How Do You Make A Clay Human Figure For Kids?

Making clay figures with kids is a fun and creative activity that allows them to express their imagination in 3D. With just a few simple materials and tools, kids of all ages can sculpt miniature people, animals, and more out of clay. The process helps develop fine motor skills, creativity, and confidence as kids bring their ideas to life in clay form. From choosing the type of clay to baking and painting the finished pieces, creating clay figures engages kids in the entire artistic process. The works they produce make wonderful keepsakes and gifts. With a bit of guidance and encouragement, clay figure-making can inspire kids to tap into their creative potential.

This guide will walk through the basics of sculpting clay figures with kids, from choosing supplies to adding creative details. We’ll cover tips for making basic body shapes, adding facial features, and creating accessories to give the figures personality. You’ll also find guidance on baking and painting techniques to bring the clay creations to life. While kids may need some assistance handling tools and clay at first, the process will help build their confidence and skills over time. So let’s get started sculpting!

Choosing Clay

When making clay figures with kids, you have two main types of clay to choose from: air-dry clay and bake clay. Air-dry clay is a great choice for beginner sculptors as it does not require oven baking. It air dries to a hard finish within 24-48 hours. Bake clay requires baking in the oven to harden, but provides a more durable finished product. Here are some key differences between the two:

Air-dry clay:

• Dries naturally at room temperature
• Easy for kids to use
• Lower cost
• Models not as durable as baked clay
• Can be messy and sticky to work with
• Limited working time before drying

Bake clay:

• Requires baking in oven to harden
• Provides more durable, long-lasting models
• Higher quality finish
• Can be reused if kept moist
• More difficult for very young kids
• Added step of baking

For fun clay projects with young kids or beginners, air-dry clay is often the best choice. For older kids interested in sculpture and wanting more professional results, bake clay is preferred. Consider the child’s age and skill level when deciding between the two.

Tools and Materials

Sculpting a clay figure requires just a few basic tools. Here are the essentials you’ll need:

• Clay – Polymer clay or air-dry clay both work well. Opt for clay that is soft and malleable.

• Rolling pin – Use to roll out clay and flatten it into sheets.

• Cutting tool – A tissue blade, craft knife, or old gift card all work to cut shapes out of clay.

• Sculpting tools – Popsicle sticks, toothpicks, paint brushes, and clay sculpting tools help shape details.

• Baking sheet – To bake polymer clay figures.

Some optional tools that can help add detail include:

• Clay shaper or silicone tipped tool – For smoothing clay.

• Rolling cutters – For added pattern details.

• Texture sheets/stamps – Add patterns to the clay.

• Acrylic roller – For blending clay colors.

Making the Head and Face

When sculpting the head, start by shaping a ball of clay into an oval shape. This will form the basic shape of the head. Next, use your fingers to gently indent the eye sockets, nose, and mouth area. Be careful not to press too hard or the clay can become misshapen.

For the eyes, roll two small balls of clay into spheres and gently press them into the eye sockets to form the eyeballs. Use a toothpick or clay tool to add pupils to the eyes. For the nose, roll a tiny ball of clay into a cone shape and attach it to the center of the face.

To make the mouth, press your clay tool into the mouth area to form an open smile or make an indent for closed lips. For hair, roll thin snakes of clay and attach them around the head, pressing gently to blend them into the scalp. Style the hair into braids, ponytails or let it flow freely.

Work slowly and gently when sculpting facial features, regularly stepping back to check proportions. Add small details like ears or eyelashes to bring your clay figure to life. Let kids help with sculpting the face for a fun, hands-on experience!

Sculpting the Body

Once the head and face are formed, it’s time to build up the body. Start with the torso, shaping a rounded form, smoothing and blending the clay. Add proportional arms, rolling snake-like coils of clay for each arm, pressing one end to the torso and shaping the hands on the other end. Use a modeling tool to define the hands and fingers.

For the legs, roll two tapered cylinders of clay for the thighs and calves. Attach the thigh pieces to the lower torso, blending well. Then attach the calves, bending the knees slightly. Use your fingers and tools to refine the shape of the knees, ankles and feet. Add a base between the legs for stability. Sculpt the feet last, flattening the bottom and separating the toes.

Check proportions as you work. Stand back occasionally and compare to reference photos of human figures. Make adjustments to capture the right scale and realistic human form. Pay attention to smooth transitions and blended joints between all body parts.

