My First Sculpture

hello! three years ago my dog destroyed my schleich dromedary calf. I have always wanted to make a new calf for my adult dromedary, and over the next couple of days I will! here are some preparatory sketches. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.][url=https://servimg.com/view/20275646/2]

What an excellent idea and your sketches already look amazing!
I'm very excited to see the result!
And it sounds as though your dog was very naughty that day - what breed is he/ she?

He's a collie-retriever cross! And no, he wasn't naughty - he was just a bored puppy

Lovely starting sketches! Can't wait to see how it goes.

I had a German shepherd puppy who chewed the ears of my Schleich Poitou donkey but I managed to get it off him before too much damage was done.

Those are some really beautiful sketches and I am also anticipating to see the results

Thank you for the lovely comments!
Here is my camel standing next to her son's armature:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Oh yes- I know what bored puppies are like!
And the armature already looks excellent!
And a collie cross retriever!! I love them, as I love retrievers and collies- is the retriever half of him a golden retriever by any chance? My favourite cross breed is a golden retriever cross collie, they are beautiful!

Wow, really good work

Oh, yes! he has goldie blood, 100%.

Oh how gorgeous!!
I'm interested to know what colour that has resulted in-- is he gold and white? How lucky- my favourite crossbreed!

This is ever so exiting !!!!  

Your drawings show that you have lots of talent, - wow ! I can't wait to see how you proceed

About a week ago I was making some small mushrooms for decoration ( Even I can do that ), and wanted to make a sitting cat.
I thought that it would be easy, - but EEEEK It isn't !!!
Sculpting is much, much more difficult than I imagined. And takes a lot of patience... how I admire those who can do it

very exciting

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Thanks for all the kind messages! Here's a picture of our dogs! I'm starting the sculpture now!

Beautiful dogs you have!

Oh how gorgeous!
He is beautiful- such a lovely colour and he looks so loving! And your other dog too, is so so sweet- thank you so much for sharing this photo!
He reminds me very much of a dog breed called a kooikerhondje- he looks very similar!

Bonnie - you are right, he really does reassemble that breed!


[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Here is the baby camel. He's in storage pending more clay later. I need to make his head level with his hump.

It's coming on very well!

Looks amazing so far!

A great start.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Huge thanks for all the kind messages! he is.... becoming.

It's already starting to take shape- sooooo excited for the end result, already a wonderful model!

I regret to inform you all that the sculpture is not going as planned.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
As you can see, the torso is flat, the neck is falling apart, the back legs are longer than the front ones, and it keeps falling over bc the wire I used was too fragile.

I am at my wits' end with this sculpture

Oh how frustrating! Poor you, I always hate it when sculptures do this, and the more I try to resolve them the more they seem to fall apart!
I really hope you find a way to keep making this wonderful model- good luck!

Oh no, I hope you won't give up!

Maybe you can still reinforce the wire legs by adding more wire around it to make it more sturdy?    
What I sometimes also do strengthen a sculpture is to use the clay the first create a sort of 'under structure' and let that cure. this can build some strengt and it can't be flattened again because it is already hard. Then you can sculpt the real details and sculpture on top of that clay structure. You would have to check whenever the modeling paste doesn't shrink.

Or maybe it helps to create a sort of stand a bit like here in this horse sculpture (not my photo) so you can work on the legs without it getting bend because of the weight of the body until it is fully hardend and stronger. (this can also be like a detached block of wood or something, it doesn't have to be a gigantic screw like the example picture)  

Now these are theoretical, I have no idea if this will help you hope but I hope you will find a way to make it work!

Now that I've found this topic you are giving up.
You are starting with a very challenging model. Camels are really hard to get right and their legs are long and slender. I certainly think you should keep trying, eventually move meanwhile to a less ambitious project. These steps are like little lessons and you should insist and find motivation to proceed.