Check out what can be done with just a safety pin and dollar store clay.
Newest
Hengu Willemse
9mo
My first ever sculpture! Thanks Andrew, really enjoying the course and looking forward to progressing! Used a nail file as my tool.
9mo
Awesome! I look forward to seeing your progress as well!

@banirani
10mo
5$Sculpture challenge! what a blast! Had a chop stick as my 'tool' but used it just for the centre line - found it easier to use my hands for the rest.
Thank You.
10mo
great job! exactly what I'm looking for for this assignment. Getting your hands in some clay and having fun with it! keep going!
John Sumner
10mo
I retook some photos of my torso sculpture from the $5 sculpture Challenge since a lot of the comments about the sculptures was about photographing them in a nice, consistent environment.
Claudia
11mo
Hi, my name is Claudia. I used a knife, scissor, wire, tape, foil, water, paper clip and clay. First I wanted to try the whole figure "trisha" but I could not get the foil into shape. Then I tried to build a shape out of wire/foil/tape. When I looked at the shape, I thought aaah naaa I'd rather start small :) So I chose the right foot of "trisha" (a toe would have been small). I don't know anything about anatomy, so I'm going to take classes to learn it. The same goes for drawing. I tried to get at least the ankle, a couple of tendons sculpted. I should have compressed the foot more. It is so flat. And the toes... :) But it was fun! I'm glad I finally freed up time to learn sculpting.
So here is my worst work but not my best :)
(English is not my native language so please bear with me)
10mo
great job! the feet are difficult and so there great to practice! Keep going!

Lars Trunin
1yr
First time try. Used some Filo plastilina and a wooden knife.
1yr
awesome! keep it up!
maria cristina paradiso
1yr
Hallo there, this is my clip figure, I was ispired by Michelangelo drawing "birth of Adam" is no more detail, it was vary funny for my use one tool! and Work too for my suprise !
1yr
great job! keep it up!

@erdalisimo
1yr
Dirst sculpture attempt ever😀
1yr
Nice! Keep it up!

Judith Rolevink
1yr
How do you get all the images on one piece of equipment?

@carolinedy
1yr
ok, first time ever trying sculpting. I'm so nervous sharing but I need to improve somehow might as well be when I'm starting out. but I'm excited to keep looking at videos and seeing what I can do to improve. I've only had time to watch the $5 sculpture and the how to start sculpting videos so I'm sure this will all improve as I keep looking at the videos and getting feedback. I thought I had a pictures somewhere with just the tin foil as the base but can't seem to find the photos.
I used tin foil, safety pin, paper clip and my hands. I think I used too much tin foil to start off with to make the woman because it was almost to scale and didn't have much clay on the actual sculpture because of it. there are spots the tin foil started coming through, but I guess it's a lesson I learned after finishing. the tin foil was too much on the head and probably the torso, so I couldn't carve very much on it, oh well smaller amount next time so I can use more clay. I also scraped the ear off and put it closer I might've regretted that decision but I think the ear improved just not the placing. super cheap start up, I just took forever doing it.
1yr
Hey a great start! Awesome for a first sculpture. Keep going! Can’t wait to see your progress!

