Who doesn't love dolls? They are a lot of fun to play and there are so many types of them. If you want to have your own doll, why not make one out of clay? This way you can be creative and make something perfect for yourself. Get started with the first step right away!
Steps
Step 1. Find a model
You will need a drawing or photo of the doll's body you want to create. Clay dolls should be the same size as a Barbie doll, or be smaller. You can draw the overall shape of the doll, or you can print a photo of a model you like. Avoid the hard stuff if you are a beginner.
Step 2. Make the skeleton
Remove the bristles from a pipe cleaner. Cut it so that the pieces are about an inch longer for each section of the body. You will need pieces for the forearms and arms, for the thighs and calves, for the feet, for the hands, for the head, for the breasts and for the hips. The last 3 pieces must be circular, with straight parts sticking out so that they can connect to the rest of the body.
The head, if you want a nice proportionate neck, must have an extra long section made with a straight piece. It must be at least 2 cm
Step 3. Stuff the skeleton
You don't want your doll to be too heavy, you want to waste too much clay, so stuff the skeleton with a cheap material. Papier mache, tinfoil and scotch tape are the most common materials to use. Place the material around the skeleton, as if you were creating the "muscles" of the doll. Make sure you leave the extra pieces uncovered, as these will be the seams. When you are done, the doll should look like a small snowman.
Step 4. Add the clay
Roughly, cover the entire padded area with clay. Just worry about covering the main shapes initially. Details can be added later. If you use air-drying clay, work with one part of the body at a time so that it doesn't harden while you are still modeling the doll.
Study what your muscles are like and try to reproduce them. This way you can create a more realistic doll. For example, realistic legs are not tubes: they are curved because under the skin there are many different shapes, which create many layers
Step 5. Sculpt the details
Start by adding more clay and modeling other parts that will go into the details, such as eyes, nose, mouth, fingers, etc. You can use many tools to model the doll, such as toothpicks, knives, hollow pens, etc.
- Usually, areas that require holes (such as the mouth) need to be cut out to create the basic shape. Areas that lie outside (such as the nose) need to be modeled as a separate piece and then added. Use your fingers or a utensil to smooth the clay, add, or remove parts, so that the doll is more real.
- Other topography changes (such as cheekbones) can be made by adjusting the existing clay, but new clay must also be used to achieve three-dimensionality. Try to make this transition in a natural and gentle way.
Step 6. Treat the clay the right way
Treat the clay as described in the instructions. The clay could be baked, air dried, etc.
- For clay that dries in air, it often takes 2 hours or more for it to dry completely.
- A general rule of thumb for clay that needs to be baked is to bake it for a longer period at a lower temperature than indicated in the instructions. That way it won't burn.
- Some types of clay require an oven. This is normal for traditional clays. If you don't have a clay oven you could rent one, so consider this when choosing clay for the doll.
Step 7. Paint the details
Use enamel paint or nail polish (for polymer clay) or acrylic paints (for other types of clay), and you can paint details such as eyes and mouth, to get a more natural result. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly before moving on to the next step.
- If painting the eyes is too difficult, you can use plastic doll eyes, insert them into the clay head, then add eyelashes to make the face more realistic.
- If you want you can also add make-up to your doll using watercolors and applying very light colors.
- Avoid using black for details like the mouth. Real faces don't have black as a color, so use shades of dark brown and pink.
Step 8. Add the hair
Use scraps of fake or real fur still attached to the "skin". Cut out 4 pieces of fur to recreate the shape of the hair. You could cut out a square piece for the top, a rectangle for the back, and a C-shaped one for the sides. Consult: to find a style. Once you have your hair cut, sew it together to create a wig which can then be attached to the doll's head.
Step 9. Attach the parts
Start by covering the bare parts of the wire that serve as seams. This way they will remain flexible. Cover them with rubber bands if they are still exposed and you don't want them to get damaged.
Step 10. Dress up the doll
Now that the doll is assembled, you can dress her up! Use doll clothes or make them by hand! If you choose ready-made doll clothes, make sure they fit your doll, then check the size before making it. If you decide to make the clothes by hand instead, it will be easier.
