Handbuilt Ducks

Swimming Duck

1. Roll the pound of clay into a ball.
2. Cut the ball in half and hollow out.
3. Scratch and attach the hollowed-out halves back together to create the body.
4. Ball up the excess clay and cut in half again.
5. To create the head of the duck, hollow out only one of the halves and add the excess clay to the left-over half.
6. Poke a hole into the body of the duck where the head will attach.
7. Scratch and attach the head to the body.
8. Pinch off some of the excess clay and shape into a duck bill.
9. Scratch and attach the bill to the head.
10. Using a carving tool of choice, carve small chunks off of the whole duck, except for the beak, to give a textural effect.
11. Roll out the excess clay into coils around the body of the duck to create the look of water.
12. Smooth the bottom of the coils together.
13. Scratch and attach the coils to the body of the duck.
14. Create a hole in the bottom of the body of the duck.
15. Allow to fully dry.
16. Bisque fire to cone 04.
17. If needed, wipe down bisque with a damp sponge to remove dust.
18. Have your reference photos nearby.
19. Using your pencil, lightly map out the different color areas for applying the different colors of glaze similar to your reference photo.
20. Using the script liner brush, apply three coats of EL130 to the head of the duck.
21. Using the Detail liner brush, apply 3 coat s of El121 to the darker feather areas.
22. Lighter feathers areas will use 3 coats of EL101 applied with a detail liner brush.
23. Using the detail liner brush, apply 3 coats of EL143 to the bill of the duck.
24. Using the fan brush, apply 3 coats of EL134 to the water coils.
25. Allow to dry.
26. Stilt and fire to cone 06.

Diving Duck

1. Roll the pound of clay into a ball.
2. Cut the ball of clay off center so 1/3rd of the clay ball will be removed.
3. Hollow out the larger section to create the body of the duck.
4. Ball up and set aside the excess clay.
5. Pinch the smaller section of the cut clay ball into a cone and hollow out to create the tail.
6. Poke a hole into the body where the tail will attach.
7. Scratch and attach the hollowed-out cone tail to the hollowed out half circle body.
8. Smooth the two pieces together.
9. Using a carving tool of your choice, carve out small chunks of clay all over the sculpt to create texture.
10. Using the excess clay, create two thick coils to make legs.
11. Bend the coils at a 90 degree angle.
12. Cut both sides of the coils until you have the size you’d like for feet and legs.
13. Flatten the foot section of the coil bend and cut two small triangular notches in the tip to represent flippers.
14. Scratch and attach the legs/feet to the body.
15. Roll out the excess clay into coils.
16. Wrap the clay coils around the body of the duck, hollow side down so the feet stick up in the air.
17. Smooth the bottom of the coils together.
18. Scratch and attach coils to the body of the duck.
19. Allow to fully dry.
20. Bisque fire to cone 04.
21. If needed, wipe down the bisque to remove any dust with a damp sponge.
22. Using the soft fan brush, apply three layers of EL125 to the body and tail of the duck.
23. Using the soft fan brush, apply three coats of EL134 to the coils.
24. Using the script liner brush, apply 3 coats of EL143 to the feet and legs of the duck.
25. Using a dry brush technique with the soft fan brush, apply a light layer of EL121 to the raised texture on the body and tail of the duck.
26. Allow to dry.
27. Stilt and fire to cone 06.