How to Make a Scottish Terrier With Clay
Hand building a Scottish terrier with clay requires advanced training and experience in pottery, but even if you don't have the skills of a potter you can still create a clay Scottie using a mold. The most practical choice in terms of materials is polymer clay or air dry clay because neither of these materials requires access to a kiln. A kiln is typically used for firing regular clay at higher temperatures (e.g., above 1,600 degrees F).
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Things You'll Need
- Scottish terrier-shaped push mold
- Cornstarch
- Polymer clay/air dry clay
- Blade
- Tray
- Acrylic paints
- Paintbrushes
Instructions
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Get a Scottish terrier/Aberdeen terrier-shaped push mold, which is available in most craft stores or online. Most molds are made of plastic, but you may also find plaster molds. Typically, for a whole Scottie, you will need two molds, one for each side of the dog.
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Polymer clay is easier to work with than regular clay. Choose either air dry clay or polymer clay to create your Scottie. Air dry clay doesn't require a kiln for firing, while polymer clay can be placed into your regular oven and it will harden within minutes, below 300 degrees F.
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The clay needs to be conditioned prior to pressing. Condition the clay by squeezing it with your hands prior to pressing; while doing so, you may also get a feel for the material. Conditioning is the procedure that softens and warms up the clay, making it suitable for work. The clay is ready to be pressed into the mold once it gets softer.
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Firmly press the clay into one of the molds, starting from the center and expanding toward the edges of the mold. Fill the entire mold. Do the same with the other mold.
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Join the two molds together immediately after pressing so that the clay pieces stick together. Ensure that the two halves fit perfectly together and firmly press the molds.
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Allow the clay to harden a bit in the molds (5 to 10 minutes), to make sure you can remove the dog without distorting it. Gently take the molds apart and you should have the clay Scottie in one piece.
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Use a blade or a knife to trim down any excess clay that may remain where the two halves are joined.
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Place the polymer clay Scottie on a tray and fire it in your regular oven. Set the oven to temperatures above 210 degrees F or as indicated on the label for the brand of polymer clay that you buy. The firing may take between 20 and 60 minutes, depending on the thickness of the piece. If using air dry clay, skip this step and allow the clay dog to dry at room temperature.
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Paint the clay Scottish terrier. Both the polymer and air dry clay can be painted with acrylic paints.
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Tips & Warnings
Opt for a plaster mold if using air dry clay, as plaster absorbs the moisture from the clay and the piece will be easier to remove from the mold.
To prevent the clay from sticking to the mold, spread some cornstarch in the interior of the mold, before you press in the clay.
The air dry clay should be left for at least 12 hours to dry prior to painting.
Nail polish may also be used to paint the piece.
Clean the mold after each use. Use rubbing alcohol for plastic molds or water for the plaster molds.
Always follow the recommendations on the label of the polymer clay when firing it. If you increase the temperature above the producer's recommendations, the clay will burn and emit dangerous fumes.
Don't hold the clay piece in your oven for a longer time than recommended; the clay may distort or burn.
Don't place the polymer clay too close to the heating element in the oven to prevent burning.
References
Resources
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