Q&A for How to Sculpt

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  • Question
    Can anyone learn to sculpt?
    Natasha Dikareva, MFA
    Ceramics & Sculpting Instructor
    Natasha Dikareva is a San Francisco, California based sculptor, and installation artist. With over 25 years of ceramics, sculpting, and installation experience, Natasha also teaches a ceramic sculpture workshop titled "Adventures in Clay" covering concept development, hand-building techniques, texture, and glazing techniques. Her work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Bloomington Center for the Arts, Maria Kravetz Gallery, and the American Museum of Ceramic Art. She has taught at the University of Minnesota and the American Indian OIC School. She has been awarded the Excellence Award at the 1st World Teapot Competition, Best in Show at the 4th Clay & Glass Biennial Competition, and a Grand Prize at the American Museum of Ceramic Art. Natasha holds an MFA from the University of Minnesota and a BFA from Kiev Fine Arts College.
    Ceramics & Sculpting Instructor
    Expert Answer
    Absolutely. So long as you're willing to practice and put the work in, there's no reason you can't learn how to craft beautiful structures.
  • Question
    How do I keep arms and legs from falling off my sculptures?
    Natasha Dikareva, MFA
    Ceramics & Sculpting Instructor
    Natasha Dikareva is a San Francisco, California based sculptor, and installation artist. With over 25 years of ceramics, sculpting, and installation experience, Natasha also teaches a ceramic sculpture workshop titled "Adventures in Clay" covering concept development, hand-building techniques, texture, and glazing techniques. Her work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Bloomington Center for the Arts, Maria Kravetz Gallery, and the American Museum of Ceramic Art. She has taught at the University of Minnesota and the American Indian OIC School. She has been awarded the Excellence Award at the 1st World Teapot Competition, Best in Show at the 4th Clay & Glass Biennial Competition, and a Grand Prize at the American Museum of Ceramic Art. Natasha holds an MFA from the University of Minnesota and a BFA from Kiev Fine Arts College.
    Ceramics & Sculpting Instructor
    Expert Answer
    This actually isn't a super common problem for me, but I could see how it would happen. If I had to take a guess, I'd assume you aren't working from the bottom up. If you switch your sculpting process to work from the bottom to the top, you're much less likely to run into problems like these.
  • Question
    What's a good glaze for beginners?
    Natasha Dikareva, MFA
    Ceramics & Sculpting Instructor
    Natasha Dikareva is a San Francisco, California based sculptor, and installation artist. With over 25 years of ceramics, sculpting, and installation experience, Natasha also teaches a ceramic sculpture workshop titled "Adventures in Clay" covering concept development, hand-building techniques, texture, and glazing techniques. Her work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Bloomington Center for the Arts, Maria Kravetz Gallery, and the American Museum of Ceramic Art. She has taught at the University of Minnesota and the American Indian OIC School. She has been awarded the Excellence Award at the 1st World Teapot Competition, Best in Show at the 4th Clay & Glass Biennial Competition, and a Grand Prize at the American Museum of Ceramic Art. Natasha holds an MFA from the University of Minnesota and a BFA from Kiev Fine Arts College.
    Ceramics & Sculpting Instructor
    Expert Answer
    Stroke and Coat is a super great product for beginners because you can see all of the colors that they're going to turn into before you fire the sculpture.
  • Question
    Can I secure glass in clay?
    Community Answer
    Yes. I put glass marbles into a horse head (Sculptey clay) for eyes: it looked really good, and there was no problem baking.
  • Question
    Is it too late for an adult to learn this artform completely from scratch?
    Community Answer
    No, it's never too late to learn. If you put your mind to it, you can do it. There are other resources for help if you feel you need a little extra help.
  • Question
    How can I cure polymer clay?
    Community Answer
    You can bake it in the oven. The temperature and baking time depends on the brand of clay you're using; check the package instructions and bake accordingly. The temperature is usually around 100°, and the time is 30 minutes.
  • Question
    How can I begin a sculpture?
    Community Answer
    Start out with the basic shape of the model before adding any minor details.
  • Question
    Is there a way to melt a mirror to a surface?
    Community Answer
    Not really, but you could just use a highly chromed paint.
  • Question
    How do you sculpt in marble?
    Community Answer
    Marbles are one of the hardest element to sculpt your masterpieces. Take a class on stone sculpting, or ask professionals for some tips. Practice on softer stone, and work your way up the hardness ladder till you can work marble.
  • Question
    What cheap clay do you suggest?
    Community Answer
    I suggest you get Crayola air dry clay. I bought mine for $4-$5 from my local Walmart.
  • Question
    How do I make a sculpture that can move like an action figure?
    Community Answer
    If you use wire for the armature, the joints will be able to bend. You just need to leave enough space for the parts to move around each other.
  • Question
    How do I harden the clay once the sculpture is done?
    Community Answer
    You could bake it or let it dry overnight, depending on what kind of clay it is.
  • Question
    What materials can I use for my armature?
    Community Answer
    Use wire, wood, or plastic can be used as armatures but the best is wire because it can be universal. For example, if you want your sculpture to be pose-able, you can make an armature with wire. And if you want it to be solid and stationary, wire can do that too! So, it's all on personal preference.
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