Model Citizen
This is a look into the antique studio, where figures are made in 3d ... in real life.
Making a sculpture is not so difficult as it can seem, what maybe result difficult is the time that lasts the process of creation, to finish up the figure. There are diferent materials to elaborate figures in 3d (There are two ways: sculpting and modeling) as the epoxic clay and the resin clay that must be baked finally if is wished to get solid, also exists other type of clay that toughens instantly and that it can be manipulated after have toughened with the water. Since I'm not an sculptor (or I'm not a very good sculptor), I have specialized me in the modeling clay that it is more flexible than the sculpture (and therefore easier).
So let's take a look into the laboratory to see how a figure "gets alive":
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First is accomplished a sketch of the piece, you have to visualize the figure in several angles to form of having an image in 3d virtual within the mind. These sketches will serve also as reference to accomplish details and to make annotations of things that they may not have been considered when already it is being accomplishing the piece. It
is also important to considerate that if we wish a better match between our figure
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Following to this, we use an insole with the measure that will have our figure (height) in the one which we build with copper wire what will be the form of the model (skeleton). It can be used also aluminium wire that is more light than that the copper and resists well the weight of the clay until dries, but since is more malleable is easiest to get fractured and therefore I do not recommend it. The wire must be well attached, it can be used wire of steel and aluminium alloy calibre .20 (as if it would be thread) to hold the structure and the parts added. |  |
 | Then we add the clay in layers envolving the wire structure. This is the most recomendable way because the clay delays drying, and we can not put a new layer of clay over another before it dry completly, because this cause that our piece remain with internal fractures. The layers also lets you see how the figure will look finally when it gets finished or if we should put a muscle or extra detail. |
| While we progress, it is necessary to sanding the piece (thoroughly dries and toughened). When we put details as clothes, we need to make the figure thoroughly strips and then to add the wrinkles, plaits and seams of its gown, also we need to draw these details in the body of the figure to have an exact sense of the detail. |
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 | Finally, once it has been sanded perfectly the figure (if it is a robot or possesses mechanical pieces we will need to use a mototool or something like that), begins the process of bringing it to "life" by painting it. First we apply a uniform layer of the same color that it will be the basecolor ... is generally white always (furthermore that this color let to appreciate all the perfections and blemishes that we could have in the bottom line) though in occasions can be black or another color according to the "skin" of the original. |
 | Remember, as the figure is bigger, the detail increases and that will make it easier sculpting. Standard sizes more common are 9", 12" y 18" (a real gigant size) that commonly we found on figures comming from enterprises like McFarlane Toys, also Randy Bowen and so many other scupltors use it. I recommend to you to see the sculptures section again ... maybe you try to guess how were made some of the other figures, and you can appreciate better the bottom line of the process of the figure that I show you here. |