Materials How do people work with La Doll and similar clays?

some people construct head stands to hold the clay while they work. You might find this tutorial contain useful tips for you.

Most important of all, work in stages, put on a thin layer in the shape you want, let it dry, then work by areas, let those dry, work more, refine, etc. Ladoll shrinks a little as it dries, so cutting apart the piece once you've built up a rough shape to take out the core will help to prevent cracking and warping.

To be honest, I don't like ladoll that much...I like working in water clays and oil clays best. But people have gotten amazing results with ladoll!

 

I work with just regular Paperclay- Ladoll seems too 'puffy' to me. I usually do the subtracting after its dried- since it can be sanded and carved much easier then plasteline clay. Like what Penguu said- letting it dry between stages is the best way to work with it.
My tools are covered in it as well- its best to clean your tools right away or have to soak them in water to be able to get it off.

 

I use a frim base (a wad of paper or a shape made out of carton or foam) and then add clay to it. When it is dry I add more clay in a more defined shape and let it dry again. Then I subtract with files, knives and sanding paper. When the clay is soft, it's great for sculpting by moving the clay around. When it's dry it's great for carving, cutting and sanding. I keep a spray bottle or some water nearby to moist the clay when it gets too dry. When you want to add new clay to a dry part, wet the area with water first before adding clay so it will stick.

I have a video of me working on a head with Premier paper clay. The sculpting starts at 3:25.
[video=youtube;WgcaztL7tGw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgcaztL7tGw&feature=share&list=UU443lQ0LUcFkmjJMhfZWwhQ[/video]
I'ts basically add clay, let it dry, sand it in shape, add clay, let it dry, sand it in shape, etc. I use an oven to speed up the drying process.

Batchix has posted several videos on sculpting with paperclay:
http://youtu.be/sx25Uc5w3NY
http://youtu.be/Om1JE530euc
http://youtu.be/d-C3X4Ak98o

 

I have two 'modes' when working with LaDoll: adding and substracting.

1. First I wrap a layer of clay on an NSP-core (the NSP is wrapped in a plastic film). After I've let this dry, I add another layer - dry - another layer - dry - etc, until I have the basic shape of the head. I carve out the eye sockets and start with the base of the nose.

To speed up the drying, I 'bake' the head in the over at a 70 degrees C.

2. With the basics there, I start carving. I carve out the nose from the basic shape, I carve out the cheek mass, work on the jawline and carve out the place where the mouth is going to be.

3. Then, I add little bits of clay to build up the mouth (start with the lower lip, than add the upper lip when the lower has hardened). I let it dry and finish the mouth by carving and sanding it into shape. I also add clay 'eyes' in the sockets and wrap the eyelids over them. When dried, I'm using the carving tools again to shape them up.

4. Now that head is completely done, except for the ears, I'm cutting of the headcap (usually I use a fine toothed saw). I take out the NSP ball, drill holes where the eyes are and the neckhole is going to be and then use my dremel to completely finishing the inside of the head and the neckhole.

5. Finally, I add the ears. I start out with an earlike disk where I want the ears to be. I let it dry, carve out the inside of the ear completely and then finally add clay where I want the outer ridge to be. And finally the head is done!

Like penguu said, the trick is to use layer after layer at a time. If you use too much clay at one go, it gets hard to control and more importantly: there's a great risk that the clay will crack when it starts drying. I guess this has to do with the fact that the upper layer is already drying (and therefore shrinking), while the claymass underneath is still soft and wet.

Anyway, I really prefer LaDoll/Premier/Formofit and the like over any other clay, but it takes a different approach.

 

Echoing what everyone said. I'd like to add that regular La Doll is firmer than Premiere, more like pottery clay. Also it helps to use "slippery" tools-- silicone, metal or even a damp paintbrush.