Modelling Animal Figures

1Two ways to model an animal

• The pulling method: start with one lump of clay and pull out the legs, the head and the tail, pinching and squeezing. Because the whole animal is one piece, it is strong and parts do not fall off.
• The joining method: make each part separately (body, legs, head, horns) and join them. You must score and slip every join, just as you did for coil pots, or the parts fall off when the clay dries.

2Model a long-horned cow (joining method)

1. Body: roll a thick sausage, about as long as your hand.
2. Legs: roll four short, thick legs. Score and slip the tops and press them under the body. Thin legs bend and break, so keep them chunky.
3. Head and horns: shape an egg for the head and join it to the front of the body. Roll two thin, pointed coils for the horns and curve them upwards.
4. Tail and details: add a thin tail. Use a stick to make the eyes, nostrils and hooves. Smooth every join with a damp finger.
5. Check: does it stand on its four legs? Look at it from the front, the side and the top.

3Tips for strong animals

• Keep your animal small and solid. Thick shapes survive; thin, sticking-out parts break.
• If a part is very thick, push a hole up into it from underneath with a stick, so it dries evenly and does not crack in the fire.
• Cover your work with a damp cloth if you stop, so it does not dry before you finish.

4Look closely

This little clay bull was made in Greece more than 3,000 years ago.

• What simple shapes did the maker use for the body and the legs?
• Did the maker show every detail, like the eyes and hooves, or keep it simple?
• Look at the dark stripes. They follow the shape of the body. How do they make the bull look more alive?

Try it yourself

Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.