Don’t break the bank. You should be able to get all the materials you need for $5-10.
Don’t use any tools intended specifically for sculpture. Be creative and try to use materials you already have laying around.
Use the reference photos provided in the downloads tab. Unlike a drawing, we’ll want photos from multiple angles. The more visual information the better.

These photos were provided by PoseSpace which has the full HD uncensored versions of these and other poses on their website. (reference photos or video that show the model turning 360 degrees, possibly a head reference, a full figure standing, sitting, and lying down)

You are able to use these reference photos in any way you like. You can do a bust of the head, a close up of the facial features, a torso study or the full figure, low or high relief, realistic or abstract, whatever you want!

Share your work with the community here!

unclesasquatch

6mo

Hello everyone! This is my $5 assignment. I used a paperclip and a plastic knife as tools. It was definitely awkward to use but not as bad as I feared. As for the clay, I used some cheap hulk-green plastiline. I found that it was very easy to soften and apply, but that also meant when I held an area too long it got just soft enough that it deformed and I had to avoid tools until it cooled a bit. I'll most likely switch to some monster clay I have for future assignments. All in all, I'm pretty pleased with this. Proportions are wrong and some spots are too pronounced while others are too subtle, but one of my better attempts. Looking forward to learning!

Andrew Joseph Keith

5mo

Nicely done! I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work and progress! keep going!

John Sumner

8mo

$5 dollar assignment. I used some old Sculpey that my buddy gave me for helping him move. It looks pretty old, but it's super smooth. I kinda imagine it's like trying to sculpt with Bree Cheese. As for a sculpting tool, I used a binder clip. The height of this sculpture is 4inches tall. There's some parts in the anatomy where I had trouble seeing vs translating - Shoulders and clavicle mostly, but some of that might be on the size of the sculpture and the odd tool I was trying to use to sculpt with. Regardless, I think this is something that will get solved by studying more anatomy while simultaneously sculpting... However, any advice anyone has is greatly appreciated.

Don Welbourne

2yr

Excited to learn, Xmas wiped me out getting full course next month ... can't wait!

Adam Lambert

2yr

Hi I'm new. Andrew I about died laughing when I saw that you where from USU im there right now getting my BFA in Sculpture as well. Rio sill mentions you from time to time but when I joined up I didn't know it was you lol.

Andrew Joseph Keith

2yr

Haha classic Ryoichi. He’s good at teaching you to be very detail oriented and “refine and define” abstract works but he didn’t focus on figurative sculpture as much as I would have liked. If you’re interested we might be doing a student figure sculpting competition next year that you might like to participate in. Send me a message on instagram if you think you’re interested.

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Dennis Ladick

2yr

Assignment 1 submission. Looking forward to learning more.

kobile

2yr

Hi, was able to "finish" it on time, thank you very much Andrew! Crits are welcome :) kobi

Charles Tryon

2yr

Not much surface finish, but it looks to me like you have captured it well... especially in the movement and weight.

Tania Carmichael

2yr

Hello Andrew and new friends!! I've finally joined the course and am very excited! Also, happy to upload my first work done mostly with a wooden skewer, two other tools and monster clay that I already purchased some time ago. I found this oil based clay product very difficult to work with and smooth out, particularly when trying to refine the figure with details. I did try and use methylated spirits but it wasn't that helpful.. It is a copy of Rodin's 'The thinker' and it got me thinking a lot about how I really want to work hard at becoming a good female sculptor and so am looking forward to learning from you and being inspired by you all.

Andrew Joseph Keith

2yr

Great job! It might be the tools you’re using. Sometimes metal tools stick to the clay less than wood or plastic tools. If you like sculpting the female figure you might try sculpting from the references for the “cheap sculpture challenge” lesson. (“How to start sculpting on a budget”) I look forward to seeing your progress and more of your assignments!

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Erin :-)

2yr

I just ordered oil base clay of of amazon, but what do we use for wiring? Can we use a mix of paperclips and foil? Does it have to be 18" tall? Can it be just a head or does it have to be a full figure? Thank you!😏

Cynthia Hickson

2yr

Anubhav Saini

2yr

For wiring you can use alminium wire like in the picture I am not sure about paperclip and foil and good luck with your success

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Andrew Joseph Keith

2yr

It can be any part of the body or the whole figure and any size but I recommend starting small as that will be easier to finish.

