WAEA ConferencePre-Funk Presenter: Lance Dooley

Topic: Armatures for Fun and for Sculpting

So what is an armature anyways?

An armature is a metallic or wooden construct that is used to aid in the construction of a clay sculpture.

After you create a metallic armature, you can add clay over it and slowly build up to the sculpture’s desired surface forms.

In this case, you see this is a sculpture of a woman’s portrait + shoulders.

A little clearer now?

Two views of the clay sculpture in various stages of refinement.

Remember, underneath the clay is still the armature doing it’s job: holding up the clay.

New subject: Bald Eagle

Gesture: The overall dynamic appearance of lines, shapes and forms.Static – Appearing still, lifeless, and straight. Dynamic – Implying action or change.

Armatures have a second purpose: mimic the gesture of the subject

Armatures may have to be structurally reinforced or enriched further, depending on the complexity of the project.

When using armatures for animals or humans, the application of anatomical knowledge becomes very important.

Chronological progression of a sculpture from left to right.

New Subject: CougarHere we have an image of the skeleton of a cougar

How would you begin a cougar sculpture??

Create a chart of the skeletal components of an animal and then add columns showing various scaled versions.

A one-sixth scale maquette is first made.Then, the armature for the one-third scale is made with heavy gauge steel rod (3/8” inch diameter).

Cougar armature is enhanced with bendable aluminum wire and hose clamps.

Clay is added to create a block-in. My favorite tools shown in foreground.

Example of a developed clay block-in

The start of a Lynx sculpture. Again, heavy gauge steel rod. Blow torch and wire clampers to help grab and bend.

The 7 ft tall sculpture of ET Pybus, in various stages.

Clay being added over the armature for the ET Pybus Sculputre

Different views of an almost-finished clay sculpture.(August 2013, it was really hot)

Initial armature and starting to block-in a human figure

A little further along with a half scale clay figure.This is what is typically seen at Fine Art Academies

Starting an armature for an owl. ¼” diameter aluminum wire is bent to shape,Over rigid 3/8” diameter steel rod.

Superimposition of the the steel & aluminum armature over a painting I completed of the same animal.

HAVE FUN WITH ARMATURES AND SCULPTURES!

THE END