How to Make an Aztec Calendar From Clay
More a spiritual and archeological fixture than a practical means of keeping track of dates, the Aztec calendar is a source of fascination to anyone interested in ancient North American culture. A homemade reproduction of this complex work of art might seem like a difficult venture for a clay sculptor, but by using a simple reproduction engraving technique, you can copy your favorite version of the Aztec calendar in a permanent, 3-D, clay wheel.
Things You'll Need
- Computer with printer
- Scissors
- Air-dry clay
- Rolling pin
- Craft knife
- Thin knitting needle
- Large sewing needle
- Waterproofing sealant
- Acrylic paint (optional)
Instructions
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1
Choose a line drawing of an Aztec calendar from one of the many photos, diagrams and artist renderings available. Search library books and make photocopies, or look for images online (see Resources). Look for calendar images with the clearest lines and fewer complicated, tiny details.
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2
Prepare the calendar drawing. Copy or print the picture in grayscale in the actual size you want it, then cut it out. The more complex the drawing, the better your finished project will look if you make it larger; more clay will give you more room for extra details.
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3
Pull a large ball of clay and hand-condition it by kneading it with your hands, wetting them as you go to work more water into the clay. How much clay you'll need depends on how big you want your calendar to be. A good baseline quantity is a ball about the size of a baseball for a calendar about the size of a large pie plate.
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4
Form the clay into a disk. Press the ball with your hands to flatten it partially, then finish the job by rolling it with a rolling pin. Roll until the disk is about 1/2 inch thick and the top is smooth. If the shape isn't round, trim away the edges with a shaping tool or butter knife. Smooth away any imperfections in the disc by rubbing it with wet fingers.
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5
Press the printed calendar cutout over the surface clay disk.
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6
Transfer the lines of the paper onto the clay. Trace the lines of the image using the tip of a knitting needle. For especially fine lines, use the head (not the point) of a large needle.
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7
Peel away the paper and refine the lines. They will be shallow and light after being impressed through the paper. Use the tip of the sewing needle to engrave the lines more deeply into the clay.
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Let the clay dry according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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Treat and paint the clay. Spray or paint it with a water-resistant sealant, then, if you like, paint with acrylic paint to finish.
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