How to Sculpt a Skirt from Clay

Sculpting clothing can be the most difficult aspect of sculpting a model figurine, but a skirt is one clothing option that's easy to shape and texture and have your finished product look very professional. If you're sculpting a female model, remember to shape the skirt as if there is a body underneath and use texture to add a lifelike quality of motion.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Clay
• Tools for clay working

1. Shape a relatively large block of clay in a bell shape to form the basic shape of a long, billowy skirt. Place the bottom of the skirt directly on your working surface. Don't worry about feet for your model.
2. Use your hand to refine the shape of the bell to mimic the shape of a female body. If you're forming a long, voluminous skirt, the only parts of the body that will influence the shape are the buttocks and possibly the legs if you are shaping the skirt to be in motion.
3. Use a sculpting tool to cut away ribbons of the skirt in a curving shape to give the illusion of folds of fabric. Think about the motion of the skirt you want to convey as you shape the curved lines. Lines that all sweep back will create the illusion of the skirt being blown behind the body, while lines that sweep in a spiral will create the illusion of a swishing skirt.
4. Smooth the lines of the skirt and vary their shape, digging under some to create more drastic folds. If you desire, shape the skirt to have a train, a bustle or other ribbons and adornments.

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