Texas Armadillo

Step 1

Body

Roll a large sphere of clay and turn it into a hollow pinch pot.

Turn the pinch pot upside down.

Step 2

Head

Roll and pinch a medium size piece of clay to make a head and turn two small spheres into triangular shaped ears.

Use a pointed tool to make dents in the ears.

Step 3

Tail

To make a tail, start with a cylinder of clay and then roll or squeeze it into an elongated cone shape.

Step 4

Attach Parts

Score and slip the head, ears and tail onto the pinch pot.
Blend and smooth the seams so all the parts are securely attached.

Step 5

Shell

Roll out a long narrow coil and place it so it forms the outer edge of the shell.

Blend the inner side of the coil to make it look like a shell is covering the body.

Step 6

Feet

Form four flattened teardrop shapes.

Add lines with the pointed tool to the make feet’s toes.

Attach the feet to the animal’s body.

Step 7

Texture

Use a tool to draw 3 or more bands across the armadillo's back and several lines on the tail.
Use a pointed tools to add the eyes, small dots on the head, scratches on the chest, large dots on shell and dents in the bands.

Step 8

Cowboy Hat

Make small and medium sphere out of clay.
Flatten one a lot for the brim and adjust the other sphere for the top.

Score and slip the two pieces together to form the cowboy hat.

Step 9

Star

Make a star with the small shape cutter.
Score and slip the cowboy hat and the star onto the back of the armadillo.

Step 10

Dry

Allow the clay to fully dry. Drying time will depend on the clay thickness and humidity.

Step 11

Paint

Paint the clay sculpture. Consider painting the sculpture black so that the dark paint goes into the groves and dents.
Once the black paint is dry, apply other colors over top leaving the indents black.

Step 12

Varnish

Apply a clear coat of matte or gloss varnish over the painted sculpture.