Son and I are modelling in air-dry clay (not for gaming/casting purposes) and I was wondering if anyone here has any tips.

Would it be best to make any model in as few bits as possible, or to model each part and then stick together. For instance I'm thinking 18th cent boots with turn over and trousers tucked in (for a space pirate) - would it be easier to make the boots and put the legs on top (maybe in a little socket) or to make the basic leg and stick bits over.

That sort of thing

Hi LH.

I've got a book called "Modelling the figure in clay"......Bought YEARS ago
Sculptor's name is Bruno Lucchesi.....Text and photo's by Margit Malmstrom.

He starts with a fairly hefty armature....As the figure(s) look to be around the 2 foot tall mark.
I simply bought it as 'a sculptor's guide to anatomy.

If you were to use his method you'd be making the figure as a 'one piece'.

It's very good , but only from an anatomy perspective....
Bloke's a wonderful sculptor......And he takes you from the armature to a wonderful skeleton......Then he starts adding tendons and muscles.....finally ending up putting a skin on the figure.

How big are you and your son intending your model to be ?

Cheers - Phil.

Yeah - not sure we are going THAT sort of thing.

Both kids are into 3d CGI - Tried to get the older one to do the clay as portfolio pieces for Uni applications, but he has Aspergers, so has trouble thinking outside the box, as it were.  The younger one then started to use the clay I bought, maybe he can use towards his FE app.

Really its so they can stick it in a portfolio to show they appreciate real3d - what Unis and colleges look for with cgi courses ISN'T tech skills (its just a programme - they change every so often - they can teach that) but the appreciation of how things look.  I'd like to do a GW style/size figure to try and inspie Aspie Boy (long story but he is the world's only Marxist Space Pirate)

If you let the air-dry clay dry can you damp the dried clay to add more clay?

What about using the coloured clay that you put in the oven? You could use space marine uniform colours and would have longer to work on your sculpts.