Sculpting a Human Skull in Clay_part-1

Last time, my first Skull sculpting was a 2" clay sculpture of a Skull that I held in my hand all the time I worked on it. The clay stayed soft due to the warmth of my hands and it was hard to work on and add details.
With this second Skull sculpture, I'm using PVC pipes as Armature that is mounted on a wooden base and I'm making it a bit larger this time.

[@Raisonneart]

I've been watching sculpture in clay videos for a long long time and believe me, this(these) are some of the best of all. Thank you 3DworlD2 for sharing your work.

[@Molekularvernichter]

Excellent Work!!!

[@kereiamamdouh897]

Can I just say that I have a project in college and you have just saved me with all your skeleton and skull videos thank u very much 💖💖💖

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you for your comments. I’m glad the videos were helpful. Cheers

[@str3123]

Wow! Fantastic!

[@Liberty_Valance]

When I first wanted to sculpt, I started to watch a lot of sculpting videos that were available on the Internet, particularly KZbin! Then I started to buy books about drawing, sculpting and buy tutorial DVDs that artist had made. I even bought Computer programs that helped me learn to sculpt, like ZBrush, Blender etc. Meanwhile I was sculpting with wax candles, Bread dough, and modeling clay. Just get started and don't wait. :)

[@tinglesrosyrupeeland]

Very impressive!

[@HumbleVoyager]

Great work. I can't wait to see it finished.

[@Liberty_Valance]

lol... I did what you suggested and I really enjoyed watching the sculpting and listening to the song. Thanks for the heds up! :)

[@DrummerElliott]

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Wow, my comment is OLD. Crazy how time just flies by.

[@annasdolls1]

Thank you. Your way to sculpt is what i need, Thank you.

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you for your comments and suggestions! That is a great idea! I started to use foam as filler to conserve on clay and reduce weight. Love to see your sculpture when it's done.

[@GatorArtGal]

Another way to solve the weight problem (front heavy) I made a small satchel out of some scrap cloth and filled it with BB's, sewed it closed. works great and reusable!! BTW thanks for this video. working "along" with you. so far so good.

[@linneabeckman6543]

That was fun : ), on to part 2. Great video.

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you!

[@dillxdough]

That is so clever keeping the clay warm, ugh I feel so dumb I didn't think of a basking lamp!

[@Liberty_Valance]

lol... I think I saw this method on KZbin myself. I just love KZbin! :)

[@nikolasdemetriou9922]

I want to do a replica of that to use it for halloween even if in cyprus there is no such thing, i do celebrate it... Nice job and very well done Keep up the good work

[@robertyada]

Amazing!

[@Liberty_Valance]

If you are gentle with the sculpture. The glue only gives it a slight protection against accidental rub off. the clay under the glue is still soft.

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you for your comments! I'm sorry for the late reply. Think of sculpting as drawing in space. Set your lights to create shadows on your sculpture. don't flood the sculpture with lights from every direction. Using your skills of drawing create different values of shade on the sculpture by adding or subtracting clay from the sculpture.

[@Sylviaknowles]

Very helpful. Im doing a project for halloween. Thank you for posting

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you! My sculptures were made either with air dry clay or oil based clay. Neither of them go in the kiln. I have seen videos on the KZbin showing how to fre bake able clay. The short of it is to have no air bubbles in the clay, howlow out the clay with no more than 1" thickness and using a tool like fork on the inside of the sculpture to poke indentation then fire it.

[@126shyhinata]

can you give some advise for not making it explode in a kiln btw u r amazing

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you! That thought has occurred to me as well. Yes, it is posible to carve out the clay from a block. I wasn't able to fined the video I saw on the KZbin long time ago, but I have seen a very skilled sculptor do that.

[@Liberty_Valance]

If you are going to use an oil based clay which stays soft for ever and is not fired, you can use any material for armature. For example: wood, cardboard, aluminum foil, paper, wires, pvc pipes or anything that holds shape. for more detailed sculpting I would recommend harder clay consistency. Lately I have been using Roma Plasilina #2. They also have harder and hardest #3 and #4.

[@Rostas]

You're amazing man. Love your videos! Very helpful and entertaining.

[@Liberty_Valance]

You are welcome! Looks like you knew what to do! :) Thank you for your comments! Would love to see your hard work.

[@Liberty_Valance]

I had people actually thanking me for not putting any music on my videos!

[@cdhouder]

Ok thanks! I put a moist towel over it it worked a bit as well but i think a plastic bag is better hehe. I finished the skull today and it doesn't look as good as yours but I like it ! Thanks for the vid :)

[@mebbhosaletanayvijay7115]

Nice video sir it is amazing

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you!

[@Liberty_Valance]

@DocWyldeCard Thanks for your encouraging words! I just love to sculpt and draw. I recently started oil painting. I'll make mistakes and I learn from my mistakes. :)

[@Liberty_Valance]

My very first clay sculptures were very primitive, but as time passed and I did more and more, they got better. Clay is forgiving. Wood is hard to carve and one cannot correct the flaws. Give it a try! :)

[@lowriderdaniel]

what material do you use for your sculping? I have a material but after 10 minutes, i can´t work again with this material. Awesome work :)

[@Liberty_Valance]

@cstrikemaan I don't remember exactly, but it took several hours to this point. Usually the sketching part goes pretty quick. As the details are added, works get slower and take many days and several hours a day.

