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Top Tip
Air-drying clay can take 2-3 days to fully dry out. Leaving the dish somewhere warm will help dry it more quickly, but avoid putting it too near direct heat or a radiator as the clay may crack. Allow the clay to dry completely on both sides before painting.
How to Make
- Draw the fish outline on paper and stick it to your work surface with a piece of cling film. Approximately 20-22 cm long.
- Break off half of a block of air-drying clay. Wrap the remaining clay in a plastic bag to prevent it from drying out.
- Squeeze the clay so that it roughly matches the size of the fish and then press it onto the cling film with your fingers so that the fish's body and tail are easier to see.
- When the clay fish roughly matches the outline on the underside, smooth the fish with your fingers to even out the surface.
- Dip your fingers in water when the modelling clay starts to dry out.
- Press the clay firmly down in the centre of the fish to form a depression and form a ridge around the edge.
- Press the ridge of clay into the fins at the top of the body and at the bottom.
- Use the side of a modelling tool to define the shape at the end of the tail.
- Press a modelling tool into the surface of the clay to form a scale pattern on the body and around the edge.
- Mould a small circle of clay for the eye and press it into position, adding a little water to help it adhere.
- Press a modelling tool or the end of a paintbrush into the centre of the eye to make a hole.
- Hold the edges of the cling film firmly, carefully lift the clay fish and place it in a mixing bowl to dry.
- The bowl will help it to stay in a curved shape. Leave the clay to dry for 24 hours until the surface has dried out and hardened.
- Turn the fish over and place it on the bottom of the bowl so that the underside can dry out.
- When the clay is completely dry, paint the top of the bowl with golden acrylic paint. Once it has dried, paint the underside. Leave it to dry.
- Paint lightly over the gold with a metallic paint to emphasise the pattern.
- Glue a gemstone in the centre of the eye.
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