Polymer Clay "The Poet" Sculpture

50. For the scarf roll a small piece of red clay in your fingers and arrange it around the collar.

51. Roll beige clay into a ball, then into a balloon shape. Form the neck from the narrow part of the balloon. Make the chin form a V. Roll a small scrap of beige clay into a teardrop shape for the nose. Make ears from beige clay. Place them on either side of the balloon head. Poke two holes where the eyes should go with a pin and form a hole in the shape of a teardrop, but formed sideways with the tops facing the ears.

53. Condition brown clay in the pasta machine on setting #3. Cut the sheet into thin strips with a razor. Hand roll the strips into very thin strands and arrange around the head for hair. Trim. Make a C-shape with a strand of brown clay to form a mustache. Form a goatee with another scrap of brown clay. Place them on the face. Make lines in them with a pin to depict the strands of hair. Form eyebrows with small pieces of brown clay (figure Q).

54. Roll a ball of black clay and flatten it, arrange it on the poet's head, add a small black clay ball on top and partially flatten it to create the beret (figure R).

Prepping to Bake

55. Check to make sure that the book fits in to poet’s hand, but do not attach it yet.

56. Attach the poet’s head to his body.

57. Seat the poet onto the stool guiding the support wire through the body—being sure not to have it poke out through the sides. Bend the left arm in toward the chest to show his passion of the reading. Have the right hand and arm out in front to show him reading from the book. The book will be baked separately.

58. Preheat a conventional oven to 270-degrees Fahrenheit.

59. Place the stage, with the microphone stand, coffee cup, pedestal table and poet with the stool on a baking sheet.

60. Place the book, pages side down, on a baking sheet as well, but far enough away from stage as to not stick while curing.

61. Bake for 15 minutes, checking, and turn the polymer clay sculpture piece every five minutes, to ensure though curing.

62. Let the polymer clay "The Poet" sculpture cool on sheet on compatible surface to dissipate heat.

63. When cool, use a little white glue on the book and attach it to the hand. Use a little adhesive tape to hold the book in place. Let it set for at least an hour. Pull the tape off.

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