Thank you!

We're so glad you found the video helpful!

Another great question, Paul! And another one that's not a straight forward answer, but I will say that Type trumps Technique. Here is a scenario I see a lot with artists: beginners purchase lower quality materials because they don't want to spend the money when they aren't "good enough" yet, but it almost always causes more trouble in the learning process than the penny pinching is worth because lower quality materials don't work as well as high-quality ones. At some point, when an artist has been working in the same medium for decades and has gained extreme proficiency, then yes, they can use some poor quality ingredients to make great things because they have the working knowledge and expertise to be able to manipulate the materials into doing what they want them to do. But so often, I see beginning students looking at those very specific examples and getting frustrated with themselves ("if they can do it with poor quality materials then I should be able to also") which often leads to frustration and disappointment. You can't win the Indie 500 with an '89 Civic. Better quality materials will get you much closer to the finish line with a minimal amount of effort--the rest of it is dedication and perseverance. If you need suggestions on clay types to use, check out our post about it here: www.beginnersschool.com/2015/05/04/sculpture-essentials/ or our Amazon list: a.co/9bMZHmD Good luck with your sculpting!

Thank you! You can check out our recommendation list on our website for more info on tools and materials: www.beginnersschool.com/2015/05/04/sculpture-essentials/ Hope this helps!

For smaller sculpts, I use dental tools and homemade tools. For larger sculpts, I use loop tools available at most ceramic supply or hobby shops. This one I use daily: www.beginnersschool.com/2015/05/04/sculpture-essentials/#loop -Kent

@@BeginnersSchool Thanks so much!

This is an oil-based clay and will remain soft forever. If you want a clay that will harden, you can use an air-drying clay (from an art supply store) or you can make a mold of your finished sculpture and cast it in a material that will harden, like plaster or resin. We have some tutorial videos for mold-making, so check those out if you're interested in going that route!

Oh wow, this is quite the question! Well, there are several factors involved: 1) the cost of the materials, 2) your time, and 3) demand. As a basic rule of thumb, you'll want to cover the cost of your materials by double (so if you spent $25 on materials, you'll add $50 to your selling price). Then think about how much you'd like to be paid per hour of your work (are you willing to do this for $2/hr? or $50/hr?) and calculate your time with your hourly rate (it took you 4 hours at $10/hr so add $40 to your selling price). The last factor is a bit trickier to determine, but essentially it comes down to what it is you're selling (a portrait of yourself is likely to have a much smaller audience than say, a horse sculpture), what the market is like where you live (for example San Francisco has much higher prices than a town in rural Washington state), and where you plan to sell (a church bazaar? online? a gallery downtown?). My best advice is to take a look at what other artists with a similar look/product in your area are selling at. If you're selling online, remember to factor in things like shipping costs and materials. I hope this helps! It's obviously a very condensed discussion on the topic of pricing, but I hope it gives you some insight. Let me know if you have additional questions and GOOD LUCK out there! OH, this is perhaps the most important tip: DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED if you don't sell or if you don't sell out. It's very difficult to sell original artwork. If you do sell, don't be too sad to see it go! Making art is a labor of love and we pour so much of ourselves into the pieces we make that it all becomes a very personal process. Learn to love the process then let it go and continue your journey as an artist.

Cool! Didn't know that--thanks for sharing!

yo yo Mr. Clean multipurpose cleaner works. Never use rubbing alcohol for this type of clay.

Thank you for the feedback. We'll work on that in upcoming videos! We will have a female sculpt soon--stay tuned!

Check out the lessons on our website! Www.BeginnersSchool.com!

Xindy, you cannot get good at sculpture without knowing the anatomy, so this is fantastic information for all portrait artwork. and, it's generously given free. :)