If you plan on giving your dragon some color or highlighting its features, like it’s eyes and wings, you’ll also want a spray paint primer and some paint for your hardened clay. [3] X Research source Acrylic paints are recommended by many clay artists for painting baked polymer clay. [4] X Research source Aluminum knitting needles are also useful tools for styling and adding details to your clay dragon. Finer needles can be used for finer detail designs, like the features of your dragon’s face. [5] X Research source
Your hands will warm your clay, softening it and making it easier to work with. Sculpting clay is intended to be worked with in this fashion. The size of the dragon you intend to make will determine how much clay you use. However, a surprisingly small amount of clay goes a long way, and you can always add more clay if necessary.
Flatten the limbs and bottom of your ball to create a solid base. Thick legs will create a more solid shape and will prevent your dragon’s limbs from breaking free of its body. Feel free to adjust limbs as needed. For example, you may need to push the legs a little more closely together or pull more clay from your clay ball to give the limbs stability.
At the end of your neck, you can fold down the end of the clay to form a head. Dragons typically have serpentine features, so the head of your dragon will likely be triangular in shape, ending in a point.
Push down slightly on the base of your tail to give the effect that the tail is coming out from between the dragon’s legs, and not from the top of your clay ball, which will eventually turn into the back of your dragon.
Thick wings will keep the clay from cracking there when you bake it and will result in a sturdier sculpture. The wings, being such a delicate part of the sculpture, are the most fragile and breakable part of the dragon. Exercise care while forming these.
Use a little water to dampen the base of your cones. This can help keep your horns in place. [11] X Research source
Kneading some extra clay. Pulling off little pieces. Rolling tiny cones, damping the base of the cones, and pressing the cones along the spine of the dragon. Adding a contour line with your knitting needles to either side of the spine.
Trace a line along the inside of the outer boundary of your wing. Add lines from the top of the wing to the bottom of the wing, splitting each into regular sections. Avoid thinning your wings too much or applying too much pressure. Thin clay cracks easily when baked or after being baked, and even well formed wings will be delicate. [14] X Research source [15] X Research source
Pre-heat your oven first. Putting your clay in the oven before it is at the target heat can have a negative impact on the firing process. Watch the dragon while it is baking. The wings, legs, tail, and sometimes the head can burn. This is especially important if you’re not going to paint the dragon, as the burning will be visible.
While you are waiting for your dragon to bake, you might put away your remaining clay according to the storage directions on its packaging. Clean and put away your knitting needles. Prepare your primer, painting area, and painting supplies.
After you have painted your solid base, allow your paint to dry fully.
Depending on how much or little contour, contrast, or shading you have added, you may have to wait for the paint to dry before moving on.
Allow any wet paint to dry fully.
