
How to Sculpt a Head Out of Clay
- Gather Your Materials. I did an incredible amount of research in order to figure out how to sculpt Lionel. ...
- Mold the Clay Onto the Foam Head. Mold your clay onto the foam head to cover it entirely. ...
- Adding Facial Character to Your Sculpture. Here's where the art comes in. ...
- Adding Hair. ...
- Allow Your Sculpture to Dry. ...
- Share Your Sculpture With a Loved One. ...
How do you mold clay to foam head?
Mold your clay onto the foam head to cover it entirely. I recommend taking a chunk of clay, rolling it into a snake like figure, and then placing it on the foam head. This will help you to more evenly distribute clay so it's not lumpy.
How to get rid of mold on clay?
Here are a few tips on how to get rid of mold on clay. Some ways to get rid of mold on clay include adding bleach, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, Dettol, or Epsom salts to your clay. Whichever substance you choose to add, you need to add the right quantities at the right concentration.
How do you make a mold of your own head?
To make a mold of your entire head you will need to make two molds, one of the front and one of the back of your head. The two finished molds together will make an exact replica of your head. Because it is very difficult to do this to yourself, it is highly recommended that you have someone else work on this with you.
What are the different techniques for molding clay?
Basic techniques for molding clay require little more than your bare hands. More advanced techniques can use a variety of tools, including a potter’s wheel. With a little practice, you can mold clay into a variety of forms, such as jars, jugs, mugs, bowls, and pots.

How do you sculpt a clay head?
0:3812:51How to Sculpt a Face Part 1 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOnce you have this shape you can make it follow the package instruction once the baked head isMoreOnce you have this shape you can make it follow the package instruction once the baked head is cooled down you can roll out some polymer clay and put a second layers on top of.
How do I make a mold of my head?
0:288:05How to life cast (make a mold of your head) | I Like To Make Stuff - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMade sure to squish it in with the tongue depressors to fill all of the small gaps. Then theyMoreMade sure to squish it in with the tongue depressors to fill all of the small gaps. Then they started sticking it into my ears. This was a little weird.
How do you make a clay face mold?
5:1341:02How To Use Our 3-inch Face Push Molds. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd make a slight cone then I'm going to flatten the edges of this so I've got my hands like this.MoreAnd make a slight cone then I'm going to flatten the edges of this so I've got my hands like this. And then flatten these edges. So it's a little bit close to the shape of the mold itself.
How do you sculpt a head with air dry clay?
1:5750:54Sculpt a Face with Jonni's Home-Made Air Dry Clay - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipJust like the dolls in my new. Book. Now I'm just going to put some eyeballs in those eye.MoreJust like the dolls in my new. Book. Now I'm just going to put some eyeballs in those eye.
How do I make my own molds?
0:027:30Make Your Own Silicone Molds - Easy Mold Making (Mould) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo in this video I'm going to show you how you can make a silicone mold out of pretty much anythingMoreSo in this video I'm going to show you how you can make a silicone mold out of pretty much anything using just a few simple supplies. So let's check out what we're going to need.
What can be used to make a mold?
Most mold making materials are utilized are made from natural or manmade rubber because of their flexibility and the ability to reproduce extraordinary detail. But some molds are made with more rigid materials such as gypsum plasters. The most common mold rubbers are natural latex, polyurethane, epoxy and silicone.
What kind of clay do you use for molds?
If you are making a mold and need to use clay for an original model or creating mold walls, your best bet is to use non-sulfur based clay.
Will silicone stick to clay?
Silicon will work over anything, but if you're using a dried-but-not-fired clay original as your model, be prepared to lose your original in the process. You can make a perfectly good silicon mold over WET waterbased clay, I believe.
Can you bake clay in a silicone mold?
0:022:51How to use Thick Oven Safe Silicone Molds | Sculpey.com - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHi i'm amy karenick a sculpey brand ambassador let's take a look at the oven safe silicone moldsMoreHi i'm amy karenick a sculpey brand ambassador let's take a look at the oven safe silicone molds sculpey oven safe silicone molds are a great tool to use in your liquid sculpey oven baked clay.
How do you keep air dry clay from sticking to mold?
Talcum Powder – Dust the molds with a brush dipped in talcum powder to help the air-dry clay release from the mold. PVA Glue (wood glue) – Provides a permanent bond when gluing air-dry clay pieces together or to other surfaces.
How do you make a clay face for beginners?
0:201:47How to sculpt a simple face using play-doh or clay - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBelow the eyes you're going to pull that clay up into almost a triangle that comes up out of theMoreBelow the eyes you're going to pull that clay up into almost a triangle that comes up out of the face. And form it into the nose.
Can you carve air dry clay?
In my opinion, good quality air-dry clay is one of the easiest materials to work with. Today I want to share some observations and techniques about carving and sanding air-dry clay. Using them, you can achieve a satin-smooth finish for your dolls and carve out even the tiniest details like fingers and toes!
How to add clay to a sculpture?
Refer to the photo often as you add pieces of clay to the sculpture. Mold as you see fit.#N#There's a trick to adding clay on top of clay: when adding clay on top of clay, you need to have them bind.#N#1) Score the underside of the new piece of clay.#N#2) Score the area you will be adding the clay.#N#3) Take a small amount of clay water and rub it into the scored areas.#N#4) Attach the two pieces.
How to make a clay sanding board?
