The Friesen Project of 2013 Presents
Break out the popcorn, Twinkies, Vegemite, and TimTams:
IT’S FRIESEN FRIDAY!
Today brings us an awesome little cutie pie for a garden, planter, doll house, or even a tree ornament! I really didn’t think he was that cute in the book … but … then when I made it, I actually squealed! He’s so cute with all his spikes and little red parts … you’re going to LOVE him! So, let’s get started.
As with all the tutorials in the Friesen Project, please remember that these tutorials are done in an abbreviated format, with Christi Friesen’s expressed permission. These tutorials are written and designed to be used in conjunction with the Beyond Sculptures Book 5: Down Under.
Polymer Clay Animal Tutorial – Featuring the Awesome Echidna
Materials List for Your Polymer Clay Animal Tutorial
Christi Friesen’s Beyond Project Sculpture Series Book 5: Down Under- Your choice of polymer clay
- Mica Powders
- Perfect Pearl Set or individual container of Red Metallic Mica Powder
- Acrylic paint brush (please use a different brush for mica powders, chalks, paint, & gloss finishes)
- Baby wipes or soft sponge
- Tiny-medium sized beads and/or gemstones for eyes and embellishments
- Varnish
- Metal Craft Wire (I prefer 24-28gauge but any flexible soft wire will do)
- Sculpting tools
Let’s Get Started
How to Add An Inclusion to Your Blend
If you want to add a “grainy” detail to your polymer clay, simply add a glitter inclusion. Here’s a brief step-by-step process of how to do that.
- Make sure your blend has been conditioned.
- Choose your glitter, I’m using an Ultra Fine Black High Temperature Glitter, embossing glitter works well too.
- Spread the glitter evenly over your blend.
- Fold the glitter into the blend
- Run your clay through the pasta machine until fully combined.
Get Christi’s Awesome Tutorial
Detailed instructions for creating this cute Echidna can be found in Down Under by Christi Friesen on pages 42-45.
Make the Echidna Body
First thing is first: choose and condition your polymer clay.- NOTE: For my Echidna, I used a marbled tan color I blended from Ecru, gold, bronze, and raw sienna Premo polymer clays.
- First separate four pieces from your blend, these will become your feet later (not shown in photos … sorry).
- Roll remaining clay into a ball.
- Form that ball into a teardrop shape
- Make a pinching motion to make a “nose” for your Echidna
- Use a small needle tool and add nostrils to your Echidna.
- Now add a light brushing of your red metallic mica powder to the nose area.
- Add your chosen beads for the “eyes” of your figurine.
Make Your Echidna’s Legs
- With the four pieces of clay that you separated from your blend at the beginning (that I forgot to show you … sorry, again); roll them into balls and then into teardrops.
- Place your newly formed, adorable little Echidna body on top of the legs.
- Push down gently on the top of the Echidna to attach the legs.
- Then roll the Echidna over and smooth the legs onto the body.
Add Toes to Your Echidna’s Legs
- Prepare a darker, rich brown color for your Echidna’s toes
- Condition the clay and cut 8 uniform shapes using a 1/4″ Kemper cutter.
- Cut each shape in half.
- Roll each half into little balls, four tiny balls per foot.
- Roll each little ball into a rice shape.
- Attach to the bottom of the Echidna’s legs and smooth seams.
Give Your Echidna Some Fur
Your Echidna is starting to look really good … but not realistic, yet. So now, it’s time to take your Echidna and give him some Echidna fur!
- I like to start at the nose, where most of the attention will go when people look at him.
- Take a needle tool and gently “brush” it across the Echidna.
- Once you have one layer of “fur” made, make another layer by adding some needle tooled “dots” and dragging them forward.
- Finish him off with a few more pokes, prods, and divots until you think it looks like “fur!”
Make Him Spike-Tastic!
There’s no way that this Echidna can be finished without the addition of his awesome spikes. Please note that my method is very different from the one Christi describes in her book, but either method will work.
- First create a new color of clay.
- Note: I saved a bit from my beginning blend and added a little ecru to it to lighten it from the rest of the Echidna.
- Take the same Kemper cutters and cut 12-15 shapes 1/4″ in size from your new blend.
- Roll each little shape into a teardrop shape.
- Then cut the same number of 26 or 28 gauge wire as the number of your spikes.
- Add a little squeeze of TLS (Transluscent Liquid Sculpey) to the spikes.
- Now gently add on your spikes to the little gauge wires that are sticking our of your little Echidna.
Beautify That Echidna Baby!
An Echidna is not an Echidna without that rosy red glow on the tip of his spikes…so beautify that Echidna!
- Take a big old fluffy brush and dip it into the red mica powder.
- Gently swipe that fluffy brush across the tips of your spikes.
- Finish off your Echidna by taking the brush across his nose and adding just one last hint of red.
Finish Him Off
When you are all the way done with your Echidna, set your oven to 265 degrees and bake your Echidna for 45-60 minutes, longer for larger sizes. If you want to add a coat of patina or glaze when you are done, be my guest. But … I liked mine just the way he was. By the way, his name is “Spike.” I think it suits him.
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Some Project Participants Work
Here’s some of the really cool Aborigine projects that a few of the participants in the Friesen project made this past week. Click on the pictures to go directly to the larger picture & pin on Pinterest.
The Friesen Project
The Friesen Project is done in conjunction with Christi Friesen. All tutorials are retaught here with her expressed permission. Please make sure to read about the project here, and get answers to the most common FAQS here.
See you next Friesen Friday,
Until then, Happy Claying,
