[Woodcarver] clay as a carving aid

[m.bloomquist]

Maura,

 

Some things I didn't have in that step-by-step. Especially if you use the
non-hardening clays like Plastelina, you can use crumpled tin foil wrapped
around the armature as a "filler".  Makes it a little trickier to reclaim
the clay, but saves on how much clay you need to do the model.

 

For relief carvings, it's more efficient (IMHO) to build up a blank of clay
with layers of wood filler where you know you're not going to go.  Then I
carve away the clay.  This not only gives you a model, but you've work out
the "subtractive" carving process by taking material away in same way you
need to take the wood away.  I did this with my Hanuman project.

 http://www.woodendreamz.com/Image27_5.htm 

If you scroll down to the third picture, the base of that model is actually
a disk of wood with a ring above that.  Then I covered them with clay like a
thick layer of icing on a cake.  There are a couple layers of wood inside
Hanuman's head as well.  When I was ready to begin carving my model, there
were three major layers/shapes of clay much like the wood would be after I
routered out the rough shapes (same thing you do band sawing out a blank for
in-the-round carving).

 

Good luck with your class. sounds like fun.   

 

JMTCW.

 

Keep on Carvin' 
-Mike B.-> 
Wooden Dreams Woodcarving 
http://www.woodendreamz.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: woodcarver-bounces at carverscompanion.com
[mailto:woodcarver-bounces at carverscompanion.com] On Behalf Of Maura Macaluso
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 6:56 PM
To: woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
Subject: [Woodcarver] clay as a carving aid

 

Hey all, I am about to start a class about clay model making and using
armatures.  This will be an ongoing project intended to show my students how
to design and carve their own original carvings.  I expect it to last a few
months which means my students will bring it back and forth to class.  I
know most of what I need to because I have worked with models and armatures
myself but am looking for things I haven't thought of so people have
options, depending on what things they might have at home already.
The class will possibly consist of two or three parts
1 sculpting a clay figure using an armature, making a pattern from it and
then taking that all the way to completion as a woodcarving
2 designing a human bust and working out the details of a human face and
expressions 
and possibly 
3 designing a relief carving in clay and then carving it in wood.

For the basis of the following questions, we will be using wire hangers and
possibly tinfoil as our armature and will be using scrap wood as a base.

My questions: 
what is the best way to transport it back and forth without the clay model
being damaged
What are the options for securing an armature to a base (some of these
people do not have shops so what is available for them to use?)
Do you have any clay modeling tips that you can pass on?

And yes Mike B, I have re-read your Keep on trucking tutorial. Thanks, One
of the few step by steps available on the web. If anyone knows of other,
armature using, clay model making tutorials or videos, or making models for
relief carving. I would be most interested. thanks

Thanking you all in advance.




 

Maura Macaluso
Maura Carving in NYC
www.carvinginnyc.com
917-494-0008
Staten Island Woodcarvers Club
New York City Parks Dept. Instructor
NEWR Instuctor
National Wood Carvers Association



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