How to Make Monster Clay Models for a Movie

Clay monster models are challenging but fun to make.

Clay monsters are fun to make, but the process can seem daunting. The best method is to make an armature to build the model around, so it can be re-posed repeatedly without cracking or warping. To keep costs down, use scrap clay to build the majority of the model, reserving the good clay for the outer layer. Rolling polymer clay between your hands is a good way to heat it up until it is workable.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencil
• Armature wire
• Craft Wire
• Glue gun and sticks
• Plumber's epoxy
• Scrap polymer clay
• Colored polymer clay
• Plastic sheeting
• Rolling pin or dowel
• Latex gloves
• Popsicle sticks, clay tools or texture impression sheet

Instructions

Make a Monster Model

1. Draw your monster on paper, then sketch a rough stick figure of it. Plan the location of the joints and movable parts, and draw circles around the parts that will be hard or fixed.

2. Cut a piece of armature wire to twice the length of the "spine" of your monster, fold it in half, and twist to form a unified double wire.

3. Cut another piece of wire to four times the length of the monster's legs, fold in half, and twist. Bend into a U-shape, and attach the center of the U to the bottom of the spine with strong craft wire. This will serve as both legs. Add a small dab of hot glue once you have the position right. Fold the ends to form feet.

4. Cut a piece of wire to four times the length of the monster's arms, fold in half, twist, and attach to the spine in the appropriate place with craft wire and hot glue. Be sure to leave extra spine at the top for the neck. Fold the ends to form hands.

5. Cut a piece of wire to twice the length of the monster's head, fold in half, twist, and form into a ring. Attach to the top of the spine with craft wire and a dab of hot glue. Wrap the craft wire across the head circle a few times to give the clay something to grab.

6. Apply plumber's epoxy to the "hard" areas that you circled on your drawing. Keep the finished size in mind, and don't make the parts bigger than they need to be. Remember they will be covered with additional clay.

7. Flesh out the skeleton with scrap clay, molding the body to the desired size and proportions. Smooth bumpy areas, but do not worry about fingerprints at this stage. The model should now be able to stand without support.

8. Make a "skin" to cover the scrap clay by rolling out sheets of the appropriately colored clay between two sheets of plastic, and applying it to the model. Wearing latex gloves will help avoid fingerprints.

9. Detail hair, scales, etc., by impressing the clay with a wooden Popsicle stick or appropriately shaped clay tools, or a texture impression sheet. Smooth seams and bumps with a gloved finger or clay tool.

10. Pose and film the model as desired. Remember that lights can melt polymer clay, so if the model begins to droop, suspend filming and put the model in the refrigerator until it firms up again.

Tips & Warnings

• If your model is having trouble standing, try embedding magnets into the bottoms of the feet and standing it on a metal surface.

References

• Animated Clay: Wired Armature Construction
• Joshua Mosely: Building Armatures For Clay Animation