From: =?Windows-1252?Q?Mathieu_Ren=E9?= <creaturiste-AT-magma.ca>
To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 22:30:13 -0500
Subject: [Puptcrit] Smoothing oil-based clay


This morning, before going to bed (I work most efficiently at nigth, don't know why), I found out how truly efficient mineral oil can be as a smoothing agent on the oil-based clay.

It does not dry the clay, and is probably already part of the formula anyway.

My clay is Chavant NSP (soft).  I tried first with rubbing alcohol, which always works, but dries the surface a bit, producing a fine dust of wasted clay, which also needs to be brushed off. This time I just "lubricated" my finger a little bit with heavy mineral oil (sold in drugstores as a skin emollient and laxative) and started smoothing.
Instant ceramic-glaze look. Don't use too much, otherwise it makes the surface a bit tacky.
It works if applied on a tool as well.

Other amazing trick: when making extremely fine detail, such as skin texture drawn with a needle or extra fine spring steel, there is always a bur, and some small bits of loose clay that want to grab for dear life.
In the past, I was stuck with those. Now, with a bit of mineral oil, they melt away, and so do the burs!
Instant elephant or Rhino skin!

Keep the smoothing for the end, when you are sure the sculpt is done, as it will be a waste of time if you need to modify your sculpt and ruin the smoothing that has been done too early. 

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