Over the years I’ve restored hundreds of statues for churches. A few were wood but most are plaster such as this one. He’s part of a large nativity set where he is the camel ( over 4’h) tender. Nobody knows how both arms got broken off but I’ve fixed worse. Bondo around a wire armature is the basis for carving , while it’s rubbery and not rock hard , and then finishing with power tools. Not a fan of the high gloss but all the other pieces are finished this way so I matched the colors needed, cut them in and finished it off. He’s now ready to take the reins and be back on the job in time for the season.
Ive always felt hands are the most difficult thing to not only draw but to sculpt.