Custom Large Sculptures are very hard to make. They require a lot of experience and expertise to design and manufacture. For this reason, you need to hire a sculpting firm or artist with know-how in the field. The best large sculptures are made from bronze and stone. However, there are several other materials to choose from. In this write-up, we discuss choosing sculpting materials.
Questions you Should Ask Yourself when Choosing the Best Materials for Sculpting.
- What is the cost of the material?
Cost is one of the main factors to consider when making any form of purchase. Most sculpting materials are quite costly. However, the price ranges from one material to the other depending on the features of the content. The most expensive type of sculpting material is stone. The reason for its high cost is because it is hard to make sculptures from it. Stone sculptures require precise and expensive tools. It also demands a lot of precision, attention to detail, and time.
On the other hand, wood sculptures are the most inexpensive. The reason is that wood is readily available; it does not require expensive tools to maneuver. However, wood is not as durable as stone hence the cost differences.
- How durable is the material?
There are several types of materials that can be used in the manufacture of sculptures. Each of the materials has different durability elements. How durable the material is affected by a wide range of factors. Some of these factors include resistance to rust and corrosion. Whether or not a material is resistant to different elements of the weather dramatically depends on the features of the material. For instance, stainless steel is perfect for outdoor sculptures because it can survive aspects like rain for a long time. The same cannot be said about metal or wood. The two tend to rot and rust, respectively, when exposed to the atmosphere and water. Some of the most durable types of sculpting materials are marble, bronze, stone ad stainless steel. Most people prefer to use these materials even though they are costly because they are bound to last for a lifetime.
- What method of sculpting will I use?
There are two main methods of sculpting. The first one is additive sculpting, and the other one is subtractive. For instance, when sculpting with stone, you start with a large block then keep tactically subtracting the material. At the end of the subtracting process, you end up with the desired design. On the other hand, when sculpting with clay, you start with a small piece of clay and keep adding more. This type of sculpting is known as additive sculpting. Therefore, you cannot practice subtractive sculpting with clay or additive sculpting with stone hence the need to consider the method before choosing the sculpture material.
Conclusion
When choosing sculpting materials, you may also want to consider the type of sculpture you wish to make, who is making it, where it is going to be placed, and the urgency of the project. The market is packed with a variety of materials that you can explore before choosing the best one.