"The Bride" Tutorial Part 1

**Lauriebeast** · 07-02-2007,05:47 PM

Let me start by saying what an amazing, creative adventure this sculpt turned out to be for me. This is my first anatomically correct sculpt and I learned mostly by looking at pics of faces. I sincerely hope the information provided here will help you with your sculpting project.

I started with a styrofoam wighead and cut out pockets in the eye area and cut off the mouth, chin, and neck with a small knife. I made the eyes using 1" wooden balls purchased at a craft store. Then I drove a 2" finishing nail into the ball for ease of handling. Next, the balls were painted white and when dry, I glued some printed irises downloaded from this site:

http://www.hauntershangout.com/home/easyeyes.asp

When applying the cut out irises, be sure to cut 3 or 4 slits from the outside to the pupil. This is necessary so that the prints lay flat against the round surface. First apply some watered down glue or use paper applique glue to the surface of the ball where you want. I used a small paintbrush to do this. Then I pick up the printed iris with the brush which now has glue on it and place it on the ball being careful not to tear or crease it. Then add a bit more glue and smooth it over the print. Now use the handle of the brush to gently press all the edges down sliding it from the center out. Set this aside to dry. Next a layer of clear nail polish was applied which not only adds shine, it also adds protection from all the smears that would come from the mache and paints. I just stuck the nails into a piece of scrap styrofoam.

For the teeth, I used an impression of my own made for me by my dentist. You can make your own teeth by purchasing the items found here:

http://www.monstermakers.com/cgi-bin...TION=NEXT+PAGE

I used the tooth acrylic and made a copy of my teeth from the plaster mold the DDS gave me. I didn't bother with the gum acrylic because I wasn't going to wear these. I just used an air dry clay for the gums.

Next, I lengthened her neck by wadding up some newspaper and taping it to the bottom of the head. I also added that piece of neck that I had previously cut off to the bottom of this extension with masking tape.

Next, I started applying an instant mache product called Celluclay purchased at Michael's Craft Store. The Celluclay is mixed with water and produces a textured clay- like medium. I basically covered the entire head with a layer of this at about 1/4" thick. Since this stuff is pretty sticky, I kept dipping my fingers in water as I was working with it. Once that dried overnight, I added a bit more to define where her nose would be and added some more to the neck and forehead area as well as the temples and cheekbones. Then I tested the teeth for fit and added a chin.

I had to remove the chin and later reset the teeth because I had not set the bottom ones in at the correct angle. Next I started adding another product called Paperclay also purchased at Michaels. This is what helps to give her skin such a smooth surface and sands beautifully with drywall sanding screen. All her features will now be done with Paperclay. I like to put the eyes in now but they're not glued in...they just stay in place because of the size of the opening. I have approx. 15 coats of polish on the eyes added after I detailed with different colors using a teeny tiny brush with the polish applied after each color change. This was done over the several weeks this sculpt took to make.

(Note) See Part 2 for the next steps