Do you sculpt standing up or sitting down?

[viking93718]

Hi everyone,

If I am not mistaken, I have read somewhere that people recommend to sculpt standing up better than sitting down. But I couldn't find the information, may be I should just ask you guys sculptors straight. Hopefully, some of the expert would also give me their 2 cents. I personally enjoy it sculpting when I stand up. So yeah, do you sculpt standing up or sitting down? what's the advantages, etc?

One of the reason also, is because I have been trying to find a Sculpture table/stand. So, if most people recommend standing up, then I have to by a pretty tall stand. Or may be build it myself? any recommendation? at this moment, I have been using my shelf, which I always hit the dang thing...grrrr. Hahaha.

Thank you.

[Kilh]

Of course that will depend on the piece you're working on - I wouldn't recommend sculpting 1:24 wax stuff standing up. Anyhow, if the project (and the size of you working space allows standing). I'd say it's better than sitting because you will automatically take a step away from time to time and, more importantly, it won't kill your back as fast as sitting 14 hours. When you're sitting try to sit more or less straight and always keep the height of the working place somewhat close to your face (lower the chair) so you don't have to bend over.

Personally I sculpt sitting 95% of the time, but that's mostly because I usually carve wax or work on tiny stuff.

[sharry]

Of course that will depend on the piece you're working on - I wouldn't recommend sculpting 1:24 wax stuff standing up. Anyhow, if the project (and the size of you working space allows standing). I'd say it's better than sitting because you will automatically take a step away from time to time and, more importantly, it won't kill your back as fast as sitting 14 hours. When you're sitting try to sit more or less straight and always keep the height of the working place somewhat close to your face (lower the chair) so you don't have to bend over.

Personally I sculpt sitting 95% of the time, but that's mostly because I usually carve wax or work on tiny stuff.

Ditto

[clayman1976]

I would have to agree. I spend most of my time sitting while sculpting. However, when I took my college courses way back when I worked on a much larger scale.. such as life size.. and standing worked best for that. It's all a matter of personal preference and what you're most comfortable with really. Just because some other artist, famous or not, does something one way... that doesn't automatically make it the right and only way to do things. Whatever works best for you is what you should consider the right way for you.

[Tombo]

I pretty much always sculpt sitting down. 1. My sculpts are relatively small so standing seems impractical. 2. I have a REALLY bad ankle from a motorcycle accident when I was a kid. 3. I am a fat lazy bast... um I just like sitting.

[dark_wraith]

As with what most people have already said, it depend on the scale and project. I tend to work rather small so standing would be very impractical. I find sitting gives stability that is needed for detailed work. Working at lets say, 1:1 you almost need to stand to access all parts of the sculpt.

[Alfred Paredes]

I sculpt both ways. I usually bulk up my pieces standing up, then when I move to detail, I sit down. If it's a full figure, 1:4 scale or larger, I do the whole thing standing. If it's a portrait, 1:2 scale or larger, I do it standing. The rest, I pretty much do while seated. Especially once I'm working in wax.

Standing gives me freedom of movement and it makes me faster, because I'm moving around the piece or spinning it and always moving from one part to the next. I never get sucked into the details when I'm standing. Sculpting a piece from the start while seated can lead to doing details too early (for me, that is).

I've made my own adjustable stand (although I plan on buying one with a crank, for working on heavier things. Here are some pictures of the basic set up:



Cheers!!

[viking93718]

Thank you for all responses. I appreciate that. Thanks for the picture of your set up Alfred. Yeah, I am thinking to get a stand too definitely with the crank. They're somewhat expensive.

[sharry]

good tip for a very cheap sculpting stand is to use a stool from ikea that the seat screws up and down. It's not perfect as the sculpt raises and lowers as you turn it but for the £5 it cost me in a junk shop it's worth every penny! Ikea also do a wooden lazy susan for a few £, it's about 40cm across and great for 'table top' sculpting.
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90074483

[Tim-Osullivan]

Thank you for all responses. I appreciate that. Thanks for the picture of your set up Alfred. Yeah, I am thinking to get a stand too definitely with the crank. They're somewhat expensive.

..indeed. i got a Pin locking one from Tiranti here in the UK but i rate it amonst one of the best £300-00 i have spent and worth every penny. HANDING OVER the cash..... now that was a choker!!!

i was getting back ache from seated sculpting but not any more.


atb --- tim

[centaur1]

Here lately I've been lying on my side on the floor.

[viking93718]

Thank you for all responses. I appreciate that. Thanks for the picture of your set up Alfred. Yeah, I am thinking to get a stand too definitely with the crank. They're somewhat expensive.

..indeed. i got a Pin locking one from Tiranti here in the UK but i rate it amonst one of the best £300-00 i have spent and worth every penny. HANDING OVER the cash..... now that was a choker!!!

i was getting back ache from seated sculpting but not any more.


atb --- tim

Yeah, well, my butt gets numb when sits down too long. haha, I know I need more cushion down there. All the stand or adjustable tables are pretty expensive, but I found this one, it's pretty affordable. It also look sturdy.

http://www.madisonartshop.com/flscst.html

[semoet]

mostly i sit down for sculpt...but when i see the table kit like alfred it makes me wanted to makes one too....THANKS ALFRED...