Clay Turtle Sculpting
Turtles are such interesting creatures. Did you know that giant tortoises (a type of turtle) can live for an average of 100 years?! Turtles are also one of the oldest reptile species, dating back to the time of the dinosaurs! We’ve had a lot of fun working with clay this year, and this turtle is no exception. Our air dry clay recipe is really soft and easy to work with. It dries a beautiful crisp white, which makes a nice surface for acrylic paint. This clay turtle is great for beginners. It’s really easy to make the parts of the turtle, and no worries if it doesn’t match ours completely – the great thing about clay is that every sculpture is a little different!
Check out our Clay Turtle video tutorial:
*Note: Scroll down for the step-by-step photo tutorial. How to Make Clay Clay Bear Dried Flower Clay Ornaments DIY Clay Mushrooms
Here’s what you’ll need:
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Air Dry Clay (check out our post for How to Make Clay) Acrylic paint Paintbrush Toothpicks
What clay should I use to make my clay turtle?
I definitely recommend our recipe for air dry clay — it has only 3 ingredients and it’s so easy to make! It has a really soft texture that makes it easy to work with, and it lasts for a long time if properly stored.
What paint is best for clay?
Acrylic paint is the nicest for painting on clay. It’s thick and durable, and the colours stay vibrant after it’s dry. You can also use tempera paint, which is great if kids are using it, since tempera paint is washable. Tempera paint isn’t as durable as acrylic, but it’s still a good option.
How do I dry my turtle clay sculpture?
Air dry clay usually has less of a chance of cracking when it’s dried at room temperature. Air drying this turtle takes 3 to 4 days. Our air dry clay recipe also dries well in the oven, which will save you a lot of time! Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the turtle on a parchment lined baking tray and bake for 1 to 1.5 hours, rotating it a few times. After the oven is off, allow the turtle to come to room temperature in the oven with the door closed.
What special tools do I need to sculpt?
If you’re going to be sculpting a lot, you may want to buy a pack of clay sculpting tools, but it’s not necessary for making this clay turtle. We made our turtle sculpture just with our hands and a toothpick! Even if you’d like to use sculpting tools, there are a lot of household items that work. Toothpicks or skewers are great for creating lines. Cuticle or nail tools are really similar to the sculpting tools you can buy. You can also use cutlery (forks, spoons, and knives) for creating certain shapes and lines. A paintbrush or toothbrush can be used to add texture to the clay.
Turtles made out of clay are the perfect trinket for turtle lovers, and our 3 ingredient clay recipe makes it so easy (and inexpensive!) to make. Working with clay and sculpting a clay turtle is such a fun art project that both kids and adults will enjoy.
Here’s even more clay craft ideas:
How to Make Clay
Dried Flower Clay Ornaments
How to Make a Clay Frog
DIY Clay Mushrooms
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
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