How To Sculpt Clay
Clay Modeling with Simple Geometric Forms
This introductory lesson demonstrates how to combine simple geometric forms (spheres and rectangles) to create a more complex design, such as a sports car.
Core Concepts
- Best Tools: Your hands and fingers are the best tools you'll ever have, doing about 90% of the work in creating a sculpture [00:03:05].
- Additive vs. Subtractive: Clay modeling uses additive sculpting (adding clay if you don't have enough) and subtractive sculpting (taking clay away if you have too much) [00:12:54].
- Preparation: Before starting, work the ball of clay in your hand until it is soft from the heat of your hands [00:00:57].
Steps to Model a Car
- Create the Body (Rectangle): Start with your ball of clay and form it into a uniform, equal-shaped rectangle (like a domino chip) [00:01:09].
- Create the Cockpit Depression: Use a tool (such as a pencil) to create a depression running lengthwise down the middle of the rectangle [00:02:04]. Use your finger to smooth the displaced clay back into the straight lines of the rectangle [00:02:41].
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Shape the Body:
- Round over the back edge of the rectangle to give it a nice, sloped shape [00:03:37].
- Slightly round the side edges, but keep the front end straight [00:04:50].
- Create the Wheels (Spheres): Roll out five equal small balls of clay. Flatten each one (like a pill) [00:07:44]. Press four of them onto the sides of the body as wheels, and use the fifth as a spare tire on the back [00:10:13].
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Add Details (Additive Sculpting): Use smaller, flattened pieces of clay to create:
- Two seats [00:11:18].
- A steering wheel [00:12:03].
- A shaped windshield [00:12:23].
- Headlights [00:14:15].
- Fenders over the wheels [00:14:47].
Video Credit: Learn Sculpting - Lesson 1 - Clay Modeling by Learn Sculpture, published on December 26, 2011.