© CJ Mingolelli,
2001-2010
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| | The Materials Page |
"The media you want to sculpt with is simply raw form,
the art is the object you create."
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Sculpture pictured (Arthur 1) is 1/10th life-size. The material is clay with grog (architectural), and clay without grog (special buff) for detail work.
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If you remember this rough and simple statement, you can master any media - without hesitation or anxiety.
My media of choice is terra cotta clay. I've worked with wood, stone, plastics, plaster, and wax (and even 2 dimensional art), and have found clay to be my favorite. Clay or putty-type raw materials offer a more forgiving way to sculpt. Unlike hard materials, clay is very malleable, and the volume or density of the sculpture can be changed at any time during it's wet period. Change can be very spontaneous. Clay can also be left to dry, stand for years, and then revived to a wet state which can once more be reworked or finished.
There are many types of materials out there to work with, here are a few of the most common and readily available (through an art supply store or dealer):
- Clay - comes in a various degrees of consistency - fine or smooth clays such as porcelain types, through to architectural types which are heavy in grog content. Grog is a ground form of processed clay which resembles sand or ground up concrete, and is excellent for strength. Fine clays or clays with less grog are easier to use when striving for detailed works of art.
- Plasteline Clay - a clay form with a petroleum base. This clay is used mainly for those who wish to sculpt and then make a mold of the sculpture for reproduction. The ease of use is the best feature of this clay.
- Wax - most waxes come in blocks, and when heated turn liquid. Wax is most often used as a mediary in sculpting. This process is described as follows - the sculpture is created using wax, a mold is created around the sculpture (leaving escape holes for the next process), and finally the mold (with the wax sculpture inside) is used to create the final sculpture by pouring molten metal (bronze is the preference, but could be any metal) in the mold. As the molten metal is poured in, the wax melts or evaporates, and any remnants evacuate through the escape holes. Once metal is seen through the escape holes, the sculpture is complete. After cooling, the mold can be broken, and the casting is revealed. This casting is the sculpture.
- Stone - soapstone, sandstone, marble, granite, are the most commonly used in stone sculpture. With stone, density is key to the degree of ease or difficulty in working with it.
- Wood - balsa, pine, ash, oak, teak, ironwood are the basics, again, density is key to the degree of ease or difficulty in working with it.
- Metal - although most sculptors work with it in it's solid state, it can be worked while in a liquid or any intermediate state. It can be combined through all the various states as well. Some are easier to work with than others, because turning points of some metals are not visible until they vitrify.
- New & Creative Materials - Polymers, combinations, and other newer media are becoming very popular. These materials are great for larger and lighter works of art. My favorite is Epoxy Plaster, which is more commonly called "Bondo." Extreme care should be taken regarding exposure in any way to these types of products.
There are many more types of materials out there, be creative, and try the different materials to see which ones you prefer over others.
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