How to Make a Surfboard Out of Clay

Surfboards come in all shapes and sizes and they represent tropical fun.

Clay surfboards can be used to decorate a centerpiece for a party or to be worn on a necklace. Shaping a surfboard out of polymer clay is straightforward and the baked clay can be painted in detail to look like a famous surfboard or just in fun colors to add to the ambiance of a party. Start by looking up images of surfboards and selecting the type of board you want to shape. Make a print of the image to use as reference during your shaping and painting process.

Things You'll Need

• Reference images
• Polymer clay
• Artist knife
• Shaping tools
• Aluminum foil
• Cookie sheet
• Oven
• Acrylic paints
• Fine artist brush

Instructions

1. Warm up polymer clay in your hands until it is pliable and soft enough to work. Use a color that closely matches the base color of your target surfboard. Knead the clay to make a long, rectangular shape.

2. Roll the clay with a round object like a wood dowel or the side of a jar. Cut the clay into the shape of the surfboard using an artist knife. Older surfboards look like a thin rectangle with rounded ends. Newer surfboards often come to a point on the front end and the back is more blunted. The sides curve from front to rear.

3. Smooth the edges with clay working tools or use any smooth object to create a contoured or rounded edge. Shape one to three backward-facing fins and position these in a triangle formation along the back underside end of the surfboard.

4. Place quarters in a row the length of the surfboard on a cookie sheet. Use two-quarter stacks on all but the last row. Place a piece of aluminum foil larger than your surfboard over the stacks. Position your surfboard with the fins up. The nose should be over the single quarter. This will give your surfboard a slight upward curve at the nose. Allow the clay to harden in this position for an hour.

5. Bake the clay in a 265-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes. Allow the clay to cool completely.

Tips & Warnings

• Place your reference photos close to your work area so that you can compare your sculpture to the images.

• Paint the clay with acrylic paints using a fine artist brush. Allow the paints to dry for four hours and then spray the surfboard with a glossy clear acrylic spray paint.

• Working with polymer clay is an easy way to create decorations or jewelry shapes that are hard to find.

References

• Surf Science: Surfboard Design
• Jaed Works: Polymer Clay FAQ