The Inspiration to Sculpt

Albert Jumps Into the Sea - Polymer Clay 16cm high x 4 cm wide

I have always been fascinated by the idea that a primarily 2d artist can transform their skills, and visions into 3d. I guess there are a few of the old artists that applied both skills at once - but today I don’t know but only a few artists that play on both sides. I may be wrong. In the last few months I have re-acquainted myself with 3D hand building. Something I had done in a couple of courses, but utilising only traditional fired clays and glazes. I loved doing this with clay, and taking those courses, but it got to the point I pretty well rage-quit due to the course host cramming way too many items into the kiln to be fired, and having a good percentage of them break. I recall showing up after a firing session with things destroyed , or finding pieces missing, and when I asked about them they would reply oh they broke - someone dropped it when taking it out of the kiln. So I pretty much gave up on traditional clay, and just forgot about it. Problem was I loved building in 3D. I became fascinated with the practice of utilising my visual drawing and painting skills and having them transformed into real-life objects. It’s a magical experience for me, and it drew me back into finding a way I could completely control a refreshed practice of sculpting where I was the only hand that could, or would guide my fate to the final results. So I chose 2 mediums that work for me - but both in very different ways. First is your standard polymer clay bake in the oven. Sculpey is my polymer of choice. Second is Fimo’s version or air-dry clay. The air dry is much more messy, but way more forgiving when it comes to finishing. It’s easier to sand, file, and build upon, and has a very natural kind of workflow as-per traditional clay - even to the point of being able to rebag it with a wet rag to keep it workable in future sessions. But the polymer is more detailed and pliable. I like both and having two to switch back and forth makes for things not getting repetitive.The above is Polymer. Nice and expressive with some good imperfections and quirks. I’m doing a series of these - both full figures and just head sculpts of people and maybe a few birds for variety. But mostly I will be sticking to people. I also plan to do 3D versions of my Puppet Portrait painting series. Shortly after.