Just finished my sculpture class. I haven't worked with clay since I was fourteen, so this was quite a challenge. Learned a bunch and really enjoyed it. This one is based on a female model we had for four or so days, from which I diverged slightly. The clay was too gritty to get much surface detail, and I need to study anatomy more, but I'm fairly pleased with the results.
lol.. i hear u... I never scalp of the life model, but I have down sketching and plus size models has always been easier... and more fun from artistic stand point.
Try using a bake able polymer clay, It takes detail really well and you don't have to worry about drying well working on it, Or it exploding in the kiln