I’ve been wanting to try my hand at sculpting for ages and so I thought I would give it a go.

I decided on an oil based clay called Super Sculpey. Its used for all sorts of modelling and can give pretty good detailing.

What subject to model ? Well I’ve had an idea to try out a farmyard animal for a while and I thought a pig would be a good place to start. Not too complicated and no problems with fur or feathers.

I looked online and found the Old Spot Gloucestershire an ideal subject. Full of character, nice shape and not to much detailing. I drew some sketches to get a feel of the animal.

Next to find out what I needed to buy to get started. Obviously Super Sculpey but looking online the list grew. Here are some of the items….

The first task is to create an armature or skeleton using the wire. I found the wire in a garden center, loads of it with a low price to match. I then bulked the frame out with foil from the kitchen cupboard. I enjoyed this process but the sharp ends of the wire can be painful. Pictures of the pigs skeleton and muscle structure helped.

Next to ‘flesh’ it out with the modelling clay. This is a multi-layered process.

Looking promising I softened the skin with a spirit and made fine adjustments. Then to bake in the oven…. paint and display.

Disaster!!  I mistake Fahrenheit with centigrade and its a hog roast!

  Ruined! Start again……