The Sculptor's Stand - Page 20

**ArtsyLynda** · #**286** 01-19-2012, 02:36 PM

Thanks - to me the word "ceramic" means those things you buy as greenware and put glazes on. My mother did that as a hobby in her later years (not that her later years were that "late" - she died when she was only 53). I can see why you'd only call red clay pieces "terra cotta" and porcelain ones "porcelain." There should be a better word for fired clay fine art pieces! We need to invent one!!!

**sculpturedolls** · #**287** 01-19-2012, 02:43 PM

Great! You are getting to play, no fair! JK I've wanted to sculpt my new kitty, Tazzy, for some time. Have lots of fun and post please!

Cone 5/6 is actually pretty hot. I'd call it a midrange firing temp or even a high fire. When you have low fire, that's usually for cones that are Cone 04/06 (up to Cone 2). Of course china paint and overglaze firings are cooler than that at a range of Cone 015-020. Glass firing are around cone 22 if I recall correctly.

Enjoy your sculpting! Remember to put a black bag down first, then your wod of clay on that (oh, have a board underneath the black bag so that you can move the sculpt around when you want to ). Then sculpt right on top of the bags surface. When you are done for the night, just pull the bag straight up and tie with a twistie above the sculpt.

**ArtsyLynda** · #**288** 01-19-2012, 03:01 PM

What a good idea! I bought some black bags today so I could clean out my closet - I'll take some of them down to the studio! I use the house studio (the painting studio) for water base clay to keep the clay dust away from my plastilene and so I won't use the water based tools for the plastilene and vice-versa. They're much happier if you keep the tools with their "own kind" LOL.

Guess I got confused over what she told me was high versus low fire - it's cone 5-6 on the bag anyway. I told her some of the pieces I make may be used outdoors, so that's probably why she sold me the higher-fired clay. I remember her saying those would be best outdoors.

**ArtsyLynda** · #**289** 01-20-2012, 08:28 AM

I used to make tiles on pieces of drywall so they'd stay flat. Dunno if I have any. I have some foam core - should I use that? Gotta find something to be a good working surface. And retrieve my tools from the sculpting studio where I took them to store. Last night John carried the clay downstairs for me and dragged my worktable out from the wall so I can walk all the way around it. The light's better in the middle of the room than in the corner where the table was. Time to clean that studio up a bit - too many things have been dragged out (the room is rarely used) and not put away since I did a project down there. I covered the table with a sheet of plastic and taped it in place and a black bag in place to wrap around the sculpture. The bag is HUGE (39 gallons!) because I bought them to put clothes in when I clean out my closet!! LOL. It's a bit of overkill for the sculpture, I suppose. I've collected pictures for reference and am getting fired up to get back to work - yay!

**sculpturedolls** · #**290** 01-20-2012, 11:33 AM

Sometimes a big bag is overkill but you never know how big you might go.

You have room for expansion.

I just use a piece of plywood cut in a square and apply duck tape across the top of it. Since the black bag is over the top of it, it shouldn't get too much moisture on it that would cause mold.

I've heard of drywall used or a vat of plaster underneath a sculpt. I don't use anything but if I was to do a lot of reliefs, I think it would be good to experiment with it and see the benefits of using it.

Are you going to do Jared or a horse relief?

**ArtsyLynda** · #**291** 01-20-2012, 11:46 AM

The lady who taught me to sculpt told me to use drywall under water-based clay to support it while it's wet and to help it dry out more evenly, since the gypsum would draw the moisture to some extent, so I've always done that. I couldn't find any in the workshop, so I have a couple of pieces of wood to use - one a circle with a Formica top and the other just a board I've used to make sculptures. I wondered how to seal it - I was going to use varnish. Duct tape's a lot easier, thanks for the tip! And yeah,I should get smaller black bags. I have white bags we use for the kitchen trash - perhaps those would be better (they have drawstrings like the black ones do)

I don't know what I'm gonna do yet. While going through pictures and just thinking about it, a male lion's face keeps getting into my imagination. That round board might be used for that. I don't want it to look like a lion's head hanging on a wall, but I can see it with the mane spread out all around it (I'm good at hair and enjoy doing it) . . . . I have several ideas for Jared and horses too and lots of reference pics to go by.

I know two artists who build 3-d horses on vessels. One builds a box of clay and then puts the horses on top with their legs as reliefs on the sides, or no legs at all. The other builds bowls and makes 3-D horses around the top or on the side. I love the idea, but I don't want them fussing at me for copying them. Any ideas on how to use the idea without copying them?? It would be nice to be able to sculpt a horse without legs, like the one who does them on boxes does!

