Figure Sculpting in Clay: Part 4 – Fixing & Identifying Gaps

As David Simon begins his fourth lesson in his figure sculpting series, he is determined to address issues like the articulation of the hips and “rubbery” qualities of the legs. For the most part, he’s done adding and subtracting volumes of clay and no longer will be “futzing around” with that sort of minutiae. He adjusts the lighting and talks about sculptural workflows. David explains that even if you aren’t an expert in a process or topic– be it welding, casting, types of clay, etc.– you can still benefit from a basic understanding of these things when you are collaborating with an expert! For instance, you don’t need to be able to cast your sculpture in bronze yourself but it is helpful to know what to expect when working with someone who does. Sculpting from life is a dynamic and process-heavy endeavor, by watching this series we hope that you learn about the intricacies involved and are inspired to tackle the challenge!

A sculptor of international acclaim, David Simon’s career has ranged from life-size portraits and figures to massive bronze statues. Among others, he helped oversee the giant Leonardo da Vinci Horse project. David created maquette and sculptures for films such as Where the Wild Things Are, Fantastic Four, and Watchmen, and holds private workshops abroad and in his Los Angeles studio.