How to Make People With Sculpted Clay
- 1). Create an armature of the figure you're planning to make with a bendable wire. Twist the wires together to make the general shape of the person, including a body, limbs and a loop for the head. This skeleton of the creation will support the clay to prevent the figure from crumbling or a limb from falling off while it's being made.
- 2). Prepare the clay so it's at a softness you're comfortable working with. If the clay is too hard, pound and pummel it between your hands to soften it up. If the clay is too soft, roll it flat and place it between two pieces of paper to absorb excess moisture.
- 3). Create the head of your person by rolling a piece of clay into a ball in your hands. Don't worry about details yet -- simple make the basic shape of the person's head. Stick it on the end of the armature.
- 4). Shape a body for your clay person and place it on the armature. This should be about three times as long as the head, if you want to make a realist and proportional figure. Roll arms and legs for the person, too, and stick them on the wire skeleton. Smooth the clay between the head, body and limbs so that they all look connected.
- 5). Ensure the clay piece is balanced and can stand or sit on its own without falling over. You may need to adjust an arm or leg to create more stability.
- 6). Add details to your clay person. Pinch the middle of the head to make a nose on the face. Use a knife to carve away areas of the body to define a waist, wrists, ankles and a neck. The blunt end of a pencil can be pressed in the clay to make eyes. Use a toothpick or needle to draw details in the eyes and textured hair on the head.
- 7). Allow the clay to harden, following the manufacturer's directions. Some clays will air-dry and harden on their own, while others must be fired in a oven or kiln.
Source...