Tree Person Inspired Tutorial for the Friesen Project

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Polymer Clay Tree Spirit Person Tutorial by KatersAcres | Final tutorial for the 2013 Friesen Project

Well, it’s been a year full of fun and adventure, and now the 2013 Friesen Project has come to a close. We have spent 52 weeks together and done over 40 projects. For those of you who hung in there and stuck it out, good for you! I hope you learned something about yourself and your clay. I hope you were able to develop your style and your voice over the past year.

Polymer Clay Tutorial the Final Project

Fauna the Tree Spirit by KatersAcres

The materials for this project are few & far between. One of the most fun things about clay is what happens when you make “look-at blends.” For this project, I made “Fauna” from a whole bunch of scrap clays and this unique blend is what I got. So make sure you look beyond your blocks of clay and look at something that might be lying dormant in your scrap clay box.

Materials:

Tree Spirit Person Polymer Clay Tutorial

  • Tree Spirit Person Tutorial by KatersAcresTurn to page 101-106 in Christi’s Flourish Book.
  • First make a “look-at” blend with your scrap clay.
  • Using your exacto knife, Cut your sheet into thirds. (Two thirds will make the body and one third will make the head).
  • Using 2/3 of your sheet, form your conditioned clay into a large teardrop.
  • Using your blade, cut your teardrop from the bottom to about center.
  • Make two additional cuts for your Tree Spirit’s arms (these can be at the same place or not).
  • Now gently shape & pull your limbs into place.
  • Note: Your tree spirit will look “wonky” right now, that’s okay, you’ll do the details later!
  • Using 1/3 of the remaining sheet, see page 103 in Christi’s book to shape your head.
  • Attach your head to the body using your sculpting tools.
  • Add details like eyes, nose, & mouth to your tree in whatever manner looks natural & pleasing to you.
  • Now position your tree spirit as you would like him: leaning, slouching, sitting, sleeping, etc.
  • Once you have shaped your tree spirit as you want it, begin to add leaf canes, flower petal canes, moss, vines, and any other flora & fauna type details you wish.
  • Bake your piece at 275 for 60 minutes, covered with foil.
  • HINT: Use foil balls to “prop” up your Tree Spirit so it can bake and set just as you created it to be.
  • Add a patina / antiqued finish if you would like.
  • Follow this with a coat of varnish.

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.


Thank you for being a part of the Kater’s Acres Family, Sculpting Blessings,

KatieSignature


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3 thoughts on “Tree Person Inspired Tutorial for the Friesen Project

  1. Hi Katie! Hope you had a great Christmas! I subscribed to the monthly tutorial and clicked the confirmation but keep getting e-mails saying that I have not confirmed yet? Just letting you know that I’m in 🙂

    1. Hi Teresa! I got your confirmation & you’re all set to go!

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