[@Horis573]

nice use of the black back round

[@DocWyldeCard]

By the Emerald Eyes of Lady Luck! That is truly incredible. Where'd you learn to do this?

[@Liberty_Valance]

I guess you need to make some sort of hinge and sculpt the lower jaw separately to attach it to the upper part.

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you for your comments! Sorry for the late reply. You know wat they say, practice makes perfect. I'm not there yet, but I will keep trying. I recommend oil based clay to start with. They will not dry out. There are many brands and soft or hardness. I think this particular one was made from J-Mac Clay. A 10 lb slab cost around $33.00

[@AlexLoza]

Awesome work!!! Is this a 1/3, 1/2 scale or life size skull? What size are the PVC pipes?

[@simplelee92]

Man, thats inspiring.

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you! :)

[@Liberty_Valance]

Sculpt the lower jaw separately use 2 eye screws inserted in each side of the upper jaw, then insert a piece of wire that is bent in a L shape into each side of the lower jaw with half of the L buried in the clay an the other half exposed. Insert the exposed ends of the L shape wires into each eye screws you had in the upper jaw.

[@Liberty_Valance]

There are several clay consistency available; soft, medium, hard and extra hard. There are also special sculpting wax that are very hard and can be carved and if need be the wax can be melted or softened to add to sculpture.

[@DrummerElliott]

I don't get it... How come you don't have (at least!) thousands of views? Your sculptures are amazing!!

[@Liberty_Valance]

Nikolas Demetriou Thank you for your comments! :)

[@clayguy1]

Very cool.. are you going to add flesh?

[@felivanz]

you should do a video of the entire modeling (all parts) in one at ultra speed

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thanks for your comments! These videos were recorded for hours each day. I had to edit the videos and take some parts out and speed up what was edited. Talking during the sculpting would have been useless. :)

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thanks for your comment! :)... This was sculpted using oil based clay and it will not dry.

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you for your comments! I'm sorry for the late reply. Great idea, but unfortunately I don't have the time.

[@Liberty_Valance]

That would be interesting to see! :)

[@Liberty_Valance]

Yes, this is an oil Clay. I applied Elmer's Glue at the end. No molding or casting. Thanks for your kind comment. :)

[@sickly666]

Hi. Trying to learn to sculpt. Got any tips/tricks/advice?

[@anoldretiredelephant]

Awesome!

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you! :)

[@ulpics]

Isn't it easier to start with just one big glob of clay, and then start carving away at it? OR... is that a stupid question?! :) Great vid, btw.

[@bkboggy]

Very cool. Is there a reason why this is additive, rather than deductive?

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you for your comments! Usually working with clay is an additive method of sculpting. If one is working with stone or wood, they use subtraction method.

[@bkboggy]

3DworlD2 Cool, I didn't know that about clay. Thank you for a prompt reply. I was watching your other video series as well that used foam for the core (it's of the head that's your avatar here on KZbin)... any plans on posting the rest of the videos? It stops on #9 and I'd love to see the rest of the process. I watch your videos to help me fall asleep (I have a hard time falling asleep), since they're very relaxing. :) Hard to find great videos like yours.

[@Liberty_Valance]

bkboggy lol... I have been a little lazy and a little busy and didn't get to edit the last videos I have of that sculpture. I will soon upload the rest after editing the videos. I have also started on another portrait and it is almost ready. I will also upload those as well.

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you for your comments! I don't remember exactly how much this clay was, but I have checked Amazon not long ago for J-Mac Clay and it was like less than $4.00 a pond. This was an oil based clay that stays soft and will not harden, but to make a mould the clay doesn't have to be hard. Check the KZbin for how to make a mould for a sculpture.

[@zolmecb]

what clay would you recommend?

[@tate47ful]

I'm 50, my wife has finally convinced me i should try my hand at sculpting. she has seen some of my plaster and ceramics i carved on for fun and her and everyone she shows this to think the same. plus maybe a chance to supplement our income to. Not knowing anything technical about this, any study materials books or dvd's you recommend? and starting tools ?, thanks loved the video.

[@Liberty_Valance]

The half inch PVC pipe has a 21 mm outside diameter and the 45 degree PVC has a 28 mm outside diameter.

[@Liberty_Valance]

@alexlozaartist Thank you! I didn't measure it, but I would say about 1/2 actual size. The PVC pipes are 1/2".

[@Liberty_Valance]

@lowriderdaniel Thank you! I'm using an oil based clay. It will never dry.

[@guillan84]

Amazing

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you! :)

[@animexx9117]

Love from vietnam :v💪💪

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thanks

[@annielovescats6813]

Do you know how to make one of those but with the skull opening and closing Need it for school:/

[@webadage]

Nice! This is the first of your videos I've watched and I'm very impressed. I'm sure you tell this information somewhere but... what kind of clay are you working with?

