How to Create a Clay Unicorn

This is a step by step tutorial by IndigoOcean to create a realistic unicorn (or a horse if you prefer).  Tutorial is in PDF format and includes lots of photos.   The artist takes you all the way from concept drawing, to creating an armature, sculpting the horse/unicorn, creating a mold and casting the sculpture.  You can skip the mold creation/casting process if you prefer, it's not a necessary part of this tutorial.  Just create your own one-of-a-kind sculpture instead!

Because the artist plans on creating a mold, he is using Plasteline clay, which is an oil-based clay which does not harden.   The Plasteline figure will be discarded after casting.   The author says:  "I'm not narrowing down the materials too much. The actual sculpting medium you use is entirely up to you, and this tutorial will focus on my process more than anything. I sculpt using many materials- polymer clay, air-dry stoneware clay, wax, plasteline, paper clay, and epoxy putty- but for all of them the techniques used vary little. This tutorial centers around designing, sculpting, molding, casting and finishing a piece."

Creating an Art Doll, Olga style, Pt. 7 of 7: Wig & Base

In this multi-part art doll demonstration, we've been following Olga Egupets as she shows us her techniques for making armatures, modeling faces, body parts and props, painting the doll and creating clothing.  This is Part 7, the final video in the series.  Olga finishes her doll by adding a wig using needle-felting techniques and wool roving.  Then she creates a leather-look display base from wood and paper and the doll with her new black dress is done!

Creating an Art Doll, Olga style, Pt. 6 of 7: Making the Clothes

Finished doll

In this multi-part art doll demonstration, Olga Egupets shows us her techniques from start to finish, demonstrating armatures, modeling faces, body parts and props, painting, wigging and creating clothing. When making her dolls, Olga uses a variety of materials, including air dry clays such as Creative Paperclay, LaDoll, Plastiform, Efaplast etc.   This doll has a sewing machine on her lap because she has just finished sewing herself a little black dress. This is Part 6 of 7, 'Making the Clothing'.

Creating an Art Doll, Olga style, Pt. 5 of 7: Making the Props

Painted doll at end of Part 4

In this multi-part art doll demonstration, Olga Egupets shows us her techniques from start to finish, demonstrating armatures, modeling faces, body parts and props, painting, wigging and creating clothing. When making her dolls, Olga uses a variety of materials, including air dry clays such as Creative Paperclay, LaDoll, Plastiform, Efaplast etc.

This is Part 5 of 7.  Please go here for Parts 1 and 2.  Part 3 is here and Part 4 is here.

Creating an Art Doll, Olga style, Pt. 4 of 7: Painting

Stage 3 finished!

In this multi-part art doll demonstration, Olga Egupets shows us her techniques from start to finish, demonstrating armatures, modeling faces, body parts and props, painting, wigging and creating clothing. When making her dolls, Olga uses a variety of materials, including air dry clays such as Creative Paperclay, LaDoll, Plastiform, Efaplast etc.

This is Part 4 of 7.  Please go here for Parts 1 and 2.  Part 3 is here   In the first 3 steps, Olga created her armature and body form, coated it with a layer of papier mache to give it bulk and gave it a smooth finish with a brushed-on top coat (finished doll at this stage is shown above).  She also finished modeling the face, hands and feet using LaDoll clay.

Creating an Art Doll, Olga style, Pt. 3 of 7: Sculpting

papier mache stage complete

In this multi-part art doll demonstration, Olga Egupets shows us her technique from start to finish, demonstrating armatures, modeling faces, body parts and props, painting, wigging and creating clothing. When making her dolls, Olga uses a variety of materials, including air dry clays such as Creative Paperclay, LaDoll, Plastiform, Efaplast etc.

Creating an Art Doll, Olga style, Parts 1 and 2 of 7

Olga E. Egupets was born in Deep Eastern Kazakhstan.   In 2000, she decided to try making dolls and soon  became very popular among collectors and lovers of art dolls, both in Russia and abroad.  At first it was small size works but her current dolls are quite large.  In this multi-part demonstration, Olga shows us her technique from start to finish,

Make a Bird Bead and Earrings

How to make a stylized bird as a bead using Creative Paperclay.  Finished bead is made into earrings.

Make This Cute Bee in a Clay Pot

Eliana Braga has created a step by step photo tutorial showing you how to create this cute bee sitting in a clay pot with a few easy-to-make flowers. This was created with cold porcelain but almost any air-dry clay would be suitable. The softer brands of air-dry clay may be the best for this. Eliana also shows detail steps for painting the eyes and creating the sweet facial expression. 

Materials needed are cold porcelain or other air-dry clay in flesh, yellow, white, green and black; a styrofoam ball for head armature; a small clay pot; some black wire; basic modeling tools; white glue; a heart shaped cookie cutter and a fine point black marker.

Make a Red Angry Bird Magnet

Learn how to make an angry bird magnet. You'll need some red, white, yellow, orange and black clay along with a magnet.  An easy, beginners project, just follow the steps shown in this video demo.

Spoon Doll ~ Fantasy Figure

Hildi, a 22" spoon doll by Studio Willich

Here's a great tutorial from Studio Willich showing how they make spoon dolls (updated).   Spoon dolls are simply sculptures that start out with a wooden spoon as armature, as shown below.   I don't often feature polymer clay tutorials that have to be converted to use air-dry clay, but