1) Score the underside of the new piece of clay. 2) Score the area you will be adding the clay. 3) Take a small amount of clay water and rub it into the scored areas. 4) Attach the two pieces. Ask Question.
How long does it take for a clay sculpture to dry?
Once you're done, you'll need to let your sculpture dry. This generally takes two days. If you notice your sculpture cracking, simply wet the affected area, and add more clay.
How to cover the back of the skull?
Break out your plaster gauze and start covering the back of the skull. Many people will continue to use alginate around the back of the head, but if you don't have the materials plaster gauze will work fine. It will, however, cause more sanding at the end.
Where to cover model's head?
It will, however, cause more sanding at the end. Cover the back of the model's head just to the center of the skull and back of the neck , avoid undercuts around the throat and top of the head. If it couldn't pull straight off, you've got an undercut. Ask Question.
How to make a smiley face for a model?
Cover the edge of the back head plaster piece with vaseline, about 1-2 inches from the edge. After this, start covering the alginate with more plaster gauze. You're going to overlap the plaster gauze over the back piece. Work the gauze as close to the alginate as possible and avoid air pockets. Those will cause lumps in the final head casting. It is also acceptable to mess with your model at this point. Smiley faces are always fun!
What is done before demolding a mold box?
Before demolding, the locations of the mold box walls and block-outs are marked with a pen. This is done so that the mold box can be put back together correctly for casting later.
Why do you put wood bars on mold boxes?
Wooden bars are added to the sides of the box in order to mount and attach it to the rotational casting machine. A silicone plug will later be used to plug the hole when casting. The mold box is loaded onto the rotational casting machine and secured with C-Clamps.
How to make a mold of a head?
Place the edges of the front and back casts together. Soak a few more plaster strips. Place them lengthwise along the line between the front and back pieces. Ideally, you should not go more than one extra strip deep. When dry, these strips will keep the front and back pieces together. You now have a mold of your head.
How to make plaster mask?
Soak plaster strips one at a time. Wet the strip, remove from water, and smooth onto face and head. Continue until you have a complete covering at least two strips thick. Obviously, you will need to leave an air hole around your nostrils, but you should cover your mouth. You must also leave eye holes. You will fill in these open holes later.
How to protect hair from plaster casting?
Protect your hair by putting on a swim cap. Push all of your hair under the cap. If you have long hair, you need to make sure that you keep hair away from the plaster casting.
What features can you paint with molds?
Hand paint features like skin, lips and hair when the mold is done. Get creative and paint stubble or add features like scars and tattoos that aren't there in real life.
How long does it take for a cast to dry?
Wait for everything to be completely dry. This could take an hour or two. When the cast is completely dry, gently pry it off of your face and head. The Vaseline should make this easy to do.
How to get rid of mold on clay?
Some ways to get rid of mold on clay include adding bleach, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, Dettol, or Epsom salts to your clay. Whichever substance you choose to add, you need to add the right quantities at the right concentration. Alternatively, you can slice the mold off, or wedge it in. Some potter’s swear that a little mold on their clay makes it ...
Why do people want to get rid of mold on clay?
Being turned off the clay by the mold is a legitimate reason for wanting to be rid of it. The other reason some people want to get rid of mold is that they may be allergic to the spores.
How to soften clay?
I find the best way to soften up clay is to wrap it in a damp towel overnight. Remember to put the towel into a plastic bag to stop the water from evaporating. If you add a little bleach to the water you can get rid of mold on clay too. Just remember to use an old towel, as the bleach may make it tie die!
Why is clay easier to throw on the wheel?
It’s pottery folklore that clay that has a bit of mold on it is easier to throw on the wheel . The reasoning behind this is that organic matter, moldy, slimy, or otherwise, helps the clay particles glide over one another. Whether this is actually the case is a matter of debate.
Can you use vinegar on clay?
The drawback with vinegar is that it can make clay a little smelly if it isn’t used relatively quickly. So, if you use vinegar to get rid of mold on clay, use the clay sooner rather than later.
Can you use clay without gloves?
Wedging the clay will the solution into the clay. Once it’s wedged, you should be ok to use the clay without wearing gloves.
Can bleach be used to get rid of mold?
Although adding bleach to get rid of mold is quite common practice, it is not without its drawbacks. The first one is obviously that bleach is a potent chemical and needs to be used in a dilute form. If you read up, there are different recommendations of ratios of bleach to water.
How to cover the back of the skull?
Break out your plaster gauze and start covering the back of the skull. Many people will continue to use alginate around the back of the head, but if you don't have the materials plaster gauze will work fine. It will, however, cause more sanding at the end.
Where to cover model's head?
It will, however, cause more sanding at the end. Cover the back of the model's head just to the center of the skull and back of the neck , avoid undercuts around the throat and top of the head. If it couldn't pull straight off, you've got an undercut.
How to make alginate stick to face?
Warm water will make alginate set at a much faster rate. This alginate will be applied with your hands to the parts of your models face that is not covered with gauze. Don't overlap the gauze, the alginate will stick to it and potentially rip.
How to make a smiley face for a model?
Cover the edge of the back head plaster piece with vaseline, about 1-2 inches from the edge. After this, start covering the alginate with more plaster gauze. You're going to overlap the plaster gauze over the back piece. Work the gauze as close to the alginate as possible and avoid air pockets. Those will cause lumps in the final head casting. It is also acceptable to mess with your model at this point. Smiley faces are always fun!
