STEPS TO SCULPTING A PORTRAIT IN CLAY HEAD

First go through and take as many measurements as you can of the parts of your head with a set of calipers.

Try to measure, for the first set, to the bone. Later sets of measurements should account for flesh and hair.

You should also gather a collection of photographs of your model – even if they are going to be present for most of your modeling time

Create an armature to build the clay onto. For a smaller head this can simply be a ½” pipe mounted onto a board. The pipe should be tall enough that it will reach to the height of the eyes.

Apply clay to your armature, make certain that the clay is compacted tightly with a paddle. You should strive to form a basic head shape, which is similar to an egg with the point at the chin. Make sure that the proportions of the vertical and horizontal axis are correct.

Use your photographs to check the shape of your head. If the photo in the background were the person being sculpted, you would widen the cheekbone and make the jaw narrower.

Check your profile as well. This model, for example has a forehead that is slanted more than the clay sculpture.

If in the pose of the subject the head is vertical, use a carpenters square to create a vertical line in the center of the face.

If in the pose of the subject the head is vertical, use a level to create a horizontal line in the center of the face.

This will give you the locations for placing the eyes and other features. In measuring the eyes, remember that their usually is an eye between your eyes.

Use calipers to mark out the location and size of the eye sockets. Once the eye sockets are marked, you should also mark the location for the bottom of the nose and center of the mouth.

Once the eye sockets are marked, you should also mark the location for the bottom of the nose and center of the mouth.

Use a tool to scoop out the eye sockets.

Next measure, mark and cut out the space behind the jaw. Compare with the model to get the right angle on the back and bottom of the jawbone.

There is a depression just below the forehead at the top of the nose in most people. Pinch this out, comparing with the photographs. There is also a depression on either side of the nose starting at the interior corner of each eye socket and angling slightly outward.

To Be Continued