@arnavvinod
1yr
Hey There! I have some experience in working with clay but this is my first figure-sculpting course. I normally paint, sketch (figure sketches as well) and sculpting terracotta clay but I was hesitant to do figure-sculpting as I failed many times when I was younger. I found a rekindled passion for figure-sculpting and signed up for this course. SO FAR, the course has helped me a lot.
Tools I used were:
1) An unusually large toothpick that i found buried under some boxes
2) A random wire that was thrown away, I bent it in different shapes for carving, smoothening etc.
3) Foil for armature but for the 3rd sculpture i used paper and brown tape.
4) The WORST camera to take pictures of the figure. I apologise for the quality. Sculpting on a budget ;)
P.S. I found that sketching the given models in different angles before sculpting them, is beneficial. I realised this at my 3rd sculpture though :(
1yr
Very good! Really like the character to them. Keep going!
Patricia Kelly
2yr
Hi everyone! This is my first-ever figure sculpture! I normally work in 2D and paint with acrylics, but I've been wanting to challenge myself with a different medium. I'm signed up for the 'anatomy for artists' course as well, but haven't started it yet. So I decided to give this sculpture challenge a try cold-turkey, just for fun! Everything but the clay I had around the house, so it only cost me $1. I used tinfoil for the armature, a flooring sample for the base, dollar store clay and a safety pin for detail. I used the photos of Jesse and took about 3-4 hours. I struggled most with the muscles (too many or not enough in places--I'm feeling "Hulk" vibes hahaha), and I cut too deep on the center line for the back, but I'm pretty happy with it for my first-ever try. I'm excited to get into the anatomy course soon as I'm sure that will help me out. Happy for comments and critique! :) I did use all the reference photos for this pose, but the website only lets me add 10 images). Thanks!
1yr
Looking good! I’ve used those same materials! Works great. Keep it up!
Guy N Cognito
2yr
First assignment took about 3.5 hours. Struggled a little with aluminum foil armature.
Found 2 lbs of Crayola modeling clay for under $7. Used less than 0.5 lbs.
Tool is 2" finishing nail with ends pounded and shaped with grinder.
Documentation includes natural light from the left with a bounce off sheet of white paper from the right.
2yr
Great job! Cool tool!
@abbanat1997
2yr
Phew! 3.5 hours later, I've just finished my first ever sculpture from life!
I'm a cake decorator and am really looking to better incorporate sculpture into my edible creations!
I know this is cliche but sheesh!--You all make this stuff look easy! This project was a lot of tough lessons in balance and proportion! I definitely made my armature way too thick and detailed... BUT now I know!
2yr
Hey pretty cool! What did you use for the sculpt? Yeah probably a little thick and I think that the secondary forms of anatomy are overpowering the primary forms underneath. Some upcoming lessons will go over the head, rib cage, and pelvis and the recent lesson on building out the sculpture should also be helpful. Keep it up and I look forward to seeing more!
Conny B.
2yr
Here's my sculpture, which looks like it's ready to fall over XD (forgot to get my tool in the photo, but I used a needle) Can't wait to continue learning about how to sculpt the figure!
2yr
Hey great job! I’m excited to see your progression throughout the course as this one already has some promising signs. Keep it up!
Kelly Ratcliff
2yr
I'm having a problem downloading the reference photos. Thanks.
Katey Jensma
2yr
Hi @Kelly Ratcliff you can find the reference photos here:
https://www.proko.com/course-lesson/how-to-start-sculpting-on-a-budget/downloads
Rob Whicker
2yr
Ok here is my second sculpture for the $5 challenge - J Mac soft clay over a tinfoil bean using only hands and a butter knife - hoping this gets easier with tools… feedback appreciated :)
2yr
Hey looking great. Looks like you’ve got the primary forms pretty well established. I think this is good for a first sculpture, as you continue to work on other assignments start with these primary forms but keep it thin so that there is room to build on the secondary forms of the muscles on top. Keep it up!
Adam Lambert
2yr
Ok here we go this is mine what do you all think?
2yr
Great first project! Keep it up!
Adam Lambert
2yr
and here are my tools straight from the silverware section of the DI
2yr
Ok I need some serious help. This is my second attempt. My first attempt was with Medium Chavant NSP, but it was too hard for me to handle. I used my hairdryer to soften it but it hardened as soon as I walked down stairs. The pictures are of the second attempt with soft clay. I'm amazed how everyone else's look so smooth and chunky. Mine is all broken up and patchy. Is it because I used soft clay?
2yr
the clay may have something to do with it as soft clay tends to work faster but it is harder to work on details (because it moves around so easily) which is why I prefer a little firmer of a clay. you might try putting the clay in an oven at as low as it will go (like 150 F or less) or in a air tight plastic bag and place it in some hot water until the clay is soft all the way through. I like it soft during the initial stages but once there is some mass then I'll let it cool and just add one piece of clay at a time and use tools when needed to smooth the surface.
Strahinja Milutin
2yr
Hi Andrew. I'm late for the challenge part, but some feedback would be very much appreciated :). I'm a 3D artist, trying to become character artist :D So for the past two years I've been studying anatomy, and doing some figure drawing along with traditional sculpting attempts. I haven't used any home made tools , because when I got my sculpting tools I just threw away everything I made myself. I tried to work mostly with my fingers, and occasionally use the ones in the photo. Thanks!
Mark Taylor
2yr
Nicely done
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2yr
Hey great job! It’s looking great for a first study. One thing that’s standing out to me is it looks like some of the proportions may be a bit off, (the legs feel a little short compared to the torso, the hands are too small, and the head may be a bit large) but for the most part it’s a good study and a good job on the documentation. Keep it up! I look forward to seeing more of your work!
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Vicki Sullivan
2yr
Hi Andrew, I was thinking it would be great if you could add the reference images to the lesson notes for us to download to use when we try making the lesson sculpture as making one without the reference photos is a bit of a handicap and if we had the images to work from it would be super helpful, love to hear your thoughts?
2yr
Hey yes the photo references are available under the “Downloads” section of the “How to start sculpting on a budget” lesson. Let me know if you have trouble finding it!
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About instructor
Proko sculpting instructor. Sculpting takes drawing to a whole new dimension.