How to Make a Poseable Animal

Find out how to make a flexible animal figurine.

Make an animal toy or model that you can move and position the way you want. Use a specific procedure to create a wire skeleton that is strong enough to hold up after a long of bending.



Since most animals have four appendages, you can bend the skeleton any way you want so that it stands upright or on all fours. The skeleton can be easily modified to create any animal. Find the materials you need in your own home or at the craft store.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Coat hangers
• Bolt cutters
• Pliers
• Air dry modeling clay
• Acrylic paints
• Paintbrushes

Instructions

1. Measure and cut one piece of coat hanger wire to 6 inches long with a pair of bolt cutters and two more pieces that are 5 inches long.

2. Measure 2 inches from one end of the 6-inch piece of wire and twist the middle of one of the 5-inch pieces around it. Measure 2 more inches from this point and twist the middle of the other 5-inch piece around the 6-inch piece. Twist the wires with a pair of pliers.

3. Bend the end of the 6-inch piece up diagonally right before the point where you twisted on the first 5-inch piece. This is the neck of the animal. Bend 2 inches up diagonally at the other end to make the tail. Bend the ends of the 5-inch pieces down at an angle to form the four legs of the animal. Bend the end of the neck part to form the head to complete the wire skeleton.

4. Form the body of the animal with air dry modeling clay over the wire frame but keep the clay off of the joints of the wire body -- where the legs, neck and tail connect to the body and where the head bends into the neck. Wait 24 hours for the clay to dry.

5. Paint the fine details on the body of the animal -- such as the eyes, nose and other facial features -- with acrylic paints. Wait five hours for the paint to dry before moving the animal into the pose in which you want to display it.

References

• Animation Details: Clay Animation