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Moyra Le Blanc Smith

2yr

Hi Andrew. I can’t work out how to get the ref photos. I’m on an I pad.

Andrew Joseph Keith

2yr

You pressed the “downloads” button and went to the “photo references” download icon? It should work fine but you might check the connection.

Shelley

2yr

Is this where we post for challenge assignments and regular assignments? I do not see cheap sculpture challenge with sculpture 3-D under it to post as you described in an earlier question I had. I'm not finding that wording anywhere. In addition to which where it says full course above this area I'm wondering if I'm not getting the full picture of everything to offer on this sculpture class site.

Andrew Joseph Keith

2yr

https://www.proko.com/community/topics/cheap-sculpture-challenge

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Shelley

2yr

Is this where we post the challenge assignments and regular assignments? You told me to post in the cheap sculpture challenge section under sculpture 3-D but I do not see that wording anywhere. I wonder if my premium is Properly opened from your side.

Andrew Joseph Keith

2yr

This location is better I think though I’ll try my best to find assignments wherever they are posted.

Shelley

2yr

Thank you Andrew for all the answers you've given me to my questions. Yes it's a good point... when things are new we're all trying to figure them out. I'm sure it will run smoothly soon. Thanks again for your attention to these details as they come up. I look forward to the same video for the cheap-sculpture-challenge for premium members.

Andrew Joseph Keith

2yr

Here works fine!

aristotle

2yr

Is this limited to one entry per person, or if I do multiples based on these photos, can I enter them all?

Andrew Joseph Keith

2yr

Enter them all! We’ll only select a few winners so you won’t be able to win twice but the more practice the better and I’d love to see more work!

Ferzan Süngütay

2yr

I can't see the translated text of the lesson.

Andrew Joseph Keith

2yr

It looks like we haven’t gotten the transcripts out yet but what you might try is to go to the Proko 3D YouTube channel and see if the automated closed captioning they have is able to translate to your language. Stan is looking into translations so hopefully in the near future that will be available.

Christopher Harris

2yr

If we have other references that we would like to use, would that be allowed or do we have to work from the provided references?

Andrew Joseph Keith

2yr

If you want it to be entered for a chance to win the prizes it hast to use these references. If you’re just doing it for fun you’re welcome to use other references and post it in the “sculpture 3D” section under a new topic!

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Sujanith Tottempudi

2yr

Very enjoyable and at the same time very informative....thank you

Andrew Joseph Keith

2yr

Hey thanks! Glad to hear it!

Charles Tryon

2yr

Wondering... Is taking a popsicle stick and carving it to a point considered bending the rules? It is free, but it will probably look a lot like one of those special sculpture tools.

Andrew Joseph Keith

2yr

Hmmm I’m gonna say try to do it without modifying the tool too much. This assignment is just for fun and to document your work.

Charles Tryon

2yr

I have a lot of older plastalina, but it is really oily... so went to the craft store to get some inexpensive clay they had (nice earth tones, at $3.99/lb), along with some wire for armatures. I don't think you can get away from oil based clay being... well... oily, but at least this clay seems a little more firm and less sticky!

Andrew Joseph Keith

2yr

yeah I also prefer a less oily clay but with oil based clay it’s part of the medium.

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Shelley

2yr

So was the materials instruction today the class session for the week?

Andrew Joseph Keith

2yr

Yes this was the lesson for the week but I believe there will also be a premium video of me doing an example assignment coming out today if I’m not mistaken.

Shelley

2yr

I am not on Instagram. Is there any other way to Post our challenge Projects? Is there a private group Facebook option? Is there any other way to reach Instructor other than Instagram @ Andrew Joseph Keith?

Andrew Joseph Keith

2yr

Yes post them to the “Sculpture 3D” section under the topic “cheap sculpture challenge” that I created. Just post as a comment with photos. Good luck!

Parting Mist

2yr

When it comes to Chavant Clay , should i get medium, soft, or hard. I have waterbased clay right now but im willing to get the plastilline. Any advantages / disadvantages to the different hardnesses

Andrew Joseph Keith

2yr

I like a firmer clay that holds the details a little better so I usually go for the medium clay. I even have mixed a little of hard clay with the medium to make it a little firmer. But if your working on a larger scale then a softer clay sculpts faster. The medium clay is pretty hard out of the box but it softens with heat so I warm it up before a project.

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Andrew Joseph Keith

Proko sculpting instructor. Sculpting takes drawing to a whole new dimension.