10 Crafty Techniques For At-Home Sculpting

Many people find themselves looking for an artisitc outlit during these times, and home-built sculptures are an excellent way to undertake an artistic endeavor without needing tons of niche artistic supplies.  For those people who want to create sculptures at home, here are some of the most useful crafty techniques to help you make your own unique and vibrant work of art.

1) Use What You Have

Sculptures are a very vague genre of artistic creations, and modern sculptures can reflect that well.  Some sculptures are made by shaping clay or chiseling stone, but the beauty of sculpture is that they can be made from just about anything.  Find whatever unneeded supplies you have at home in large quantities and use those.  There are amazing sculptures made from bottle caps, corks, paper clips, clothespins, and so much more.  You can even venture outside and grab fallen leaves or random pebbles.  Use whatever you want, but be sure that you have a plentiful supply of that material.  You won’t want to run out of your artistic medium half-way through the sculpture!

2) Folding Paper

An excellent starting place for beginning sculptures is with paper.  Instead of recycling old documents or junk mail, save it and put it to good use.  One crafty technique is to fold paper into small geometric shapes, over and over again.  Aim for shapes like cubes or pyramids, which are relatively simple to fold, while also being structurally stable.  Then you can use these small pieces as a building block to make a larger shape.  You can use glue to stick them together or find ways for the folds to interconnect.  Just be careful when you use paper since paper sculptures can’t support much weight.  Plan it carefully!

3) Abstract/Geometric Shapes

There is no definition of what a sculpture should be.  Making a physically realistic object is challenging, so a good place to start is with abstract sculptures.  Try making a sculpture that is a geometric shape, irregular or otherwise.  You can take inspiration from real-world things, but don’t limit your sculpture and force it to be something.  Starting abstract is a good way to learn crafty techniques and important skills in regards to sculpture, and just gain confidence in general.  Learn your medium well, and then you can try something more complicated.

4) Nature

If you feel skilled enough to try a sculpture based on something in reality, a great source of inspiration is nature.  It can be challenging to decide what exactly your artistic endeavor will be based on, so just try looking out for plants and animals that surround us.  You could even attempt to make a scene, with the environment and the creatures that inhabit it.

5) Measurements

One incredibly important tool for any artistic creation is to remember to measure your creation properly.  A simple ruler does the trick well, just keep your point of reference.  Knowing the dimensions of what you are creating is the key to making it recognizable and realistic.  Many artists will hold out a pencil to use as a measuring tool.  You don’t need to use precise units of measurement; just know the relative lengths between different aspects.  A common measuring trick for faces is that, on average, your two eyes are separated by the width of a third hypothetical eye.  Use comparative measurements like those, and be as precise as possible.

6) Colors

Paying attention to color is another crafty technique most artists should remember.  Be aware of the colors you have available, and the colors you are attempting to depict.  It can be helpful to pick a palette beforehand, using a simple sketch and a selection of colors that work well together.  To create a more peaceful, harmonious atmosphere, you will want to use similar colors.  Contradicting colors, on the other hand, creates a dynamic, energetic image.  A great way to draw attention to one spot is to use a splash of bright color in one area, while the rest of the color palette is dull and similar.

7) References

Many people feel the need to work without using a reference to what they are trying to recreate, but any successful artist will tell you that you need to use a reference.  Find a simple image you can keep around your workspace and refer to casually.  Memories can be unreliable, especially for smaller details, so relying on memory usually will lead your sculpture astray.

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8) Framework

Depending on your medium of choice, a frame can be incredibly important.  Most clay-based sculptures require a framework of thick metal wiring just so the clay does not collapse.  Clay is not a weight-bearing medium, but many other choices will need similar help with stability.  Set up a sturdy base for your sculpture before you start.  This additionally gives you the benefit of knowing the general shape that your sculpture will be, making it easier to visualize in a three-dimensional space.  Make a dependable base work for your sculpture, and you’ll have something to rely on throughout the entire process.

9) Big to Small

Another crafty sculpting technique is how you progress when building your model.  It is always best to start with the largest sections first, and slowly progress smaller and smaller.  No one wants to make the mistake of finally finishing a detailed area, only to realize the entire area wasn’t secure or designed poorly.  Starting large gives you a chance to mess up a little without ruining any of your hard work.

10) Clay

Clay is the most common and essential material for sculpting.  Try it out for your own sculpting endeavors.  There are even recipes for making clay at home, usually involving corn starch, cold water, and salt.  Clay is extremely flexible, allowing for fine details, a myriad of textures, and more.  Clay is a unique molding material, so any sculptor should give it a shot.  Remember to keep your clay fresh, use water to make it malleable and soft, and keep it out of the heat so it doesn’t dry.

What sculptures are you making at home?  Let us know in the comments!

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