Polymer Clay Portrait Sculpture

13. Cut two 28 inch pieces of utility wire.

14. Bend each piece of wire in half and twist all the way from the bend to the end, so you are left with two 14 inch pieces of wire.

15. On each piece of wire, measure and mark 8-1/2 cm, 2-1/2" and 1-1/2 cm and bend the wire at each mark.

16. Duct tape the two halves together to create a "spine."

17. Cut eight inches of wire, bend in half and twist.

18. Duct tape the wire along the "spine" to create the neck where the head will be placed. Now the armature "skeleton" of the sculpture is created (figure G).

19. Cut the ends of the armature so they are even.

20. Cut foil into 1-inch strips and wrap the armature to define the "muscles" (figure H). Tip: Cut several strips to build up the muscles.

21. Wrap foil with paper tape to help the clay stick to the armature (figure I).

22. Position the armature to match the pose in the picture.

23. Sculpt and bake shoes (figure J).

24. Attach shoes and head to the armature (figure K).

25. Cover the entire armature with clay.

26. Sculpt the arms, attach to the arms and bake the entire sculpture.

27. Now that the sculpture is stiff and solid, cut out the pattern for clothes out of a thin sheet of clay. Use colorful clay to make the jeans and a button down shirt (figure L).

29. Slide the shoes on and bake again, 15 minutes at 250 degrees.

30. Add the shirt pieces (front and back panels, then the sleeves).

31. Make the baby sculpture that will set in his arms.

32. Sculpt the head and face of the baby.

33. Next, make the body of the baby; shape a small piece of 5" x 7" foil into a torso. Then wrap with paper tape.

34. Wrap the top portion of the body with flesh color clay and the bottom portion with blue colored clay.

35. For the legs, make two coils of blue colored clay and attach to the torso.

36. Make little baby shoes and attach to the legs. Also make arms and hands and attach to the body.

37. Cut out a shirt pattern from a thin sheet of black clay and attach to the top front and back of the body.

39. Then bake the entire sculpture for 30 minutes at 250 degrees.

40. Accent the sculpture with heat-set oil paint. Paint the jeans a darker blue (figure N), add a bit of color to the face and add colorful details to the clothing.

41. Bake the entire sculpture at 250 degrees for 10 minutes.

42. Drill holes into the base and attach the sculpture.

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