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you! I think it was "J-Mac Clay" it is an oil based clay.

[@mikeakaport]

loved the video. any advice for an up and coming sculptor? was this process done by a specific style of sculpting?

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you! Use references either 3D or 2D images when you sculpt. Watch videos of sculpting others have done. I have many sculpting videos on my Channel that might help you. Try to sculpt every day if you can.

[@annielovescats6813]

Have any tips for how to make it open and close ?

[@JerichoPlaysGames]

With the 45 degree pvc pipe, what diameter is it in mm? thanks

[@Liberty_Valance]

@DrummerElliott I don't know. I feel like Cinderfella. I appreciate your kind words!

[@SNO3R]

What sort of clay is this?

[@kevingibranr3365]

how many kilograms of clay did you use for this skull? your sculpture and painting works was fantastic.

[@Liberty_Valance]

+Kevin Gibran Royhan Thank you for your comments! I think it was about 4 lbs.

[@TheCourtJester8]

When does it begin to look like skull during all part of this video? Because at first it was too flat.

[@cdhouder]

Hello! I'm trying to sculpt a skull as well with this vid for a reference :) It is the first time though that I sculpt something.. i've been busy for 2 hours now but I feel like i've done enough for today. Do you know how I could store my project the best way so I can continue tomorrow? =\ Thanks! :D

[@Liberty_Valance]

You are absolutely right! :)

[@Liberty_Valance]

@clayguy1 Thanks. Yes, I will eventually add flesh to it.

[@Liberty_Valance]

lol... That's cool! :)

[@AbuAdelArtist]

very nice  what clay did you use?

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thanks! I think I used J-Mac Clay. Check Amazon for it.

[@AbuAdelArtist]

3DworlD2 thank you very much ...

[@DjTokenMusic]

can i ask why you leave the skull so flat for so long? it seems like you waste alot of time on the facial bone structure before even having the proportion right.

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thanks! :)

[@thenunujournals]

Do you bake them? If so does the inner plastic melt?

[@Liberty_Valance]

This is an oil based clay and it is not baked. It stays soft always.

[@Liberty_Valance]

@HumbleVoyager Thank you!

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you! :)

[@artsculpture1024]

I am studying skulls now and making various sizes. I am creating molds, casting them and attaching them to my van, a new project.

[@Liberty_Valance]

Sounds interesting!

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you! That is a great idea! :)

[@miggitymaan]

How long did this one take to make?

[@miggitymaan]

what kind of clay do you use? van aaken?

[@Liberty_Valance]

Thank you for your comments! There are many places that you can get your materials from. You can buy many of the supplies from your local art supply store or from internet websites like "dickblick". they have the basic tool sets and the clay to get you started. Air dry clay is a good medium to start with, but they dry up quickly. If you think it will take you several weeks to finish a job get oil based clay like "J-Mac" from Amazon. get instructional DVDs from "Philippe Faraut". Cheers! :)

[@Liberty_Valance]

@Sukomoto00 KZbin videos have an Embed feature, feel free to use it in your forum.

[@Liberty_Valance]

I would recommend J-Mac Clay. I have seen it at Amazon at a very good price.

[@Liberty_Valance]

I don't remember the clay I used, but it was very similar to J-Mac Clay. It is an oil based clay that will stay soft and will not dry out. I think Amazon has the J-Mac Clay and it was a very good price for it, less than $4.00 a pond!

[@jaxv94]

nice vid also its good to know the different skull features between the Races to be more accurate :D Caucasians, Africans, mongoloids, and aboriginals

[@Liberty_Valance]

@ZombieNamedJosh lol... I know what you mean. To get started is the hardest part! ;)

[@Liberty_Valance]

@robertyada Thank you!

[@Liberty_Valance]

You are welcome! :) Cheers!

[@Liberty_Valance]

@Horis573 Yeah, I thought less distraction in the background would help consentrating on the sculpting. :)

[@Liberty_Valance]

I think this one was sculpted from an oil based clay called J-Mac. You can get it from Amazon internet store.

[@Liberty_Valance]

If you are using an air dry clay, spray water on it and then cover it with a plastic bag.

[@natashamadzadzavara1823]

what alternative clay can u useand what colour

[@Liberty_Valance]

Beside Tan color oil based clay, you can use Terracotta color or Green Gray color as well.

[@Liberty_Valance]

@KustomFu Yes! lol. Some parts were sped up even more!

[@ronnyschneider498]

ich grüsse was für ein material nehmen sie und kann mann human skull auch kaufen

[@iron883cd]

what kind of clay is that and where can i buy it thanks

[@Liberty_Valance]

Charly Dumeng I think it was J-Mac Clay and you can get it from Amazon.

[@iron883cd]

Thanks

[@yasminaahmed2055]

The material used for the work of the structure

[@Liberty_Valance]

For the armature, I used PVC pipes and the sculpting clay is an oil based clay called J-Mac.