Character Modeling with Sugar Paste
A course by Carlos Lischetti, Pastry Chef
Learn the basic techniques of sugar art to sculpt figures filled with expressiveness and movement
Have you ever seen a stunning work of art that's also edible? Now you can make your own by exploring the endless possibilities of sugarcraft. For pastry chef Carlos Lischetti, sugar paste is his material of choice because it allows him to sculpt figures with exquisite detail. He can change the look of a cake and brighten up the atmosphere around it by simply adding a smile to his characters.
In this course, learn the basic techniques to sculpt sugar paste and turn your ideas into tasty creations. Discover the materials and tools for working with sugar paste and model animation-style figures step by step using geometric shapes and 3D details.
What will you learn in this online course?
19 lessons & 16 downloads
What's included in this course?
Carlos Lischetti opens the course by explaining how he was fortunate to discover his passion for pastry making at a young age. He also talks about his career in cake design and shares his main sources of inspiration to give you some ideas for your project.
Search for references to help you define the style of your sugar art figure. Carlos then shows how he creates a sketch, template, and color scheme for his work and walks you through his character-modeling process using a template with the front and side views.
Now that you've worked up an appetite, get ready to sculpt your project. Start from the bottom and move upwards modeling the shoes and legs, the torso, neck, and head, and finally the arms and hands. Then, learn how to create hair and vertically assemble your figure to put on the finishing touches.
Now it's time to sweeten your design and give it a touch of personality. Learn how to add objects, place your character's legs in different positions, play with facial expression, and explore alternatives for hands and hair.
Finally, Carlos teaches you how to cover a polystyrene stand with sugar paste and secure your character to it, which is especially important for those standing upright. As a cherry on top, he also shows you another way to present them directly on the cake as well as how to protect your figures while transporting them to their final destination.
- 99% positive reviews (796)
- 26,987 students
- 19 lessons (3h 23m)
- 16 additional resources (6 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish, English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Model a full-body caricature-style figure while experimenting with different facial expressions and body postures to simulate motion.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who wants to learn how to model figures using sugar paste, regardless of age or experience. This course is also perfect for any artisan who sculpts and models with inedible materials, like polymer or cold porcelain clay, and is interested in branching out to this technique.
Requirements and materials
No prior knowledge is needed for this course, just come ready to experiment at home while following along with your teacher.
As for materials, you need CMC, vegetable fat, cornstarch, a silicone mat, gel food coloring, and wooden sticks.
Reviews
Carlos Lischetti
A course by Carlos Lischetti
As a child, Carlos Lischetti loved baking and decorating cakes. This childhood passion inspired him to take courses with industry professionals in Argentina and Europe, which he continues to do to keep up with new techniques and stay motivated. In the world of sugarcraft, Lischetti has developed his own unmistakable style thanks to the sketches of his twin brother Elio, which he uses to design his sugar paste figures.
Throughout his career, he has had several of his projects featured in the magazine Cakes and Sugarcraft, and has written two books: Animación en azúcar and Animación en azúcar 2, published by B. Dutton Publishing in London. He currently travels the world teaching his modeling techniques and sharing his sweet experiences in sugarcraft.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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Presentation
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Influences
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U2
From sketch to 3D modeling
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Sketch: Search for Visual References
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Materials and tools
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Modeling paste: preservation and color
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How to model basic shapes
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U3
Modeling of one of our characters
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Legs and slippers modeling
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Torso and neck shaping
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Head modeling 1
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Head modeling 2
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Arm and hand modeling
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How to make the hair and assemble the figure in a vertical position 1
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How to make the hair and assemble the figure in a vertical position 2
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U4
Giving character to our characters
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Adding objects: guitar
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Cross leg modeling
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Facial expressions: open mouth
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Hands and different hair alternatives
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U5
Securing and presenting our pieces
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How to cover a styrofoam base and secure the characters
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Characters on the cake and transfer
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FP
Final project
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Character modeling with sugar paste
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
You’ll learn techniques to sculpt full figures and characters from sugar paste, starting from sketches through assembly and final decoration, including anatomical details, facial expressions, and color use.
This is an intermediate-level course, perfect for those with basic baking or modeling skills who want to refine their techniques and boost their creativity with sugar figures.
You’ll need sugar paste, fondant, CMC, cornstarch, vegetable shortening, basic tools like modeling sticks, smoothers, cutters, a polycarbonate rolling pin, silicone mats, and food coloring.
The course covers kneading techniques, shaping basic forms, using proportion templates, creating facial expressions, assembling parts, adding decorative details, plus methods for coloring and preserving the paste.
Polystyrene bases covered with fondant and support sticks are used to keep figures stable during transfer and assembly on the cake.
Expressions and accessories add personality, realism, and originality to your characters, allowing you to tailor designs to specific themes and emotions.
Yes, you’ll learn how to mix and apply colorants to create custom skin tones and color combinations for each character.
He is the best in the industry when it comes to this type of craft. I am proud to have this course. Very educational and informative course! The lessons are easy to follow and understand. I highly recommend it!
I loved it. It is really clear and detail course. Carlos is a wonderful artist and teacher.
çok güzel bir kurstu çok beğendim keşke hayvan da olsaydı umarım ileride onu da yaparsınız hocam
optimo curso
Very good. Easy to do projects