Air-Dry Clay Cameo Portrait

Air-Dry Clay Cameo Portrait Project

Time: 1 Class Period
Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced
Cleanup: Soap & Water

Materials:

Air-Dry Clay in 2 different colors

Mat or Piece of Plasterboard

Rolling Pin

Modeling Tools

Paper Clip

Use a silhouette to create a cameo portrait out of clay!

Step 1
Using a rolling pin, roll out a piece of terra cotta air-dry clay to an oval measuring approximately 7x9" and 1/4" thick.
Step 2
Trim down the oval to around 6x8" using a modeling tool.
Step 3
Either take a snapshot and print out or draw a silhouette of yourself or another person. Make sure it is small enough to fit within the 6x8" area. Cut out the silhouette and place the paper onto the clay. Trace around the paper with a modeling tool and remove paper. Keep paper for reference.
Step 4
Use white air-dry clay to create the outline of the silhouette.
Step 5
Once outline is finished, fill in the rest of the silhouette with white air-dry clay.
Step 6
Add more white air-dry clay to raise areas of the silhouette. Form details and smooth out clay with modeling tools. Form and add a clay frame to the outside of the oval, creating details with tools. Before clay is dry, add a paper clip to the back for hanging.