ere are some Frequently Asked Questions (and some answers, too!). Got a question you'd like to see an answer to here? Email me.
Q: What materials are your sculptures made out of?

A:Usually a polymer clay called Super Sculpey or a specially formulated sculpting wax called Castilene. Super Sculpey is a clay sold in craft stores that, when baked at low temperature in your home oven, hardens into a plastic-like material. Sculptures made from either medium can be molded in silicone rubber and polyurethane casts can be made from the molds, thus producing durable castings. This is how the model kits commonly called garage kits are made.

Q: Do you use an internal support for your clay?

A: Yes. It's called an armature, and it's usually made from aluminum or copper wire. The armature is very similar to a skeleton in a human being's body: it serves as a rigid support for the weight of the clay. Sometimes I use aluminum foil to bulk out the interior of the model, as well. When sculpting in Castilene an armature is usually not necessary.

Q: Why are sculptures so expensive?

A: This is something people are generally unaware of, but an original sculpture is a unique work of art. It represents not only the many hours of work it takes the artist to sculpt (from designing an armature all the way up to the finished piece), but also hours of research and planning, as well as the intangible quality of an artist's unique talent. When you commission a sculpture, there's only one piece exactly like it in the entire world. Nothing is more collectible or rare than a one-of-a-kind piece. The rates charged by Dan Perez Studios are actually quite competitive for the field.

Q: What's the average size of a sculpture?

A: It really depends on the project, but I often sculpt in 1:6 scale, which means a 6-foot human would be 12 inches tall. A sculpture can range from just a few inches tall to a few feet tall or even bigger, depending on what the client is looking for.

Q: What's the most difficult part of doing a sculpture?

A: Doing very complicated clothing or skin patterns (scales, etc.) can be time-consuming, but the biggest challenge a sculptor faces is getting an accurate likeness of a character. There are other considerations in making a good sculpture, such as symmetry, proportion and dynamicism, but the most crucial aspect is likeness and some are much more easy to capture than others.

Q: What should an aspiring sculptor keep in mind while learning to sculpt?

A: One of the most important things is to practice (making mistakes is one of the best ways to learn). Experiment with a variety of tools and techniques to find out what works for you. You can take sculpting classes, but you can also teach yourself how to sculpt as I did. Read as many books on sculpting and anatomy (human and animal) as you can find. Study other sculptures and try to figure out how the artist did them. Use visual references such as photos and illustrations. Attend yearly model and toy conventions like Wonderfest where you can meet and talk to other sculptors.

Q: Is it easier to sculpt monsters than people?

A: This is a great question, and the answer is yes. You have a lot more latitude when sculpting a monster than you do with people, because people are what we look at every day as we go about our lives. I strongly suggest you learn to sculpt people first and then go to monsters, because often monsters (think the Wolf Man) are based on the human form, and you must know that form before you take it in the direction of a monster.

Q: You stressed the importance of knowing anatomy. How important is it really?

A: It's extremely important. When I was learnin to sculpt, you would have thought I was a medical student. I had books on anatomy sitting open everywhere. I still refer to them a lot. You have to learn not only what bones and muscles look like, but how they work (muscles expand and contract, for instance, and this may affect how your sculpture looks. The importance of knowing your anatomy cannot be stressed enough.

Q: What is dynamicism?

A: It's my term for a sculpture that conveys a sense of movement and action. Sculptures often look best when the character is doing some kind of action and often, the more extreme that action is, the better. One a sculptor's biggest challenges is to do a "posed" sculpture (as sculpture that looks like the subject is posing for a photograph) and lend some subtle sense of movement to it.

Q: What material are your model kits made of?

A: A quick setting polyurethane resin. It's basically two liquid components that, when mixed, forms a catalytic reaction. It heats up, gels, and then transforms into a very tough and durable plastic.

Q: What are the molds made of?

A: A special silicone rubber. It's very flexible and heat-resistant. It also vulcanizes at room temperature, so you don't need special equipment to make molds at home.

Q: Some of your models are hollow-cast. What does that mean?

A: Hollow-casting is a way to save on resin (which can be costly). Basically a smaller amount of resin is poured into the mold, which is then plugged up and placed in a device that rotates the mold. The resin coats the inside of the mold as the mold rotates, forming a hard, hollow shell as it sets up. Hollow cast models are lighter than solid casts, but they're still strong and durable.

For more information on models and sculpture, visit the Model Shop and the Workshop.