Sculpture Tutorial - 3

SCULPTURE TUTORIAL - part 3

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE STRUCTURE OF A FACE

First I take a chunk of clay and form it into rough shape of a bust. Keep some leftovers aside in case you need to add material at places later. I leave the back of the head flat so that it can lie on the table (see upper left photo) but I guess it can be done with the busk standing up just as well.

I continue by approximating the proportions of the sculpture to the proportions of the subject - comparative sizes of forehead, nose, lips etc.

After that I focus my attention on shapes. Aside from that it is also important to note the characteristic transitions and lines in the face - how the parts fit together. (see the upper photo in the middle and on the right)

Utilize the collected photographs and shape the head so that it corresponds with the references from all angles. Especially when sculpting women, be watchful of their make-up. Keep in mind that it is there for the sole purpose of adjusting their appearance and in doing so making the work of a sculptor more difficult.


When the face has the general intended shape I attach ears. Ears are tricky things to make and it can save a lot of time and effort to hide them at least partially under hair. Bad ears can effectively ruin the whole look of a bust. But if you decide you want to try them, then... good luck.

Attach large enough chunk of clay to the side of the head, make sure it holds well. Then sculpt it into the desired shape. (see lower photos)


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next part: [link]
Previous part: [link]

Feel free to ask, comment or offer ideas for improvement.