Sculpting clothing. Any tips would be appreciated:)

[naylastar]

Hello.


My brain is bubbling with pony ideas. The one I want to get started on needs a skirt and I have no idea where to start. I know that there are wonderful artists here who do amazing sculpted clothing and they get it to look like actual fabric.


If anyone has any tips on this, it would be much appreciated because I don't even know where to start lol:)

[StrawberryMeadow]

Haven't done clothing on a pony yet but in general I have sculpted fabric things.


 If you want it to have texture, press a fabric into the clay (both sides) to get your pattern (eg. lace samples).


Depending on what medium you're using, roll a flat piece and then use a reference, be it a bit of fabric you have just roughly sat in the shape you're sculpting or a photo, and copy the folds.


 If you're using an air-drying clay make sure it's not too dry or it'll crack when you put the folds in, most like to be worked with water. If it's a more sticky blend let it dry a little after being rolled so it'll keep its shape when you mold it.


just my tiny brain remembering things!   Hope it helps at least a little!

[kCherry]

The best advice I can give you is to practice first (before you sit down to do the actual custom itself) and try getting the right thickness. Sculpted clothes that are too thick generally look bulky; too thin and it's harder to get that nice fabric, uniform look.

I hope that made sense! I also have to echo Strawberries advice, if you can roll the clay you'll find it much easier to work with.

Good luck and have fun!!

[creampuf]

For inspiration and some fun and some advice through the thread check out this epic WIP from PoniesYeah!

http://mlparena.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=276051/postdays=0/postorder=asc/start=0.html

[Maniah]

That is some beautiful stuff... I wish I could figure out how to do fabric like that.. Whenever I try to roll out my apoxie though, it sticks to whatever I use. >.< I wind up having to put it between plastic trash bags and then I get seams from the plastic.

[naylastar]

That is some beautiful stuff... I wish I could figure out how to do fabric like that.. Whenever I try to roll out my apoxie though, it sticks to whatever I use. >.< I wind up having to put it between plastic trash bags and then I get seams from the plastic.

This sounds like a good idea. Do you think cling film would be any good? I'm thinking it's so thin that any creases could just be smoothed out.

[NoDivision]

I roll my apoxie out on parchment or wax paper and then when the apoxie starts to cure a bit it peels off easily

[JoshsPonyPrincess]

You can also use baby powder on whatever you are rolling it out with and it won't stick

[PurpleTracy]

I was following PoniesYeah WIP too. Totally AMAZING sculpted clothes. Anybody has seen the final result?
And Thanks a lot for the advice, very useful!!

[okiegurl1981]

I roll my clay out between two sheets of wax paper.  It doesn't stick, and no fold lines like with plastic cling.  I'll start with one long sheet of clay, and then work the folds into it.  Of course, practice makes perfect!  Another good tip is to work in layers.  It will take me several weeks (or months I'm slow going with sculpting)  to finish a piece with sculpted clothing, because I do everything in layers.  Also, take a pencil and lightly sketch the lines on the pony where the clothing will set. This helps me eyeball the placement, and make sure everything's going to look right. 

Wip shots of Sweet Lollita   You can see how I started with the corset and over the course of several months, built it up from there.
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Finished Pony
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[naylastar]

Wow those pics are amazing:) Thanks for the advice everyone, it's much appreciated:)

[Maniah]

Okiegurl, did you pop her headband off or rehair around it? And how stiff would you say the apoxie was when you made her ruffles? She is adorable! And such tiny cupcakes!

[okiegurl1981]

Thanks, Maniah.   Nope, I rehaired around the headband,and I usually let the apoxie sit for about 15 or 20 mins.  I want it stiff enough to hold the ruffles, but not so stiff that it's going to crack on me.

[Maniah]

I took the advice given here, plus a little bit elsewhere and managed to finish the mantle of the duster on my Harry Dresden Pony. I think the thing that helped me the most was using lotion as someone else had suggested elsewhere. It made it so much easier to keep the apoxie from sticking to my fingers and I was able to arrange it on the pony easily. When I had used water before, the clay would just get even more sticky.
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And since I had some left over, I decided to try making a flower. Thats what the little rose is for. No special reason for it though.

[naylastar]

Maniah that looks amazing, you need to post when you finish as well:)