Let's Face It, Nothing Is Perfect The First Time Around
The first curing does not have to be perfect with the faces and hands. I cure quickly to capture the flow of the clay fabric and so I don't goof up what I have in rough draft for the exposed body parts. Then when the clay fabric is cured I can hold these items and turn them about to file and carve the face to finish and give definition and not wreck what I have done so far. Good tip for those with hand tremors, cured clay doesn't dink and get fingerprints when you're filing. More control over the clay.