Adding Details

Adding details like clothes, accessories, and other embellishments will bring your clay figure to life. These details allow kids to personalize their artwork and make it truly unique. Here are some ideas for adding details:

• Clothes – Sculpt a t-shirt, pants, dress, or other clothing onto your figure. Roll tiny balls or snakes of clay to make shirt buttons, belt loops, etc. Use a toothpick or clay tool to add textures like stripes or plaid.

• Hair – For short hair, make indents with tools. For long hair, roll out snakes of clay and attach. Add ribbons, bows, baseball caps or hair accessories.

• Face Details – Add eyeglasses, earrings, nose or lip piercings. Make eyes by indenting or attaching tiny balls of colored clay.

• Accessories – Attach or sculpt items like jewelry, backpacks, sports equipment, musical instruments or anything you imagine. Make textures like straps, buckles, or laces with clay tools.

• Base – Consider adding grass, rocks, furniture or other items around the base to create a scene.

Encourage kids to bring their figure to life with lots of fun personal touches. The details make each artwork completely customized. Let their creativity shine!

Baking and Painting

Once your clay sculpture is complete, it’s time to bake it to harden the clay. Follow the baking instructions on your clay packaging, as temperatures and times can vary. In general, bake the figure on a cookie sheet or ceramic tile at the recommended temperature for 15-20 minutes per 1⁄4 inch thickness.

Check on the sculpture periodically while baking. If any cracks or bubbles appear, allow it to finish baking and then fill in those areas with a bit more clay once cooled. Let the piece cool completely before painting.

Acrylic craft paints work best for painting baked clay. Choose colors to bring your sculpture to life. Add details like facial features and clothing with a small paintbrush. Consider using a sealant like polyurethane or acrylic varnish to protect the finished paint job.

Take care not to over-bake the clay or use paints requiring high heat, as this can cause cracking. With the right baking time and paints, you’ll have a treasured clay figure to enjoy for years.

Making a Base

A sturdy base helps display your clay sculpture and keep it standing upright. There are a few options for making a base:

Wood

Cut and sand a piece of wood into a square, rectangle, circle or other shape. Glue felt pads to the bottom to prevent scratches. You can paint or stain the wood.

Tile

Glue a ceramic tile or marble piece to a wood base. The smooth tile provides a stable surface for displaying the sculpture.

Modeling Clay

Use left over clay to form a base in a shape that complements the sculpture. Let the clay fully dry and harden before attaching the sculpture.

Found Objects

Glue interesting found objects like sea shells, rocks, or wood pieces to a sturdy base. Arrange them in a creative way to accent the sculpture.

The base should balance the height and weight of the sculpture. Place museum wax or non-permanent adhesive between the sculpture and base to secure it.

Troubleshooting

Clay sculptures made by kids are delicate and prone to breakage, but with a few tips, you can fix common issues like cracks and broken limbs.

If a body part like an arm cracks or breaks off, let the clay dry completely. Apply a thin layer of liquid clay or clay slip to both pieces and press them back together firmly. Smooth over the seam gently. Allow it to dry again before continuing to work on the sculpture.

For fine cracks, mix a bit of water into some clay to make a slip. Paint the slip over the cracks and smooth it out with your finger. Let dry. Mixing a bit of baking soda into the slip can help fill gaps.

Avoid more breaks by handling the sculpture very gently while soft, and allowing it to firm up a bit before adding thin extremities like fingers that can snap off. Store soft clay sculptures on cushioned surfaces.

Repairing breaks takes patience but adds to the handmade, creative process. The imperfections make a clay figure charming and unique.

Inspiring Kids

Making clay figures can be a fun and rewarding creative experience for kids. Here are some tips to engage and inspire them in the clay sculpting process:

Let them choose the subject – Allowing kids to decide what they want to sculpt gives them more ownership over the project. They’ll be more excited to create something that comes from their own imagination.

Encourage storytelling – Have kids describe the figure they are making by sharing details about their character’s personality, life story, superpowers, etc. This sparks their creativity.

Incorporate additional materials – Provide items like googly eyes, pipe cleaners, beads, glitter, and paint so kids can further customize their clay figure.

Display their artwork – Let kids show off their finished clay sculptures by displaying them prominently in the home. This shows you value their efforts.

Make it a group activity – Turn clay sculpting into quality family time by working on projects together. Collaborating can motivate kids to put in more effort.

Snap photos of their work – Documenting their clay figures with photos makes kids feel accomplished and proud. Capture the sculpting process and final pieces.

Focus on the experience – Instead of perfect results, emphasize the joy of sculpting. This encourages creativity over frustration when sculpting doesn’t go as planned.