Interview with Manish Patki- A Budding Artist

Manish Patki is a Nasik based Artist learning different modelling techniques. We got in touch with him to know about these different techniques and this is what he shared with us –

What are different techniques of modelling techniques you learning?

Manish Patki – I have completed my course in Embossing, carving and sculpting. These are different styles you can say of modelling techniques worked on different materials. Like
• Modelling on Metal or metal sheet is called Embossing
• Modelling done on Wood is called Carving and
• Modelling Stone is termed as Sculpting

Can you share in brief about these techniques and its process to modelling?

Manish Patki – Sure. Let’s start with Sheet Metal Casting,

Contractorbhai-Process-to-sheet-Metal-Embossing

As I said, the process to modelling on Metal Sheet is called as Embossing.
i. We firstly choose the figurine that we want to model. An outline is drawn with permanent marker on metal sheet. The thickness of the sheet various as per design and requirement.
ii. The Metal sheet is then heated for 10-15 min. Heating makes it easy to carve the given figure on Metal sheet. The process of heating is repeated every 2-2.5 hours for easy and smooth carving. Carving on cold metal will break the sheet and also will not aid achieve smooth curves which is very essential for beautiful Metal Model. (to get rid of blackness caused due to heating, the metal sheet is washed with diluted Sulphur solution.)
iii. Once the outline is carved, the sheet metal is turned upside down to which a gum called “RAVA” is poured. Once the gum has thickened, other minute details of figure are then carved or embossed with tools like chisel and hammer. One has to take extreme care while using these tools since one hard hit can damage or break the Metal sheet.
The Gum here helps emboss minutest details on metal sheet with ease causing no damage to it.
iv. Once the details have been embossed, the gum is manually removed. The embossed metal is then heated for short time to remove excess gum hidden in corners.
v. The sheet usually bends here, to check on that place the sheet on plain surface. If any alterations, the figure or design is corrected using the tools- chisel and hammer.
vi. The final process is varnishing. To achieve black rich finish, the metal sheet is dipped in acid solution. This process is called as oxidizing metal sheet. To maintain the original metal finish and color, the sheet is polished with Polishing solution.

Contractorbhai-Sculpting-on-Stone-by-Manish-Patki

The process to Carving on wood and Sculpting on Stone is quite similar. The tools used too are same.

i. Firstly the stone / Wood of desired size is cut and the design or figure is outlined with help of crayon.
ii. The Image is then carved on the material i.e. wood or stone. Definitely the tools get bigger with material and work.
iii. But before sculpting or carving, the image is carved on wax block. The wax used for prior carving is made using powder mixed with hot oil. For realistic 3D idols, the anatomy is measured, which is then carved on wax block as per the sizes. The wax block is continuously kept on low flame burner. This helps us carve the idol smoothly and effortlessly.
iv. The tools made for carving on wood and sculpting on stone are made by us i.e. the artist himself. For sculpting and carving usually tools material and size i.e. thickness and length varies as per the artist. Usually these tools are made out of copper, steel or nickel.
v. The entire process of carving an average size idol with final finishing touches takes around a month’s time.

Contractorbhai-Clay-modelling-Processjpg

What are Different types of Stone and Wood that carving and sculpting is done?

Manish Patki – Sculpting is usually done on stone like Marble, Green Limestone, Granite, Yellow Ocar Stone, etc. Mysore Stone is the softest and smoothest stone usually used for sculpting purpose.
And for wood you have Sandalwood, Rosewood (sesame) that are often used for carving purpose. Shivani Wood – the softest wood from Karnataka is popularly used in South for carving.