The mass, which we now call plasticine, is more than five hundred years old. For the first time, George Vasari remembered her in the 16th century when compiling a biography of the most famous painters. In contemporary art, the sculptor uses sculpted clay for self-expression. When compared with clay, it loses a little. Its physical properties, such as hardness, color, density, are set once - during manufacture. From the warmth of his hands, he softens for a while, allowing the sculptor to give the necessary shapes. Currently, several types of plasticine are known, here are the main ones:
• children's plasticine unprofessional, so familiar to us from an early age;
• sculptural clay, it is used by sculptors and students of art schools; crafts from sculpted plasticine resemble miniatures of famous creations;
• Klyuchnikovs plasticine, better known as art plasticine. There are two types:
- “soft” - usually flat products (paintings, various applications) are made from it;
- “solid”, it’s also frame - they make voluminous crafts from it: dolls, toys. It easily becomes hard in domestic conditions: for half an hour in hot water, in the oven or microwave, in extreme cases, under a table lamp.
• children's plasticine bouncing - very malleable, easily softened in the hands, and most importantly, cooling, bounces off any flat surfaces like a ball. Ideal for kids who like to play with homemade crafts.
• ball plasticine - its basis - small, soft foam balls, which are connected by the thinnest sticky threads. The ball mass is easily molded, and crafts freeze during the day in the air.
• hardening plasticine or plastic has a bright color scheme. A craft made from this type of plasticine can become a real toy or decoration.
As you can see, there are a lot of species, most of them are used for entertainment, but sculptural clay is ideal for the development of creative abilities . Due to its characteristics, it is used to create a small easel sculpture. It is ideal for miniatures, genre compositions, medals, large-scale sketches of large sculptures, molding stucco of small details from gypsum for decorating ceilings. Sometimes masters use this material to create large labor-intensive parts, the manufacture of clay, which is impossible. Clay dries quickly enough, and sculptural clay, on the contrary, retains its original plasticity and density. However, it must first be processed. When digesting, plasticizer and pigment of the required color are added to it. After these procedures, it will have medium softness, and will not be able to differ from the clay from which the sculpture is made.
Typically, the composition of plasticine includes beeswax, a variety of fillers and plasticizers. Ozokerite is sometimes used - the so-called mountain wax. Also, the fillers are: dry clay powder, sulfur, talc. In past centuries, plasticine was made by combining wax and rosin in a 2: 1 ratio, heating them in olive oil. Of course, a variety of color pigments were added. Over time, other production recipes were mastered. Compounds of wax and clay, wax and sulfur, ozokerite and kaolin were very popular. Sculpted plasticine is made in principle in the same way as any other. Melt wax or ozokerite, add finely ground clay or sulfur, as well as pigment, preferably in powder form. The resulting mass is thoroughly mixed, poured with a thin layer on a wet burlap, but you can also use a thick plastic film and cool.
If you are interested in this material, ask how to sculpt from sculpted plasticine.