**ArtsyLynda** · #**292** 01-23-2012, 03:45 PM

I've done the lion relief and plan to do a horse relief this afternoon. Love how fast water-based clay works, and its characteristics keep me from working too tightly (have to wait for it to harden to get obsessive about it, and I may just skip the "obsessive" step with these little projects, I dunno)

Found an interesting guy on FB - actually, he contacted me and wanted to "friend" me. His name's Chris Dixon and he's in FL (not near Wellington, unfortunately, or I'd visit him while we're down there to visit our daughter! He's on the Gulf coast instead). He does amazing work of his own, and he casts epoxy materials that can be outdoor displays! And he casts color into the outer layers - it's an interesting process, from what I've read of it. Wish I could visit him. Maybe I can talk John into a longer trip to FL??? Anyway, here's his website link (this link goes to the page talking about these epoxy materials). He sells his materials to others and also casts for others, so I've already asked him for a price on the lion just to get an idea what he charges.

Here's his link: http://www.chrisdixonstudios.com/create.htm

**sculpturedolls** · #**293** 01-23-2012, 07:25 PM

I checked out the link and the product sounds interesting. What do you think the differences are between his product and casting in something like hydrostone which I thought was for outdoor use too?

To send him your mold and have him do the work, it then could make the price of your pieces that you want to be really affordable, end up being more costly. Could you pour in hydrostone for possibly cheaper and do it yourself?

But if his product has some special feature to it that makes them look better than that might be the deal breaker.

Thanks for sharing the link.

**ArtsyLynda** · #**294** 01-23-2012, 11:23 PM

His products have beautiful finishes - the ones I've looked at on his site anyway. I just sent you an email with a reply he sent to a chat we have going on FB talking about some of the finishes he offers. The thing about me doing it in hydrostone myself is that I have asthma and it's triggered by dust. I've read some stuff about working with hydrostone and I'm frankly afraid of it. If I sand it or perhaps when I cast it, it could cause me health problems, so I'm once again looking for other people to cast things for me. My other thought for these reliefs was for me to just push clay into rubber molds I make on the raw clay piece (so if it blows up in the kiln, I can still produce the piece) and fire those to sell. There shouldn't be much finishing required if I make the molds well, and I've never sanded clay pieces - I don't like the look. I'll burnish them when they're leather-hard, but I leave them there. I like the less perfect look of not sanding them, I guess.

**sculpturedolls** · #**295** 01-28-2012, 09:56 PM

Lynda- Yes, do all to protect your health so you can keep sculpting! One thing I have heard of is a system where you wear a mask and have a tube attached that is placed outdoors where there is fresh air. I was considering using this for doing wax pours since they are so smelly.

Just wanted to share a project I saw on Kickstarter that was funded really well: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...igre-me-to-you

People are still doing well with that fundraiser site. But this guy has a great video and good rewards- two keys to success.

**ArtsyLynda** · #**296** 01-28-2012, 10:41 PM

I'll have to look at that video later. My face is so swollen after my sinus surgery that I can't wear my glasses. I can make out words, but videos would be a challenge.

I've heard Kickstarter can be a great way to go - dunno that I would ever have the nerve to go that route. I'll check it out when the swelling goes down.

(Did I tell you I was having my deviated septum operated on? It was done yesterday - Friday. I'm doing well, but my poor nose is sooooo swollen, wearing glasses just isn't an option right now. Argh . . . and I'm so nearsighted!)

**sculpturedolls** · #**297** 01-29-2012, 06:29 PM

Surgery= no fun at all. Hope you're feeling better by today.

About Kickstarter, don't know if I would ever do it either but I like to watch and see good success stories. And it has to be just the right thing for people that have a huge dream and need backers.

**ArtsyLynda** · #**298** 01-29-2012, 06:50 PM

Not really feeling better today - the sinuses don't hurt, but I'm pretty much living with a massive headache. Been sleeping a lot today. Seeing the dr tomorrow supposedly to get the packing out. Sure hope it's all good - it would be nice to be able to breathe through my nose again!

**sculpturedolls** · #**299** 01-29-2012, 10:06 PM

Owie..... feel better soon. Sure hope the surgery was successful and that the headache goes away

**ArtsyLynda** · #**300** 01-30-2012, 08:46 AM

Thanks - headache got better (still there but not so bad) overnight, so that's an improvement. The packing comes out today - hopefully I'll be a lot more comfortable after that . . .

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