Steel & Aluminum wire & tin foil

Having different gauges of steel wire & aluminum tin foil, are essential for making a wire skeleton. Otherwise known as an, ‘Armature.’ The foil helps bulk out a wire frame, which helps save on the amount of clay you use. On another note, you can use tin foil as texture when scrunched up. It could be used to press into the surface of the clay to create a rock-like or bark texture.

Monster Clay

Perhaps the most satisfying clay to use, Because it’s just so smooth, and has great consistency and isn’t very pasty at all (unless of course, you melt it too much.) Speaking which, yes! It’s meltable using heat. You can pour it into a mould! It’s excellent for detailing, also, I think one of the best clays to use. It comes in three different hardnesses such as, soft, medium and hard and is a much preferred choice to many sculptors. You can also use alcohol to smooth out rough textures and heat of any kind. It is also excellent for mould making. The only thing is, it doesn’t set hard. So it may not be for everyone.

Chavant NSP is another oil based clay which is very popular amongst sculptors. The only difference between this one and Monster Clay is that Chavant is much more pastier and stickier. I still find it to be an excellent medium and a top choice. I use this to create final sketches in clay. Amazing stuff. NSP stands for ‘Non Sulphur Plastiline.’ Some clays contain sulphur and can be an allergen you see, so this is a good and safe choice!

Das Clay

The messiest, pastiest stuff I’ve ever used. I’ve used it on and off for years. It dries quickly on the outside, and remains damp on the inside, and takes a while to dry. It dries like cardboard. If you use too much water on it, it goes mushy. So when using a spray bottle, it covers just the right amount to allow to to sculpt with. If you don’t use water, it cracks. So it’s frustrating. There are artists who have adapted to it very well, and it has it’s uses. It’s cheap and available. It just takes some getting used to. Because it dries and cracks so easily, I take advantage of that and use heat on it to create textures some times.

Super Sculpey & Sculpey Firm

The clay itself is a Polymer Clay which can be baked in a conventional home oven. It’s very soft, smooth and easy to use. It’s not sticky, pasty, or messy and has very little odour. However it can be a little too soft which makes it very easy to damage. Since it’s so soft, it can be a little frustrating to achieve tiny details, because it’s so bouncy. But, creating little details is absolutely possible of course, it just means that you need a gentle touch.

Aves Apoxie Sculpt

The products I use are Milliput and Apoxie Sculpt. Both are excellent. They both have three hours sculpting time. So, when you first kneed it together, it is very sticky and seemingly impossible to use. But the thing is, it changes consistency, as it’s setting hard over a three-hour period. It does take getting used to though, so patience and perseverance is key. When its cured and hardened, it can be carved really nicely. It doesn't chip at all. It can also be sanded down so smoothly it feels like glass. It produces very fine dust though, so ventilation, a vacuum, a mask and goggles is an absolute must.

Abro Steel Epoxy

This is really strong stuff, hence the name. You only have five minutes to use it. You have to mix the black and grey until it’s a uniform colour. Then it’s ready to use. It gets warm and then hardens very quickly. Great stuff to use when you need something secured real quick. I used it when constructing armatures. Stinky but amazing stuff!

Palette knife, loop, ball head & dental tools

Tools that help shave, flatten, shape, cut and form any kind of clay.

Embellishments

Old unwanted jewelry, diamante, beads, half beads, ball bearings, left-over Apoxie Sculpt made into tiny claws, chains and other findings. These all help add details to a sculpture.

Mixed media fibers

I love using different textures in my sculptures. I use a variety of mixed media, including twine, mesh, and organic cordage. I want to add intricate detail and depth to my sculptures. These materials allow me to experiment with contrast and realism, bringing a unique, tactile quality to every original piece.

Isopropyl Alcohol

I use this for cleaning tools, surfaces, dilluting ink, for thinning down graphite, and for dipping in my sculpting tools when sculpting with Apoxie Sculpt. Amazing stuff. Very popular amongst traditional artists.

