A Note About Propping and Baking

Hi everyone! It is getting cold here again and we are getting ready for a heavy snow storm in the next couple days...hmmm...does that mean I will get to stay home and clay?



A question was brought to my attention about something seen but not mentioned in the dragon tutorial...paper towel wads. When sculpting one of these long neck (and tail) creatures it is a good idea to use little wads of tissue, polyfil, paper towel or rolled up card stock to prop areas as you work. If you want that tail raised up or a foot (look at the green dragon in group photo, he has a foot up in the air and tail) it isn't just going to stay there because you want it to. While sculpting it might hold that lovely pose but once that critter goes in the sauna there is a good chance it will fall/break off. For anyone not familiar with the workings of polymer it gets super soft before it gets hard. While baking the piece the heat does what magic it needs to do for the clay to set up and become nice and hard when cool. However, while it is hot it is super, super soft and without proper "prop" raised and heavy pieces may break off. I have lost a head or two do to neglegent propping. So, take an extra minute and give him some good support under the chin, any where a tail is raised or lifted feet. A dragon sitting up on his back legs is a whole 'nother tutorial. Then we get into weighting and all kinds of crazy stuff! So for now let's just remember little wads of paper towel are our friends!