Select your colors. You may choose to purchase different colors of clay to create the dog, or you can select to use one solid color and paint the dog after it is finished. Some clays, like polymer, can be baked into a finished piece very quickly in an oven. If you don’t have an oven to use for your clay, you may prefer to select an air-dry clay, however, you will have to wait four or five days to finish it. If you are doing clay animation, you will want to select an oil-based clay that will not dry out. [1] X Research source If you plan on making fine features, like a little dog’s face, avoid clay with grogs. Grogs are little fired particles that can interfere with details on the clay’s surface.
Keep one larger piece to create the torso of the dog. Break off a piece for the head. Make four pieces of equal size to create the legs. Roll the pieces into balls to try and keep the size as even as possible for each leg. Make one smaller piece for the tail. Set the remainder aside to use for other small shapes that remain, such as the ears and eyes.
You may want to adjust the torso to be smaller or larger depending on the kind of dog you want to create. For example, a basset hound or dachshund will have a much longer body, but much shorter limbs. If you are making a large sculpture, you may want to crumple up damp newspaper and mold the clay around it. This will save you clay, make the sculpture lighter and save you time when baking. [2] X Research source
To keep the head in place you might want to insert a toothpick halfway into the body of the dog. Then, place the head on the top half of the toothpick.
Use the legs to help create the pose for your dog. You might want to make him stand, sit, or lie down. It is entirely up to you.
Consider adding a tongue. Add a small piece of thin clay out the side of your dog’s mouth. Try pressing two small lines into each paw to create some toes. If you are using different colors of clay you can give your dogs some spots by adding small, thin patches of different colors over the body or legs. Create a collar by forming a long flat strip and wrapping it around the neck of the dog.
Polymer clays will all cook at a temperature between 215°F (102°C) to 325°F (163°C). [3] X Research source
Use oven mitts when handling the tile. It will be hot.
Select the colors that suit your type of dog. You might use mainly brown and black for a rottweiler, or white and black for a dalmatian. Avoid spray-on paints as they contain a solvent that can degrade your clay.
