Is an armature required for a bust?

[Afterburner]

I'm looking at doing my first sculpt and planning for it to be a bust, roughly Bowen scale.

Is an armature a must?

Thanks everyone...

[Leonard]

Hi

I'd recommend it, as it gives you something to hold on to, or a way to secure your sculpt to a base.

I use the wire covered in alum foil method for busts, which generally means I've looped the wire a bit where the skull is, then added foil for brains, shaped this roughly, then made a thin skull with super sculpey that I quickly baked with a heat gun.

Of course, as soon as you give the bust an arm or such other detail (opposed to head chest), then you are basically making a figure (roughly speaking) & the armature is a major boon.

Good luck!
Leo

[Wesley Pierce]

Not required for all types of material, but necessary with some... It also depends on the type of sculpt you're working on... If you are working on a piece where the bust is extended or elevated from the base, then yes, if not, then no.

What materials are you working with?

[Afterburner]

Thanks for the input guys.

I had initially thought about a bust with no arms, done in Super Sculpey. I think it's a realistic aspiration for a first effort...I can add arms on a second one after I have more experience.

Thanks again!

Burner

[shiflettbrothers]

I would use an aramture for a bust in Super Sculpey no matter what. Alamoy wire wrapped with floral wire. The floral wire gives the Super Sculpey something to stick to. More importantly, the more solid the armature, the less chance of cracking during baking.

Cheers.
Brandon
www.shiflettbrothers.com

[Afterburner]

Thank you very much.

I understand the wire wrapping, do you also recommed to use tin foil on top of the wire?

Thanks in advance.