HOME | DD
SovaeArt — Unicorn Sculpture Tutorial
Published: 2008-01-11 13:32:04 +0000 UTC; Views: 44522; Favourites: 1203; Downloads: 4221
Redirect to original
Description
I can't believe I actually finished a tutorial! I always start them but quit part way through, so this is quite a feat. It's huge- about 100 pictures. It is the entire sculpture from wire armature all the way down to hair. Just click "download" on the left hand side. Enjoy.For those who can't use PDFs, the tutorial is also online here: [link]
Let me know if anything is confusing or makes no sense. I've been on a lot of hydrocodone lately *bronchitis*
Related content
Comments: 273
This makes me wana buy some clay and make something some weekend in the near future.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'm glad you feel that way! Sculpting is such a versatile thing, and it's something SO MANY people just don't ever try these days
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
wow, really impressive. I love the details in musculature and the pose. Good to see how often you tweak and change and use reference. I'm a 3D sculptor and painter... I haven't worked with clay much, but its really cool to see the whole process. thanks!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
wow, awesome tutorial --- it was nice to just see what your horse armature looked like, b/c I always make mine disproportionate, not taking into consideration the need for gobs of clay to be able to be added on. 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Glad you found it useful, and good luck in your sculpting endeavors!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I just can't believe you sculpted ON YOUR TABLET D: YOU CRAZY MOFO!
But brilliant tutorial xD I wish I had your skill!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Awesome, greatly detailed tutorial!! Thanks for making this. One question...how exactly do you go about getting a set of dental tools? 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
i made this sculpture with the help of your tutorial. please tell me what you think , where i could improve, where i went wrong. if you have a few minnutes ^^
i know the feet are all wrong, but im going to change them completely mostly the face and the haunches was where i was unsure.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Great tutorial!! I used it to help me sculpt my very first unicorn and it was very helpful!!Thanks for taking the time to make it for all of us who are new to this. the only problem that I am having is that while it baked at the recommended time, the feet and horn burned a little. Do you have any suggestions???
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I'm planning on taking up scuplting as one of my hobbies. I've been surfing the internet for good tutorials, and I must say this is one of the best ones yet!
I also went through your gallary. You're an amazing sculptor!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Well this is just wonderful, nicely put together and easy to follow, everything a good tutorial should be. Well done.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Wow! Great Tut! I've become very interested in sculpting and this has been a big help! I have quick question though. When you fill in the cracks and rebuild areas with epoxy, does the epoxy dry on it's own, or do you have to bake it for it to harden?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
no, the expoxy is a two-part medium that begins to harden as soon as the two parts are mixed. It's hard within an hour, and rock solid in a day.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
A two-part medium? So does that mean it comes in a pack with the 2 mediums or is it when you mix it with the sculpey your using?
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Ooh this tutorial is great! Quick question:
The mineral oil- do you use it to smooth out certain areas as you would with water on a pottery wheel? I noticed that the sculpture looks shiny at times and I figured that you used the oil to smooth it out.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
yes, the shininess is mineral oil. I use it to smooth areas, but it musn't be overused s, unlike water, it does not evaporate
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Alrighty, thanks! I got a bottle of it earlier to smooth out a dog I'm working on and it is working wonders! Your tutorial has been so helpful!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Awesome awesome awesome. This is really encouraging, and has given me some really good pointers for my own sculpture project! Mine will be more like a doll, since she'll be poseable (humanoid too) but even using foil to bulk out the armature instead of clay, is something i didnt know. Imma sculpting noob, this is amasing! Thank you so much
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
i know you use a mixture of sculpey firm and super but have you ever used the original sculpey? i have some of that and some super sculpey and was thinking of mixing them to save money instead of buying more super but is original sculpey worth it?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I believe I've used it before, years ago. If I recall correctly it has less plasticizing agent than sculpey II/III, in which case it's likely a lot easier to work with. I wouldn't have any qualms about mixing it with super
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
thanks for your help! i recently tried some out and made [link] with the tips and such in your tutorial ^^ i'll be making a full body dragon soon too. thanks again! ^^
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Ohhh, it looks good! well done 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Wow... so much detail!!^^ i'll try this someday!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This tutorial is awesome.
I've tried sculpting before and I gave up in the middle of painting. =[ It looked so hideous! Of course, I've made the mistake of painting right away after it came out of the oven. No sanding, no nothing.
After looking at this, I wanted to give it another go. To avoid doing the same thing I did before, I want to make sure of a few things... is sanding only necessary for taking out finger prints and other miscellaneous flaws? Or is it necessary, period? Also, when painting, could the first layer's paint be watered down, or is that only for the other layers?
I also have a question that sorta doesn't have to do with this tutorial... do you know a way where you can make certain painted surfaces really shiny, as for eyes? I wasn't sure. Thanks.
Keep up the wonderful work.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Hi there!
Glad you're thinking of giving sculpting another try
As for painting, the thicker the paint on the first layers, the better. I sculpt all mine in a base greyish colour, so they're all to be painted a totally different colour. If you're sculpting in more or less the colour you want the sculpture to be, and want only to emphasize colour or add shadow or tinting, then you could use a thin layer of paint for that. But thin watery paint will not work if you want to chance a grey sculpture red. Also, if you want to turn the sculpture a colour like blue or red or green- then a base coat of white works wonders.
For glossy eyes, use clear enamel gloss
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you so much for the info! It is much appreciated.
If you like, I will show you what I have when it's done. Wish me luck!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
i still can't do it but it's just me XD Wonderful tutorial. with any luck my attention spand will be long enough to actualy try and make a unicorn ;D i'm only twelve so i have some time
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
your sculptures are breathtaking!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
i had no idea that your technique was so involved!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
nice tutorial :]] and oddly enough we have the same computer and tablet
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Wow this is something I've been looking for, for the longest of times. It might be made for a unicorn but I'm sure the same principals apply to other animals too ^^.
Ah Hydrocodone I know that stuff all to well
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
That was a very helpful tutorial. Makes me want to try sculpting. o:
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Wow. This is a very thorough tutorial, though I haven't tried your suggestions yet 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
How do you get the shape, the real istic hair features and how do you make clay look like a horse, or is it cast? and how do you get it to stay up?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
If you read the tutorial itself, it will answer all those questions. Just click the download link on the left or the link in the description.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I can't wait to try this out! I will let you know how it goes when I do get around to it
Convection oven! *smacks forehead* I never thought about that!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
whoa, I love all the details in this. was very helpful
but I was wondering, what size beads do you usually get, and from where?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I get them from the local bead store (well, one of them...) They are glass tiger-eye, I don't know the exact sizes, but I'd hazard a guess at 7-8mm for the larger size, and maybe 3-4mm for the smaller ones
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Do you ever use stoneware or earthenware clay wit these same techniques? Polymer clay is too hard to use for some reason, I can never get it soft like you seem to be able to do.
Which is why I'm hoping that stoneware can use these same techniques for the sculpting process.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
<= Prev | | Next =>