Air Dry Clay Bust

Step 1: Sketch out your idea

You need to sketch out your idea before you begin. I want you to explore different ideas outside of your gut reaction first one. It is good to explore different genders or ages.

Once you have explored the different options, then you can narrow it down to one that you really like. In this final sketch you need to draw out the front, side (profile), and back of what the bust will look like. Make sure to add notes and ideas along with your sketch. It would be good to have measurements as well. This will help you with the building.

Below are some guides to helping you layout the correct human proportions and how to draw the human face.

Drawing the Human Face Guide

Drawing the Human Face Worksheet

Facial Structure Image

Angles of the Human Face

Step by Step Drawings

Step 2: Building the Armature

What is an armature? - Armature, in sculpture, a skeleton or framework used by an artist to support a figure being modeled in soft plastic material. An armature can be made from any material that is damp-resistant and rigid enough to hold such plastic materials as moist clay and plaster, which are applied to and shaped around it. (britannica.com)

To build this armature, you will need tin foil and maybe a plastic knife or chopstick.

Crinkle up the tin foil into shapes and build to make the armature of your bust. This does not have to be exact but you need to be close to the proportions you are working with.

Step 3: Learn about the Clay

Watch the video below about tips on working with the Crayola Air Dry Clay.

Step 4: Start Covering Your Armature

Once your armature has been created. You will start adding clay to the armature. Before you begin, make sure:

- - you have a clean surface to work on
  - you have a cup of water near by
  - you have a rag to wipe your hands on near by
  - you have your plastic fork for slipping and scoring
  - you have a paper plater work on
  - you have a plastic bag to cover it up after you are done working

You you begin by smashing pieces of clay in a semi-thin layer (half and inch thick) to cover the armature. You do not need to cover the bottom. You need to slip and score each piece together and smooth out with a wet finger.

It is IMPORTANT that you cover your sculpture with a plastic bag after you are doing work.

Step 5: Begin Structuring The Head

The video to the right gives some great tips on how to start laying out proportions for your face and the head. They are working on a smaller scale than you but over all the same techniques can be applies. I highly recommend laying out the lines, like if you were drawing, on to the head before creating features.

Once this is done you can start adding and carving away at the clay to create the features. Start with the large features (nose, eyes, ears & hair) and then go back and work on the details. If you start to early on the details, you might mistakenly mess them up or erase them.

ALWAYS REMEMBER TO COVER YOUR SCULPTURE WITH A PLATIC BAG WHEN YOU TAKE A BREAK. If you can, spritz it with water before you cover it.

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