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Where to start ? I reallllllllllllllllllly want to work on sculpting things and eventually be able to make full minis or body parts and stuff, I just have no clue where to begin. I was on Youtube for awhile watching an introduction to sculpting series for a few hours, basically learned how to make a very basic car from normal slightly modified geometry shapes . This was useful in some respects but not anything brilliant. I mean sculpting is basically making things out of a modifiable material, so get the putty or w/e and make it look how you want, simple right. BUT HOW lol

I'm not really sure what i'm expecting to learn from others about sculpting but I'd imagine somewhere out there someone teaches it somehow right? Kinda like my writing class, it really boils down to putting words on paper and not sounded like a fool while getting a point across clearly, but the class helps in a way.

Does anyone have links to pages that helped you learn the basics of sculpting or advice on how to start?

Sculpting takes time - both learning and the actual sculpting. So don't rush and start small. Work your way up from gap filling over adding small details and building aditional parts up to full models.

I think those articles and the attched pdf should give you a good starting point. And if you have additional questions just ask. But you probably have to experiement and learn to find the best options - tools, sculpting medium and so on - for you.

http://natfka.blogspot.de/2012/05/how-to-sculpt-1-tools-of-trade-by-mr.html
http://natfka.blogspot.de/2012/05/how-to-sculpt-2-pushing-putty-by-mr.html
http://natfka.blogspot.de/2012/05/how-to-sculpt-3-sculpting-skills.html
http://natfka.blogspot.de/2012/06/how-to-sculpt-4-what-to-buy.html

Just a few things that are important in my opinion.
- Don't rush and add the details step by step to avoid destroying details with one finger while adding others.
- Use references like another model/ detail/ bit/ picture and put them near your current work.
- Wet your tools (water, salivia, vaseline) to avoid sticking to the putty

Thanks! I'll get reading all this tonight for sure. I'll definitely start small, I've always used putties to fill gaps and fix minor imperfections already.

This isn't really a tutorial but here is a Q&A with a sculptor who I think it particular talented. i found it a very interesting read and has a few tips for beginners.

http://witchhunter.net/figurenmacher_werner_klocke_e.html

Hey, well I can post a few things if you like. I am by a far stretch no "pro" but I hang around a lot of sculpters and know quite a bit about how to start lol.

First thing first

1: Tools: You can by dental set tools or the such which I really like, they are very dexterious and easy grip. But you can make your own and you WILL start to get a fav.
Key tools you need a hook pick, a stabbing point one, and a flattening tool the one gamesworkshop makes has a really really small smoothing flat point.

2: Size of the miniature you want to make:
Very Important this will decide what you use. I preffer polymer clay it is a bit expensive but worth it. It is moldable can get smooth and very sharp edges does not dry out or have a time limit, you can bake at 200degree for 10 minutes to give a firm surface and still can scrap off excess if needed and can ad more clay if needed. If you want to work on something small the more firm the better but it is also a lot harder to work with since blending is harder.

3: An Idea:
So if you can draw at all even stick men your good. Simply make a picture of the exact size you want, measure things like arm length "lower and upper" if they are out of purportion your doomed. once drawn even if it is just a couple of circles in the shape you want then your good.

4: Armature:
This is the boned of your model it should go in the CENTER not the actual place your bones should. But if you are going for bones or such obviously you will have to work out where they should go. make sure all measurements are perfect cause any mistakes here will rune it. When measuring the arm length remember the chest width and such, cause that WILL shrink your arms.

5: Start applying clay a very very very thing bit all over the armature avoiding the joints. Once this is done pose your model and make sure everything is perfect "pose wise" then add to the joints. Once the joints are hardened "or baked" your model is ready to sculpt.

6:start the idea:
Start adding things like muscles and such I preffer to over do it and remove as needed. Keep all detail off the model it will look like crap but from a distance will give you the look you want. Then slowly "walk towards it" in theory adding slightly more detail progressing slowly. DO NOT DO ONE ARM THEN DO THE OTHER. Something about us humans you can never copy something perfect so if you do one then the other it will NEVER look the same.

7: Adding up?
Get your picture of the shape you want place on cardboard and cut it out, hold up the hole in the cardboard to your model and see if it is there or not if not you can remove add exct.

8:final straw:
Now that things are hardened up or baked start slowly adding detail and make sure you know where you can hold the model because you will need to lol.

9: Basing
this is where you will add the basing or such and work the final work on the feet, foot or other.

10: Start your next one
First will be rough, second not so bad and so on after 5+ years it will be exactly what you want hopefully sooner

I am by no means a 'pro' sculptor nor do I have a background in art, I simply devoloped my sculpting through the hobby. You can see some models I've done here on Dakka and so however good you think they are will inform the worth of my comments.

I could't sculpt at all for about 14 years or more but, having had a good look at an ork head to see the underlying shape of the thing, it just popped and suddenly I went from struggling to even fill gaps to sculpting an ork head which I found to be a good sculpt.

A lot of tutorials I have read advise making models ine one go and many sculptors I admire seem to make models in this way. It doesn't work for me though and I make my models in many small layers often using plasticard to get nice crisp edges or smooth areas.

My advice for a first sculpt would be something like a nurgling as they are kinda blobby but have all the elements present for you to practice making faces and hands. I think getting them right allows everything else to flow.

Thanks for the info guys i'll certainly be using most if not all of this as I begin my little adventure. It looks as if I will be picking up a tool set this week and perhaps some various putties this coming week end. Strangely I have a massive spool of iron wire in my basement, not really sure it's even mine to be honest lol.