Page 24 - Creating Whimsical Characters Using Simple Wood and Paper Forms, Wire, Paperclay, and Encaustic Medium

To set up a simple sculpting area:

• Cover a large cookie sheet with foil. Place a layer of wax paper on

top of the foil. Change the wax paper as needed.

• Put an inch of water in a glass jar with a lid (I use a jelly jar). Place
the jar where you can easily reach it with the lid next to it. Use the
water for wetting and cleaning sculpting tools, and the lid as a

place to set your wooden sculpting tools and your clean up tool

when you’re not using them.

• Cut paper towels into small squares and rectangles and place
within reach. Use to clean tools.

• Fill an atomizer bottle or spritzer with water, and use it to mist
water on the paperclay to prevent it from drying out while you’re

sculpting.

• Wrap miscellaneous pieces of wood in wax paper and secure the
wax paper with masking tape. You’ll use these for propping up

delicate sculptures that need support while drying.

• Disposable gloves - I prefer non-latex and no powder. I buy
boxes of 100 gloves. If you prefer to use bare hands, keep a bowl

with a wet rag in it for cleaning your hands frequently.

Be sure to let the glue dry for at least 24 hours before you start
adding paperclay to your armature.

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