Step 1
|
Temporary Base: Measure and mark the center of the square
piece of plywood. Drill a hole through the center. Drill a hole up
into the center of the dowel rod about 1/2" deep. Insert screw from
the bottom of the plywood up into the center of the dowel rod.
You should now have a sturdy base to work with.
|
Step 2
|
Press the entire block of clay onto the dowel rod. Do not allow the
rod to poke through the top. Then move the block up, down, and
side to side so that it fits loosely and you are able to easily remove
and replace the block of clay.
|
Step 3
|
Body: With the fettling knife, create a rough cone shape by slicing
off the corners. Save the excess clay for later use. Use your fingers
to model the folds in the “sheet” that your ghost is wearing.
Try to create the look of fabric molding
to the shape of the ghost’s
legs. Round the top of the head.
|
Step 4
|
Eyes: Use the flat end of a pencil to create depressions about 1/8"
deep where the eyes should be. Use a sharpened pencil to make
holes in the center of the recessed flat area (like two bull’s eyes).
Roll two small equal sized balls of clay and place them into the
“eye sockets” you just created. The eyes should fit snugly.
|
Step 5
|
Shoes: Remove the figure from its base and use the handle of the fettling
knife (or your thumb) to make depressions in the bottom of the
figure where the shoes peek out from under the “sheet”. Roll a log of
clay about 21/2" long and 3/4" diameter. Cut in half and press into the
depressions you just made, leaving 1/3 to peek out from under the
sheet. Replace the figure on the base. Round the end of the shoes and
scratch in a line to indicate the soles. Roll small lengths of “shoe laces”
and press into the shoes with the sharp end of the pencil.
|
Step 6
|
Arms: Scratch in cross hatch marks where the arms will attach.
Roll a log of clay about 6" long and 1" diameter. Cut in half and
scratch one end with cross hatch marks. Dip each marked end in
water and press firmly to the body of the ghost. Form the hands
and smooth the seams so you can no longer see them. More clay
may be needed to create a smooth transition from the hands to
the body. It should look like cloth draped over the figure.
|
Step 7
|
Drying: Cover figure loosely with a plastic bag and let dry
overnight. When it is dry enough to stand on its own and not leave
finger prints, uncover and remove from base. With the fettling knife,
hollow out the insides from the bottom of the figure. Try to leave
about 1/2" wall thickness all the way around. This is to help speed the
drying process and more importantly, to prevent cracking. Place two
books of equal thickness (over 1/2" thick) about 1" apart. Set the
ghost on the books so it straddles the space between them (this will
allow air to flow more evenly around the figure). The clay will
whiten as it drys. It will take 2 to 3 days to dry completely.
|
Step 8
|
Paint: Once the piece is completely dry you may paint. Apply
Flesh color to the area around the eyes. Paint the eyes Black with
a White highlight. Paint the shoes Red with White soles and shoestrings.
Paint the rest of the sheet covering your “Ghost” White.
|
Stonex™ Ghost
Contact Us
