How to Make a Trout Sculpture in Clay

Anything that you can image in your mind can be made out of clay. It just takes skill, some tools, and patience. For those who are really into fishing, you can create your own trophies by creating a sculpture of your latest trout catch in clay.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Photographs of trout
• Wooden board for work surface
• Water based, self drying clay
• Razor blade knife
• Clay cutter
• Rolling pin
• Sculpting tools
• Wood rod or bars

1. Lay out your equipment. Place your work board directly in front of you with your tools to the side. Place your block of raw clay on the work surface in preparation to be cut. Keep it wrapped in plastic until you are ready to cut it to size.
2. Pick your model for your sculpture, in this case from the trout pictures that you have gathered. It is best if you can find multiple angles of photographs of one species of trout, although you want a direct side view to create your primary model with.
3. Unwrap the clay and use the clay cutter to shear off a section of the block. It needs to be about 1-inch longer and taller than the total fish sculpture you want to make, about approximately 1.5-inches thick.
4. Rewrap the rest of the clay and put it back in storage so it won't dry out.
5. Place the trout picture you have chosen on the center of this clay slab. Carefully use a razor blade knife to cut out the image and score the clay just outside the edges of the fish form. Remove the photo
6. Use the clay cutter to follow your outline carefully and cut the shape of the trout from the remaining clay slab.
7. Start adding detail to the shape of your fish using the remaining clay tools. These tools allow you to carve out fins, eyes, scales and mouth ridges in detail on both sides of the sculpture.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the rolling pin to smooth and compact your clay before you start adding details.
• Self drying water based clay is easier to work with at home, but if you have access to a kiln, you can create a much sturdier sculpture.

Who Can Help:

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