Paper Clay Chicks

This past weekend my husband and i went to Scottsdale Arizona for a baseball spring training weekend with another couple.  While the guys saw a game on Saturday, Z and i took a paper clay workshop with the delightful Jenny Hernadez of the Polka Dot Pixie.  The class took place at a charming and very well organized craft store in Chandler, AZ called CraftFusion.    

Forgot to take a picture of the armature base - but it was two foam balls with wire feet.  Jenny prepared them in advance so we would have enough drying time, so we could paint.  Our job was to take thin layers of paper clay and smooth it over the foam balls.  Then make a face shape with cheeks and a beak.  We added a cracked shell base and little feather-y wings. 

My chick had dots on the shell which i poked with a skewer, but painted dots would have worked just as well.  After painting we gave it a coat of clear finish spray.

We were also given a little paper box to paint inside and out.  I used a pretty blue.

Here is a side view of my chick showing his (her?) silly profile!

Here he is part way through the painting with cheeks, dots, beak and legs painted in lively spring colours.

Next it was time to add some antiquing.  Some watered down paint was used to "glaze" the box and the chick.

Here is Jenny's sample bird.  How adorable!  We had a choice of a box for a base or the simple wodden disc. You can see how the crevices take on the antiquing and give it a much more substantial and "artsy" look.

This bird was done by one of my fellow students, Kristy.  Love the dots on her hat and the glittery silver pipe cleaner trim.

This pretty bird was done by my friend Z.  She is going to look for a little straw hat for her!  Won't that be darling!  She looks like she is in the middle of of song!!

This chick was done by another student, Suzie.  She had taken classes with Jenny before, always a ringing endorsement for a teacher to have repeat students.  The birds get propped up against a cup or bottle while they dry.

Since Suzie was a little speed demon, she had time to make a SECOND creature.  This will be a bunny when the pink ears and belly are added.  Love those wide feet!

Once again - my finished bird.  I added pompom trim to his little striped hat and some ribbons and lace (frippery you might call it) to the base.  We LOVED taking this workshop with Jenny and would highly recommend that you take a class with her if you are ever in the AZ area.  She also travels to teach and sell her creations.  In Northern California please check her out at Petaluma's Halloween and Vine arts and craft show.