[mark yundt]

I had posted this clay model for a Golden Eagle earlier.I recently got the blocks in for it and couldn't wait to play with them. In between the castings I'm doing, I took a little time to just rough it out.It's not due for another 5 months so don't expect regular updates.The clay is really handy to work out the size,then determine how big a block you need.Also for finding the right balance and pose of the piece.Then acts as a reference to follow to allow a very quick rough out,you don't have to keep searching for the piece,,you know just what you're looking for.This clay model was made out the spray foam insulation called "great stuff" with only a thin layer of clay.This process allows me to easily change the piece ( I cut it's head off and turned it to a pose I liked better). This is a great way to find FORM,,What I think is the basis for a piece.No detail is needed as it all works out in the wood.This piece is going to be donated. It also will have alot of symbolism in it,,it's going to be fun.

[Gergie]

Hey! that's a pretty cool eagle. Be sure to post the finished carving. I bought a chunk of clay many years ago and was going to work with it. I believe it's still on the shelf. Anyway great job.

[mark yundt]

"I wood rather be carving"too!Get out that clay,it can be a great 3 dimensional "sketchbook". Various ideas and forms are hard to get from 2 dimensional drawings. This way you can work block it out,,look at it for a few days, change it till the shape is locked in your mind.Easier to find it in the wood then.Some clays I order are soft as dough others have to be carved.Several times I poured resin over the clay, put it in my duplicarver and got a well defined roughout.If you're doing a small piece, harder to do in clay, make it 2-3 times the size and then just scale it back into the wood.Lots of possibilities here.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Nice Bird! simple design but looks great, the Christ in the background is outstanding!

[mark yundt]

this design is clean and simple,for the mere fact of other elements it will show when finished.The large Christ figure is the clay model I did when working on the Shroud project,,didn't have the heart to scrap it,,now with the castings I have been working on I might pull some molds and offer them for sale.The little one is a model for another client looking for the image of Christ as it actually appears in the Shroud,There the body was in a resting position.The reason for the model is the client wanted me to find a way to have the full size carved figure to appear suspended in space without any visible means of support (wires,etc.) so this model allowed me to work out the details as well as let him "see" the ideas in my mind.(That's a scary place to see,believe me!)

[Flint]

Thanks, Mark. Would you talk alittle more
about the spray foam? Do you spray it
on a base or just kinda pile it up?

Flint

[Irishman]

The use of clay is a great idea to work out your carving ideas. I tend to experiment as I go along and then run into trouble. There no doubt is a reusable clay out there to do mock ups for wood carvings. I'll have to investigate further.
Patrick

[mark yundt]

Sure! If you're doing something in the shape of say a Duck, you can probably get away with just spraying it on a board and letting it pile up. Let it dry and you can shape it really easily with a serrated knife,or go for more more contours with coarse sandpaper.To pile it higher like the 24 inches I needed for the eagle I screwed a stick (about 20 ") onto a piece of scrap ply so it stuck straight up. Then using old cardboard and tape I made a "form" about 10"x10" .Without this form, as you spray the great stuff it doesn't want to pile straight up ,but kinda sink down and flatten out.Try not to fill too much at one time,it's own weight will collapse itself,spray 6" or so,,set it sit 15-20 min till it takes a set, add more.After it dries (1day)just use the serrated knife to remove the cardboard and sculpt it away.For the crucifix, I basically did the similar thing,just used foam panel discs,with a stick running through them, but used fiberglass windowscreening to act as the foam...it actually peeled off the foam nicely without sticking.Hope this makes sense,,if not let me know.

[mark yundt]

Irishman,,yes,, it's not the type where you have to cover them with damp cloths,, sprinkle with water..Whenever I come back to the clay it's always ready to go. Some like I said are almost like play dough,,others hard enough to carve and hold amazing detail.This brand is the same stuff auto makers use when modeling a car , and they paint it! I've casted it , used it for taking a rough out from,,solves alot of problems and layout ,right from the beginning and can save messing up an expenxive piece of wood while your're trying to figure out where and how you actually need to carve.

[bghebert]

What a great idea!! I used spray foam before, never thought of using it to shape forms. I can picture how it would work. I'm going to try some right away.

thanks for the info, very helpfull

Bruce