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  • #989194
    eatpaint
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        I want to make a human head with clay and I was wondering if I could use a Styrofoam manikin head for the base?
        Maria

        #1152112

        You could, but if the piece were fired in an electric kiln with the styrofoam left in, the fumes would be horrendous and maybe hazardous. Also, as water based clay shrinks when drying, it would probably cause cracks to form. You could cut the head in half vertically behind the ears before it got dry and remove the styrofoam and slip (liquid clay) the halves together, touch it up and then fire it when dry.
        The styrofoam base would also work with non-hardening clay that you would use to make the head and then do a plaster mold to later cast the head in clay. But that’s another process.
        George

        #1152109
        eatpaint
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            THanks for the info!!!! I don’t want to use a kiln so I’ll try and do the non drying clay path. Thanks again!maria

            #1152102
            ArtsyLynda
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                Plastilene clay over Styrofoam is how digital enlargements are made – the Styrofoam is fun to work with and gives a great result, BUT these pieces are never fired or hardened. Molds are made on them instead, and then the clay and Styrofoam are recycled.

                #1152110
                eatpaint
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                    Thank you! Way cool! I know of that type of clay so I will try it. If it airdries over the styromfoam is that okay? if so what’s its’ shelf life?

                    #1152106
                    Heidi Maiers
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                        If you use plasteline, there is no “shelf life”. That stuff stays as-is forever it would seem. Have made several heads filled with styrofoam balls and blocks sitting around my studio that I haven’t torn down yet, years after I’ve molded them. Still can be reworked at any time if I wanted.
                        Wouldn’t use styrofoam with ceramic clay – crumpled up newspapaer works swell, provides a little “give” so the piece doesn’t crack, and if you choose to fire, will burn out. With polymer clay, small pieces can be made around crumpled up aluminum foil. Never used any “air dry” types of clay, so can’t comment on that.

                        Portraits in Clay website [FONT=Book Antiqua] Heidi Maiers

                        #1152105

                        Kiln fired…think balloon…leave hole somewhere to have item breathe while firing.

                        #1152107
                        Rob Hendriks
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                            Consider also the of use of blue foam.It has more density then styrofoam, it is often use for sculpture.I use blue foam in combination with liquid air dry clay to make reliefs.A good combination is also styrofoam and paper maché.

                            #1152103
                            ArtsyLynda
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                                What is blue foam? The Styrofoam I’ve seen used under clay is blue insulation board, very fine particles, not like Styrofoam cups. I use blue insulation board for lots of things.

                                #1152108
                                Rob Hendriks
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                                    Lynda,the blue foam I use, and the isolation board you use is the same product I think;

                                    http://www.universalconstructionfoam.com/products/styrofoam-eps-sheets/index.php

                                    It is a great substance for divers sculpture and mold making purpose.

                                    #1152104
                                    ArtsyLynda
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                                        Yup, the big blocks on the left on that page are what my life-size horse was carved from (several of them glued together, actually). Thanks for the link!

                                        #1152111
                                        Steve Orin
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                                            ApoxySculpt works well over all the foams cuz its water soluable ( no harse solvent) yet catalyzed – parts A & B. Gets really hard. I’ve done such many times. Often evacuate the foam after a shell is made.

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