forehead are relatively smooth. I did use steel wool on those, but have a heck of a time getting in around the mouth and sides of the nose.

Thanks for your help Gary,

John

 

[garyjd]

John, Be careful using the laquer thinner. I used similiar stuff years ago and if little bits of it pool up in any crevises it will break the sulpey down. I use fine steel wool that I pull from a larger piece. I typically do not have problems getting into those hard to reach places. The thing is to make the work (especially in those areas) as clean and as smooth as possible with your tools before baking.~Gary

 

[quang]

Hello John,

Welcome to the planet.

I'm afraid I cannot be of any help concerning the Super Sculpey.

What I can say is that you don't need any help regarding your sculpting: the likeness is spot on and the drapery is very realistic.

I don't know if this is your first sculpt but the result is impressive.



Quang

 

[Roy]

Hello John...your sculpt is really great for a first time...and the picture is an inspiring one...I can't really help much on the Super Sculpey either, as my experience with it is minimal...but Gary is the one I would ask if I had a problem....you can be sure his advice comes with much experience....
As for the gouges and marks....I've had similar happen when I used a smoothing agent on Super Sculpey...I think it gets in between the layers as you work and smooth it...and when heated it bubbles up and destroys all your (previously smooth) surface work.

All the best.

Roy.

 

[Major_Goose]

Brother john is really going good. The likeness and sculpted points are really good and i expect to come in a fine result. SS problems will be probably cured with all the guys that advised. Keep it up

 

[Bluesking]

Welcome to the Planet John, fantastic effort. Quanah Parker would be proud of you !!!

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Hi John - welcome in. I used to use super sculpey and instead of oil I smoothed it with their own branded Sculpey dilutant. Warning - Too much of this dilutant added on top of an already cured piece will erode fine detail after baking. You might want to try this instead of baby oil. It is an oily substance but very bitter to the taste (consumption is not recommended!).

The other option is some kind of cooking oil.

Perhaps sculpey's website or some books on polymer clay sculpting can help? Also, there are news groups on the polymer clay hobby that you could post a question on and hopefuly get an answer from a specialist in this medium. You will find that folks around here will use a wide cross ectin of media and often even mix epoxy putties across brands or even with polymer clays.

Good Luck.

Colin

 

[Mongo Mel]

Hey John
Good to see you here Now there are 2 sites that I can bug you on :lol:
The sculpt is looking good. Sory but I have no information on Super Sculpy to offer either.
Good luck!
Craig

 

[neill]

Hey John,

Nice work. I use and have used Super Sculpey for... many moons. The pieces below are all Super Sculpey. I only had the problem you describe one time. Whether it was a bad batch of Sculpey or me I am still not sure. I was told by "a Wise Man", to

1. Make sure I knead it well to get rid of any hard spots or air pockets and
2. To use water (a cup) with drop of dishwashing Detergent as a wetting agent for smoothing. I avoid chemical - thinner, Laquer, MEK, Acetone etc. They seem to make the surface tension harder the nthe layeres below. As it bakes it seem more brittle and susceptible to cracks and breakage.

He also recommended throwing out he baking instructions. I use to bake at a low heat for a long period of time. Had less cracking. Now I use an old Crock Pot I got at the Thrift store for $5. Set on low and let it go for a few hours. If I need it quicker I go to medium or high settings, but keep a close eye on it, as it will burn.

Hope that helps

As stated by many, Welcome aboard. A great site peopled by some of the best (and most helpful) in the figure world.


Neill

 

[john17]

Thanks for all the advice as well as the encouragment.

Believe it or not I think one of the problems may in fact be that I'm not kneading the putty. It's right there on the instructions, but I think in my excitement to work on it, I've just been grabbing chunks, placing them on the figure, and blending them in without kneading first. That will be my first change of procedure.

Secondly, per your advice, I'm going to steer away from the baby oil in favor of an alternative dilutant.

I'll be sure to post the results as I progress.

Thanks again for all the help!

John