Any one make clay models before starting a project?

[ragiarn]

Recently Doris finished her project "Michaelangelo Buonarotti" and I was so impressed by it that I asked permission to try to copy her work. She graciously gave me permission provided I give her credit for the original.

I made a copy of the photo to a size that suited me. After I got started I realized that there is a significant problem in trying to copy using a photo of her project. Besides the usual problems presented by photos namely depth, this project was made more difficult by the fact that the face is seen at an angle with the most of the left side of the head being visible and none of the right. Because of the angle all measurements are skewed. (I believe the condition is known as parallax.

I purchased several pounds of plastina and made a model of the Michaelangelo and plan on using it for taking appropriate measurement.

I was just wondering if anyone else has had this problem and used clay before starting a project. Most books on sculpturing recommend this method.

Doc

[Joy]

Yes, several people use clay. I watched a clay model that Fred Zavadil made and decided to try it on the jaguars I made. It really helped.

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I have several pounds of plasticine setting on a shelf waiting to be used someday. So far I've found that in the time it would take me to do a model out of clay I would probably be more than halfway finished with the wood version. I have no doubt that some find working the problem out in clay first helps them visualize the end piece while at the same time show possible problem areas of a piece. But you have to ask yourself......how many clay artists first work their figures out in wood prior to reaching for that ball of plastic earthy material?

[A Willburger]

Hi Doc,
Yes I use plastilina for most of my carving projects. I have done this for about four years now. I try to carve more demanding pieces and working things out in clay first really helps. If you check out my old thread "sad Indian" you will also see I use the pointing method to copy very accurately from the clay to the wood. I think I might be the only one on this message board that uses this method.
I am going to Fred Zavadil's studio later this month and work on a project in clay and get some tips from him I hope and see how he copy's his clay model to wood.
Using clay is very different from carving and takes practice just as carving does. You have teach yourself to add material instead of removing it.
Andy

[mark yundt]

I've been doing clay models for the past 12 yrs or so. I've done everything from small medallions,,decoys,songbirds,statues,corbels,brack ets,a 6 ft lion,moldings,a 10 ft tall Indian for a ship,grape clusters,the life size model for the Shroud of Turin carving as well as the current face of the Shroud I had just posted over the weekend. Many if not most of these I used a pointing method to transfer the design to wood. Handy since it was used by the early Greeks...still works just as good today. Actually built a pointer that was over 12 ft tall and worked across a 6 ft span and almost totally automated,,really a neat project.
The guy I started with was stubborn and didn't see the benefits of using clay,,thought you should "find" the form in the wood. Within a short time he wouldn't consider a project without doing a clay mockup first. Now it's almost his living. Most all good artists use some sort of model to work out ideas first. Some wing it and it shows. That's fine if you're not too particular and just having fun,,but when it gets serious,,a model is necessary. Every car builder uses a model,,painters use em..movie producers use a story board as well as models,,architects,,,designers,,America Cup racers build model boats,,inventors etc. It's pretty much an established tradition.It eliminates many headaches,,glitches,,as well as after thoughts that could be eliminated prior to going to the wood. It can also be used for the most basic establishments of basic proportions and balance.
Some things are so basic,or it may not matter if it's right or wrong,and it may not be necessary. But if you want to strive to do the best work in many respects..a model won't hurt in any way.
Clay gives you the option to experiment,change,,make mistakes and easily correct them. Wood basically gives you only one option. You might think you found the best design,,,but did you really?

[Paul_Guraedy]

Clay offers the opportunity for quick exploration of possible alternatives to the initial design. Some of them will not work out; but, you don’t end up wondering. Some do work out and you end up with a better all-be-it different carving. Usually, I have thought about a design long enough that little change is necessary; but, one particular piece comes to mind that was definitely different after working it out in clay.

I was commissioned to carve an angel which was to be used as a gift for someone who collected them. The only instruction offered was, “that it be something different”. Given that the time frame was near Easter, I decided to do a Mourning Angel. The figure was to be standing with wings wrapped tightly around the body and the head lifted to the heavens. I would paint it in dark, muted colors.

When I worked it up in clay it looked like a spike. I opened the wings. Better; but, it still was too tall and skinny. I put the figure in a kneeling position. Now, it was looking good. One more major change was to bring the head down into a bowed position. I liked it. But, it did not look to be in mourning to me.

I ended up with an angel at sunrise with bright colors and lots of shadowing. Experimenting, using clay made this figure a lot better than my first idea.

[Simplyme]

I would, but its like another complete different talent. Its hard enough for me to learn how to carve to have to worry about sculpting to. Though I wish I can do clay mock ups.

[Paul_Guraedy]

Working in clay, for me, is not a different talent. Because I do not do the clay in detail. I do not want a finished product, just enough form to get the overall effect and I don't even work it into the intended size. The clay is about 6 inches and the wood figure about 15 inches.

The attached photos are my final clay figure and the resulting carving. I did not need the details of the wing feathers, I do those on my bird carvings all the time. Rocks are the same. In fact I changed the rocks quite a bit for the final carving. Also, once I had the pose I wanted, I pulled the wings off for the final work on the robe of the clay figure. Put them back on for this photo after the carving was almost complete.

[A Willburger]

I am working on a two new projects with the same model. I am trying to make a likeness of the young lady. The smaller sculpture is a very good likeness of her but I still have to do some more work on the larger sculpture. I had to look at it for a few days and decided her eyes need to be moved forward and her jaw needs work and her skull is to small. It would be very difficult for me to get a very good likeness of someone without working it out in clay first. As usual I agree with Mark. If you want to get more serious with carving you should try modeling it in clay first.

Andy

[mark yundt]

So I believe we all understand the value of doing a model. One thing that you mentioned was parallax.
There are inherent problems going from a sketch or photo to the 3D carving. One is perspective. I ran into problems with a large statue I did starting from only a sketch. One thing that happened is the carving ended up being too short,,though it was the same size as the sketch. I've read where this condition is known as foreshortening. A sketch will show perspectives,,which it has to to look right in the drawing or photo,,but it doesn't translate directly to a carving.
Try to imagine using the famous poster of Uncle Sam pointing at you. Now use that info and translate it into a carving. A relief is one thing,,a full statue is another. You have to take the perspective into account and one of the best ways to see how it'll read is make a model in clay.
As others have said and which I have done myself,,it doesn't have to be in minute detail. Just enough so you can see how it will look. Or,,you can take it to show every detail which you can rearrange to your hearts content.