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Crafts from clay do it yourself: A short course for beginners (100 + Photo). Step-by-step master classes (animals, dolls, Christmas toys)

Alena Likhomanova

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Sculpting from clay is a useful and fascinating activity. While working with clay, fine motor skills develop. Another modeling is a good prevention of various diseases of the hands - for example, osteoarthrosis. Sculpting from clay is useful both for very young children and elderly people. And also clay figures made by hand will be a unique and original decoration of the interior. Next we look at everything you need for your work. Let's get acquainted with the techniques of modeling and varieties of clay. Let's start ...

Content of this article:

For beginners

Beginners need to know about the types of clay and what tools will be needed for work. The set of tools depends on the type of material.

Beautiful horseshoe for luck from clay

Types of clay

Material for work can be of 2 types:

This rock and polymer clay.

Natural ceramic raw materials have been used since ancient times. This material is extracted from the soil and does not contain any impurities. There are several colors of clay:

Varieties of clay for manual molding

Even this grade is more resistant to heat (due to the high iron content), the products do not dry out and do not crack in the furnace, and after firing they become durable and last for a long time.

In its raw form, the red clay has a brown color with a slight greenish tint. It is difficult to get such clay on its own, because it is very rare.

Very rare brown clay

Blue clay is also a rare rock. It contains many minerals, salts, which makes it also a good cosmetic. Good for hands.

Popular and so affordable blue clay

White clay is the most common. Occurs everywhere. In its raw form, it has a dirty dark gray color, after firing it brightens and acquires a tint of ivory.

White clay in its raw form

Natural clay is sold in briquettes. Pre-material is cleared of excess impurities - stones, fir needles, etc. All that is needed to work with such clay is tools and water containers.

Polymer clay is a plastic material for modeling decorative items that resembles clay. Its basis is polyvinyl chloride with the addition of plasticizers. These substances add to the mass of heat resistance and plasticity.

Polymer clay for modeling

There is both a polymeric material as a neutral shade, and color, transparent, with the addition of phosphorus, with the effect of "metallic" and "mother of pearl." According to the criterion of further processing, there are 2 types: requiring roasting and hardening without heat treatment.

Fine material for small handmade

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What is needed for work?

The set of tools depends on what kind of clay you have to work with. Standard set for all types:

Tools needed for sculpting

If you do not want to dirty the table - you need to cover it with something. Suitable large wooden or plastic boards for cutting food, oilcloth. For the manufacture of vases and pots potter's wheel is convenient (you can start learning without it).

For rolling clay fit such rolling pins

If the work goes with natural raw materials - the dishes with warm running water are obligatory.. Clay will need to moisten as needed. If the material is not from the store, but extracted independently, then sand is also needed to achieve the desired concentration.

To work with colored polymer clay and natural red does not require funds for decoration. And for all other species will need:

Stacks for sculpting

The thickness of the brushes is determined by the size of the product. Mandatory number 1 and number 2 and 3. The unit draws small parts, and medium-thick brushes perform the main work. Wide coarse bristles are used for priming large surfaces with one tone.

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Modeling techniques

There are 2 main types of modeling: constructive, plastic and combined.Constructive - this is when the parts of the crafts are made separately, and then come together as a designer. Plastic - modeling from a single piece.

Different techniques are invented for both methods. The main types of structural modeling:

Master class for children step by step

Art modeling from clay is a more ancient type of work. Basic technology:

Sculpting from a single piece by hand

Beginners should start with simple ways. It is harness, mosaic, molding.

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Burning

Before you start firing - you need to wait until the craft is completely dry. You can thing both indoors and outdoors. The process takes a period of time from several hours to several days.

Phased lamb appearance process

Ideally, a muffle furnace should be used to bake clay products. Such is available only in professional workshops. In addition, you can burn the craft:

Fabulous creatures that kids love so much

For roasting on a fire, one should make a fire in an enclosed space in order to avoid temperature drops. Barbecue, bricklaying. The toy is placed in a can and placed directly in the center of the fire.

Similarly, products are baked in a Russian stove. The craft is placed in a tin container, put in the oven and monitor the temperature of combustion.

The oven is preheated to 200⁰. Then the fire decreases (up to 180⁰). The craft is placed on a baking sheet or placed in a baking dish. Keep 1-2 hours.

Funny snowmen do it yourself

If the craft is small or there are fears that it will catch fire or crack, then the oven should not be warmed up beforehand, but leave the craft inside the cabinet immediately. The ring turns on the most minimum mark. Then the oven is gradually heated to 200⁰ (keep the craft inside no more than an hour).

It is important to adhere to all the steps of action.

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Polymer clay

Polymer clay molding is very simple - this material is malleable, like plasticine. Details are made in the form of geometric shapes, layers, then they are fastened. It is desirable to have a scheme of the finished product. Here are some instructions for making crafts.

Polymer clay is very comfortable and supple.

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Dolls

Need clay, toothpicks or other objects to form facial features, paint. In addition, for work you will need:

Step 1.

First you need a sketch of the finished crafts. It can be printed from the Internet or drawn independently.

Step 2.

Then a “skeleton” of the future doll is formed from the wire. Excess wires are cut with pliers or special scissors.

Step 3.

Now the "muscles" are formed from the foil. The foil is cut into even equal strips, then they are wrapped around the wire body. It is important to ensure that the realistic proportions of the muscles inherent in the human body are respected.

Step 4.

Now clay is molded over the foil. At first pieces are attached, then the surface is leveled. Only the body and body are molded from clay. It is important to ensure that the body looks like a human, repeating all transitions and folds.

Step 5.

Separately manufactured parts - hands, feet, head. Each part is carefully worked out. Fingers, nose, eyes, mouth are formed.

Step 6.

Now parts are fastened together. Foil can be used for bonding. From above everything is covered with clay, foil should not be visible.

Step 7.

After the work has dried to the end, it can be burned.

Step 8.

The craft is covered with paints. Small details are drawn.

Step 9.

Glue the hair.

Step 10.

The costume is worn on the doll.

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Animals and Birds

Animals and birds are made similar to dolls. First, a sketch is drawn or printed on paper.

Beautiful polymer clay animals

It is easier to sculpt the figures: in most cases, if it is not a large figure, then the wire frame is not necessary. The details of the body are molded in the form of geometric figures: a ball, a circle, a triangle - and also in the form of sausages, layers. Then they come together, the junctions are held together with liquefied clay.

Separately, it should be said about the legs of birds. If the bird is standing, then the legs will most likely not hold the weight of the figure. In this case, it is worth it either to make a stable body, or to depict a bird sitting on something. The paws in this case are connected to the support, i.e. sculpted from it or simply molded with tools.

Pay attention to the support so that your product is firmly fixed.

You can still make large stable legs. Also, they may be absent altogether or have a stylized look, like a Dymkovo toy.

Gentle polymer parrots

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Autumn and New Year crafts

Autumn is a time when nature itself provides a lot of material for creativity. Amazing shades of fallen leaves, fir cones and branches, nuts, stones, and even dried mushrooms - all this can be used for a sculptural composition on an autumn theme.

Christmas crafts with their own hands

Many elegant Christmas tree decorations can be made from clay - especially polymer. And if you decorate them with sparkles and beads, then their appearance will be especially festive.

You will definitely please your loved ones with such toys.

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Conclusion

Crafts made of clay is a good way to decorate your home in an original way. With the help of figures you can express your individuality, your style. Work with clay develops motility, has a positive effect on the health of the hands, develops creative abilities. The disadvantages are not always affordable price, complexity and the need to carry out a long cleaning after work.

PHOTO GALLERY (more than 100 photos)