Petroleum Jelly

I have a few uses for this. I use it to shape surfaces, which helps the tool glide effortlessly. It helps make surfaces flat with a flat tool, like a palette knife. I t can be used to stop two surfaces from sticking together. It can also be used to bring dried out Super Sculpey. It can also be used as a kind of glue for fresh Super Sculpey to stick to itself.

Acryl Green Spot Putty

This is stinky, thick liquid is used to fill cracks and gaps in sculptures, then once it's dried, the surface can be sanded down if necessary.

Glue gun & glue sticks

Very useful for model making. Just be very careful with the extreme high heat!

Alcohol torch burner & JetPro Butane jet flame

Great for melting oil based clays. Just be exceptionally careful with them, and keep away from children.

Super Glue & Activator

I go through tonnes of Super Glue, Any brand will do. Any Activator will do! The activator make Super Glue set quicker.

Baking Powder

What you do is, sprinkle this on Super Glue and it turns into a cement! It’s great for creating texture and above all, strength.

Proxxon Mini Sander

Very handy mini sander and for detailing. You get different shapes and sized heads too. I bought some velcro and my own sand paper to make it easier and changeable. It’s also good for those with Chronic pain and Fatigue, as it does the heavy job for you.

Hair Dryer & Heat gun

I use the hair dryer for drying paint, or creating textures in paint and Das Clay. the heat gun is also handy for the same reason, but with extreme heat and a lot more dangerous! So, keep away from children.

Stanley 360 degree vice, pliers, wire cutters, Stanley knife

The 360 degree vice is excellent. It helps with all sorts of jobs. From armature making to holding a sculpture whilst working on it, and a tonne of other uses. I do struggle immensely with using cutting tools because of the Chronic pain and Fatigue. So, I have to really take my time and do what I can at my own capacity. So the sharper the tools the easier it is for me.

Guild Drill

Again, another tool that does the heavy lifting for me. I don’t need much strength to use it, the button isn’t hard to press either. Without this drill, it would be impossible because of my Chronic pain and fatigue. I insert two pieces of wire into the drill opening and then tighten it, then the other end is held by a vice. I turn it on and then it braids the wire together. It makes it strong and gives the clay some teeth to grab onto.

Dremel Rotary Tool

An amazing tool. I would be lost without it! It does all the heavy work for me. It’s very friendly and usable for those with Chronic pain and Fatigue. You can get accessories, that allow you to cut, grind, engrave and polish different surfaces and objects made from glass, metal, wood and plastic.

Dremel Flexi Shaft

Because the actual body of the Dremel is chunky and awkward to hold, I attach this Flexi Shaft to it. Which is like holding a fat pen of sorts. It makes the job much easier.

Rotary tool bits

I’ve been collecting different kinds since 2005, which is why there’s so many. There’s a big selection that helps cut, grind, sand, polish and engrave different surfaces.

Grey Primer

This is what I use to finish a sculpture. It makes it look nice and even, protects the sculpture, and makes it easier to apply paint as well!

Safety mask, goggles & safety gloves

If you find your self having to sand, cut or grind any kind of Epoxy Putty, like Apoxie Sculpt or Milliput, then I cannot stress the IMPORTANCE in wearing these items. It produces a very fine dust and is super dangerous for your lungs. Never do this indoors around other people, and it’s always best to be a very well ventillated room, with an extra fan and even better a powerful vaccuum as close to the source as possible.

Nitrile gloves

I always wear these when dealing with exceptionally messy clay, and generally use it when sculpting.

Self adhesive bandage.

These can be used to wrap around tools, so that it’s comfortable for your hand. Particularly useful for those (like myself) who get chronic pain.

Various reference models

I didn’t make these. I bought the Human anotomical models from Amazon and the resin skull casting was from EBay. These have been helpful so that I can see them at different angles.

Art materials, books & tools

All these things have taken a while to collect. Each have helped in some way to create my illustrations. Pencil, Inks and Waterolour are my favourites.

A sketchbook is also a big must for me too. I love it.