Getting the Right Proportions in Your Sculptures: Use a Template
When I first started creating toppers, I often struggled with achieving accurate proportions. It wasn’t uncommon to find that an arm turned out too large for the body, or the head too small. This often led to the frustrating task of redoing parts, sometimes even running out of the specific color of fondant or cold porcelain I was using.
To overcome these challenges, I discovered the invaluable power of using a template.
Your template can take various forms:
- A rough sketch: Quickly jot down the basic shapes and sizes of the elements you envision in your sculpture.
- A printout of a design: If you have a specific image in mind, print it out as a visual guide.
- A traced picture: Trace the outline of an image to capture its proportions accurately.
For instance, if you wanted to create a bear topper for a cake as in the above, you could simply sketch the bear you visualise.
As you sculpt, you can constantly compare each body part to your sketch, ensuring that the proportions remain consistent.
If you know the size of your cake, adjust your sketch accordingly to ensure the topper is neither too small nor too large for the finished product.
To enhance the visualization, I like to color my sketches to match the intended colors of my sculpture. This helps me avoid disappointment after the fact and ensures that the final topper aligns with my vision. When working with clients, sharing the colored sketch with them is a great way to gain approval and confirm their expectations before starting the sculpture.
Using a template makes sculpting easier and helps you avoid mistakes!
