Having Trouble With Gumpaste Wrestling Figure

Decorating By gidgetdoescakes Updated 5 Feb 2012 , 8:20am by gidgetdoescakes

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gidgetdoescakes Posted 3 Feb 2012 , 9:27pm
post #1 of 7

I need to make child wrestlers for on a cake. The one I made the arms look strange. I can't seem to find a tutorial on people figures that are not cartoon like. Can anyone suggest a good tutorial for gumpaste people?

6 replies
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sillywabbitz Posted 3 Feb 2012 , 10:14pm
post #2 of 7

I don't have any tutorials but generally the arms and legs look strange when they're out of proportion to the body.
Odds are they're too long. Try shortening them or angling them to look a little more natural. The Elvis in my pics gave me fits trying to get the legs right but it was really I just made them way too long. I kept shortening and shortening them and then once I added in the bend , it made a big difference

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Price Posted 4 Feb 2012 , 12:14am
post #3 of 7

I can suggest a good book for you - "How to Make Clay Characters" by Maureen Carlson. I used this book alot when I first started modeling. It does a great job showing you how to shape the different body parts. It is a Clay book but the instructions are easily converted to using for gumpaste and fondant. Aine2, (Lorraine McKay) has many tutorials you can purchase on line.

What is it you don't like about the arms you made?

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gidgetdoescakes Posted 4 Feb 2012 , 4:53am
post #4 of 7

I attached them, and they looked backwards lol.....I mean really the whole figure is ready for trash can....I have to start over. I was hoping to find something on the internet.

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gidgetdoescakes Posted 4 Feb 2012 , 6:42am
post #5 of 7

oh maybe I will have to go withthe cartoonish look....

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Price Posted 4 Feb 2012 , 2:40pm
post #6 of 7

When you are trying to model arms it's important to think about where our arms bend and move. You have movement at the shoulder, elbow and wrist. Everything else should be kept as straight as possible. Work the fondant to narrow the wrist between the hand and arm. Use your fingers to pinch in at the back of the elbow to give it a little more of a point. If you don't pay attention to the little details the arm ends up looking like a wet noodle! Believe me I know from experience icon_smile.gif Take a good look at your own arm in the mirror and use that as a guide. I attempt to keep my figures as much in proportian as I can but I can not scuplt a realistic face so I do keep mine "cartooney". I like them that way. I feel that if I can't do it well enough to make it really look exactly like the person I'm better off to just make it in their likeness and emphasize their features.

Good luck with your project.

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gidgetdoescakes Posted 5 Feb 2012 , 8:20am
post #7 of 7

Thank you so very much for the tips. Yes thats what i was thinking as well. I am nevr going to get it to look like the little girl but I can give her red hair and big eyes and that will be cute like her. She is a wrestler haha so that is whats making it difficult for me. I will try again, I already threw the first one in the trash icon_sad.gif

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