| How to Make an Eye Cane in Polymer Clay by Ann C. Rismiller |
| This is a method for making a polymer clay eye cane that is fairly detailed. My version is somewhat simple, but you can see how easy it is to take this technique and revise it to meet your own needs. I hope you enjoy it!! |
Start making your eye cane by
forming the pupil. This is done by
rolling a log of black clay, then
slicing halfway through the length
of it as shown. You should be
able to pull the two halves slightly
apart as in the photo.
forming the pupil. This is done by
rolling a log of black clay, then
slicing halfway through the length
of it as shown. You should be
able to pull the two halves slightly
apart as in the photo.
Next take a sheet of white clay
rolled out at the largest setting
on your pasta machine. Place
the white in the sliced section of
your black log, then trim back
the extra white clay.
rolled out at the largest setting
on your pasta machine. Place
the white in the sliced section of
your black log, then trim back
the extra white clay.
This is what your cane should
look like now. The white line is
supposed to be a highlight in
the eye. This is especially
important to remember in a few
steps.
look like now. The white line is
supposed to be a highlight in
the eye. This is especially
important to remember in a few
steps.
| Now is the time to choose the color of the eye, if you haven't already. I chose green for this example. (Later I switch to blue, because I screwed up when I started taking pictures. So don't let that throw ya.) Wrap your black pupil with two layers of your eye color clay, both sheets rolled out to the widest setting of your pasta machine. |
| Wrap the eye center in a layer of black, rolled to the 3rd thickest setting of your pasta machine. You may want to reduce this down at this point. As you will see in the next few photos, I made a big ol' honkin' cane for this tutorial, which I originally put together several years ago. I still have tons of eye cane left. |
| Next, for the whites of the eyes, roll a large log of white clay and pinch it into a triangle. Roll a dip into one side on something round, like a brayer, so there's someplace for the pupil/iris to fit into. |
Cut the triangular cane in half, and place the
halves on either side of the eye's center. As
you can see, the two triangles don't meet at the
top or bottom of the cane. Leave it that way.
As you can see, here is where I made my
mistake. I forgot to put the highlight where I
wanted it, at the top of the eye, and had to redo
the cane when I realized my mistake.
Remember to move the highlight to where you
need it before you take the next step.
halves on either side of the eye's center. As
you can see, the two triangles don't meet at the
top or bottom of the cane. Leave it that way.
As you can see, here is where I made my
mistake. I forgot to put the highlight where I
wanted it, at the top of the eye, and had to redo
the cane when I realized my mistake.
Remember to move the highlight to where you
need it before you take the next step.
Roll a thick layer of white clay and line
the top of your eye cane with this. Don't
line the bottom with white. Then wrap
the whole eye cane with a thin layer of
black clay - about a 4th or 5th level of
thickness on the pasta machine.
the top of your eye cane with this. Don't
line the bottom with white. Then wrap
the whole eye cane with a thin layer of
black clay - about a 4th or 5th level of
thickness on the pasta machine.
Here is the eye cane all wrapped and an
eyelash layer added. The eyelashes are
made by stacking alternating sheets of
your flesh color with either black or your
chosen hair color. I used a copper color
for the hair, so I used copper for the
lashes too. Once you've made your
stack of clay, lay it across the top of your
eye cane.
eyelash layer added. The eyelashes are
made by stacking alternating sheets of
your flesh color with either black or your
chosen hair color. I used a copper color
for the hair, so I used copper for the
lashes too. Once you've made your
stack of clay, lay it across the top of your
eye cane.
Now it's time to wrap the eye. Use a thick layer
of your chosen flesh color to wrap all around
the bottom, sides, and top of the combined eye
and lashes. Next, hand form a mound of clay
to go on top of this. Our goal here is to be able
to make a round cane without distorting the
eye's shape. Once you've reached this point,
you will probably want to reduce the cane
down, or you may want to lay it aside and wait
until it cools a bit. Add it to the face cane of
your choice, or just enjoy its ghoulish qualities
all by itself!
of your chosen flesh color to wrap all around
the bottom, sides, and top of the combined eye
and lashes. Next, hand form a mound of clay
to go on top of this. Our goal here is to be able
to make a round cane without distorting the
eye's shape. Once you've reached this point,
you will probably want to reduce the cane
down, or you may want to lay it aside and wait
until it cools a bit. Add it to the face cane of
your choice, or just enjoy its ghoulish qualities
all by itself!
| Slices of my reduced eye cane - not too much distortion!! |
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