Sculpting a bust with air dry clay… a FIRST attempt!! ✨ 

I think it dried too fast. Next time try putting a damp cloth and a piece of plastic loosely over it. You can totally save it though, just get more clay, mix a little bit of it with water and use that to mend the cracks. I think it has potential to be really beautiful!

i dunno why but "the rag of shame" over it made me laugh so hard. Like maybe no one will notice if its under this rag 🤣 I tried making a clay head once too with miserable results haha. So much to learn!

You should kneed it with water first if its too rubbery or hard to mould , spray some water if its drying fast , probably make a layer of paper and glue over the alluminium to give the clay an adhesive surface to stick to

I think that's a very solid first attempt and good on you for just diving in. Also, when it comes to making the clay pliable, I think that's why in many videos people knead it against a table/counter using their body weight. That way it's not just the fingers that need to warm it up and stuff. :D

This journey was BRILLIANT.

If there's material underneath the clay that doesn't follow the shrinkage, there will be cracks. I think your aluminum foil base was too compact so it wasn't shrinking with the clay If that makes sense? I often work with a base made out of newspaper, which is also more environmentally friendly (for when thrown away)

thank you for sharing this! it's fun to watch others play and experiment with things they don't feel that confident about. We should all be more playful because this is how we can find new things we might enjoy doing! Now I'm even keen to try clay haha. Cheers!

That's a great first attempt! With a piece of cloth on its head it looks pretty good! I would keep it as a Halloween decor (just because of these cracks). The clay shrinks when it dries. Perhaps the top layer dried faster and that's why it cracked. You can always smooth the surface using a soft brush with a bit of water when you are working on it. You can also try making thinner slabs. Experiment and have fun!:D

I think you did great. You will keep getting better as you go. When I use air, dry clay, I use thin layers letting them dry before adding the next layer.

nice attempt, I like that you are experimenting with a variety of mediums. keep it up.

This is so good, what an amazing video, watched and enjoyed till the end ☺☺

Your idea of enjoyment is similar to mine. It doesn’t necessarily involve looking happy:) The bust looked like it was about to evolve gradually without your help!

Looks like FUN!! As a non-sculptor, I think your first attempt does have potential. It actually looks like the early stages of some of the sculptures I've seen experts do in here. Stupid question: Why not attend a class or a workshop in figure sculpting to get familiar with the basics and have an expert there to help you over the rookie mistake phase?

When you mentioned you had a bulging disc I gasped haha - I'm also a self taught oil painter and I currently have a herniated disc 🥲. This video was delightful, just subbed!

You can also knead the clay with a rolling pin or a glass bottle to soften the clay.

It is always a great experience to try something new. I think you did as well as could be expected from a first try. Very well done. I like your creative idea with the alu-foil as the "base". Next time perhaps try a full-size head, as the details of the face will be much easier to sculpt. It will also be more work, but you already know that. Great video!

Maybe read the packaging to see if you need to add water or some other preparation.. it’s cool you’re trying something else. maybe you would like ceramics too I’m just getting started 😊

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Please, stop (fighting, I mean suffering, I mean) working with student-grade clay... Here's my recommendation for air dry clay: use always "stone clay", never "earth clay" (like the one you used). Some brands I recommend are: LaDoll ("Premier" is the best IMHO) and Darwi ROC (quite competent). With those, there are no leftovers ever, as you can re-work them endlessly (just a bit of water, not too much as water is poison to this type of clay, and keep it sealed until it became soft again, add more water if needed). You can join already dry parts just by scrapping, wetting and adding a bit of slip (same clay+water) as "glue". It's soft and malleable, easy on hand joints. To me, the perfect clay. If you keep the piece you're working on properly sealed (I always add a damped rag cloth too), you can keep working to the end of time in your piece. EDIT: also, stone clay has less cracking than earth clay. In all my pieces, I think I've got one or two small cracks... Just remember this clay doesn't need water (or just a little dib) to work with.

There is a You Tuber called @enondebelen who works with air dry sculpting of heads she does beautiful work. You will be able to see her techniques. I have often wanted to try this out too. Great attempt tho for your first piece. When I was at college we used wire before applying clay. Looking forward to your next sculpture

Yes it has potential I especially like the nose!! Try different clay :)

Why not trying working on a smaller scale to begin with and you would have enough clay. Also I think you have to use more water.