cold-porcelain-how-to-sculpt-faces

by Sangeeta
(Canada)

Cold porcelain can be used to sculpt faces and figures, but you have to know how to work with the cold porcelain paste. Our resident expert Sangeeta Shah says it all depends on what products you use and what climatic conditions they are working in.


Here is the original query from Florence who says: - "Thanks for the cold porcelain information. I have been playing around with and like to make figures with it. The problem I am facing is that when it dries, the facial expressions get distorted (disappearing ... sort of) because outside is drying faster than inside. I have to keep forming the mouth and nose again. Do you have any advise regarding this? Florence"

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This is Sangeeta's reply:

The first solution to this problem is the cold porcelain paste you are using. The cold porcelain paste should be firmer in order to hold onto the shape.

Secondly, when you sculpt the face try not to make the whole face out of cold porcelain paste. Use a Styrofoam ball or foil and then cover it with cold porcelain paste over it giving it details.

What is happening to Florence is the cold porcelain paste has a tendency to shrink depending on the ingredients used to make the paste. So when you are sculpting the face and in the drying process the moist pastes inside towards the core is pulling the outer surface making it distort.

This should only be happening if your paste is not firm enough though.

For making flowers the cold porcelain should be soft, but for sculpting and figurines the paste should have no
additional water in it


This is what I feel. I could be wrong but this is the best I could think of. I do not make a lot of sculpting but I have tried it a bit. Let me know what cold porcelain you use and how you make it so I can help you further if you need help. I have adapted different recipes for different applications so let me know how you make your paste.

Regards

Sangeeta


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Follow up question by Florence:

I have remade the paste and got rid of the water in it. It works well now and now it is firm and the features stay. Unfortunately as with a lot of things, another itty-bitty problem has cropped up. I think it is because it dries up too fast and cracks when I am forming limbs or hands. I have tried kneading it with cold cream but somehow it doesn't really work although it does work when smoothing out tiny cracks. Is it necessary to use Pond's cold cream and not other creams?


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Answer by Sangeeta:

Yes, too much cream will make your paste crack. I prefer using Nivea or ponds cold cream You should choose a cream without lanolin.

Please let me know the recipe you are using so I will be able to give you more specific reasons if so in the paste recipe. If the cracks are very small they can be filled in and smoothed out the surface with a tiny drop of water. Hope this helps. Let me know your results. If any further help needed let me know.

Regards
Sangeeta

Comments for cold-porcelain-how-to-sculpt-faces

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Cold Porcelain - sculpting figures
by: Florence

Ref: Sangeeta's advice on sculpting figures in cold Porcelain. Thank you :) I have remade the cold porcelain paste and got rid of the water in it. It works well now and now it is firm and the features stay. Unfortunately as with a lot of things, another itty-bitty problem has cropped up.

I think it is because it dries up too fast and cracks when I am forming limbs or hands. I have tried kneading it with cold cream but somehow it doesn't really work although it does work when smoothing out tiny cracks. Is it necessary to use Pond's cold cream and not other creams?

Florence

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Reply from Peter (admin)

Thanks for your query which widens the discussion from sculpting faces with cold porcelain to sculpting figures, or figurines with cold porcelain. Let's see what Sangeeta can tell us. If any one else has experience with sculpting figures with cold porcalain, please let us know.

Is there another recipe?
by: Anonymous

Hi Sangeetha,

I am currently using your recipe. Is there another recipe that you would recommend for modelling figures?

porcelana en frio
by: liz de Argentina

hola qisiera saber q puedo hacer para q nose me qebragee los trabajos despues de secarce q ago q me falta q no ago bien qnecesito si alguien sabe q me ayude gracias

Sculpting faces with cold porcelain
by: Nia Romain

I just love cold porcelain, the satisfaction of making your own clay just makes it all that more special :)


cp-elf-face-sculpture



Nia

Nia's Lovely Work
by: Peter (admin)

Hi Nia

Many thanks for posting your lovely work for us to see and be inspired by. I am sure people may have some questions about your techniques and recipe.

Thanks

Peter (admin)
p.s. What a lovely name too "Nia Romain".

Sculpting with cold porcelain
by: Nia ROMAIN

Thank you Peter,

Making your own clay is all part of the fun! My recipe is simple

2 parts strong PVA glue
1 part cornstarch
1 dessert spoon vegetable oil
5-6 drops tea tree oil

I cook my clay in the microwave ,the time will vary depending on the glue that you use and the wattage of your microwave.

For the head and Body I always build a foil armature and cover with masking tape. My work is usually small 1:12 or 1:10 scale so for the limbs I don't need much of an armature just a plastic coated wire.

Once I have all the features in place, I spend a lot of time blending and smoothing adding and removing clay as I wish. My favorite tool is a rubber tip tool used by dentists (gum stimulator) It's best not to drag the clay but to roll the tool over the clay to blend.


happy sculpting!
Nia

Form sculpture
by: Carrie

Hi Nia and other wonderful people,
My daughter (and I) has a school project. We are creating a seahorse using cold porcelain. We have created a base using polystyrene balls, wire and tinfoil. It actually turned out pretty good! Would I need to bind it completely with masking tape? Will the porcelain not adhere to the tinfoil? I was thinking of just glazing it over with more cold glue? It's quite a large piece, about 45cm long. Your advice would be most appreciated!!
Regards, Carrie

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