Clay Santa Face Tutorial

*This lesson is meant  for those who have purchased my Santa patterns. To Find those Cinnamon Creek Santa Patterns.  Please visit my Etsy shop .    Thank you . *

Here is how I make my clay Santa face that I've been doing for, oh, so many years.  When working with clay, I've never been able to get the same exact face twice.   The faces that you see on all of my Santas through the years have all been either resin poured or chalkware.  But, they all began with an original clay face that we made molds from. 

This face is for a Santa that is anywhere from 16''- 20'' tall

Maybe next time, I can do a video. I'm just not set up for that now.  I hope that these step by step pictures and instructions will do the trick.

Here is what you need.    This "CREATIVE PAPERCLAY"  can be found at Hobby Lobby.   Now, maybe you are familiar with other clays, but this is all I've ever used.  It is great to work with. Soft and easy to shape and blend. 

You will also need a small paintbrush. with a smooth, rounded end.  That is your sculpting tool.  Perhaps you have something else similar that may work better.  You also need a little cup of water to keep your fingertips moist. An fat needle will be used to make some wrinkles on his forehead. 

Begin by breaking off a chunk of clay .  It will take about 1/4 of your block of clay. 

Roll it into a ball .  Your ball should be about 3'' maybe a little less.   Knead it and work with your hands to get any air out and smooth the cracks.   Keep your hands moist.   You want to keep it crack free.  Too much water, and it gets too messy.  

Flatten it out  a bit onto a hard surface.  

 It needs to be about 1/2'' thick , 3 - 31/4'' long and about 2 3/4'' wide

Make sure it is fairly smooth with no cracks.  If you have some cracks, rub over with dampened fingers until smooth. 

Keep the back of it flat.

Now, for the nose...  take a piece of clay about the size of a small grape.  Roll and knead to smooth and then roll in your palms...

You want the nose to be about 1 1/2'' long.

Set into place - going by the picture. 

Start pressing in on the sides.  First with your fingertips. ( I usually go at it with both index fingers on both sides at the same time, but, I needed one hand for the camera.  :) 

Once you have the sides smoothed down into the face, take your smoothing tool ( paintbrush end) and start kind of rolling it and sculpting.  Pressing down fairly firm to form it into the face. 

This is just something you will need to work with and take your time to sculpt and shape. It's fun , if you just let  yourself be a sculptor.  You'll want to taper the bridge of the nose down and thin it at the top.  Simply press and play with it every which way . It will take shape as you work with it. 

You see here, I am pinching the clay towards the bottom. That kind of squeezes out the nostril shape. 

Pressing that paintbrush end like this picture helps protrude that nose out. 

Continue working with it until you are happy with it.  Keeping those fingertips moist and smoothing it out. You can poke that brush end  on both sides under the nose to make the nostrils. 

Now that the nose is in fairly good shape, Start indenting the eye area...

Press in your brush end as shown and roll it  a bit.  Smoothing as you go. 

Looking at the pictures gives you the best idea of the shape you are going for. 

Take your time and work with it.  Pressing in and rolling the brush end around a bit until you have it the same on both sides.  Again... keep your fingertips moist and add smooth with your dampened fingers all along the way. .....

Keep smoothing and sculpting until you have it looking something like this .

Now,  he needs a bit more of a forehead.  We are doing this separately, as it just seems to work out better this way.  You will take a piece of clay from your block that is about 2 1/4'' long and 1/4'' thick.

Knead it a little, roll, press and smooth it until you get something like this. 

Then, gently  press it into the face above the eyes, being careful not to disturb what you've done so far.  Smooth those edges with your fingertips, fingernails and/or brush end tool until it is blended in .

This is what you should have at this point, or something similar. 

You actually don't want it too smooth, as the imperfections give it an older look. 

Add some chubby cheeks....  Take 2 pieces of clay - about the size of a small grape.  Knead and roll, then  smooth onto the sides of the face as shown with your dampened fingertips.

Use your brush end tool to sculpt it into the face further.  Too chubby ?  Press it on down into the face and simply work with it until it is how you desire it to be. 

It's taking shape ! 

Silly Ol' Santa Face !  

Take a little piece of clay ( about the size of a pea) .  Roll between your fingers a bit and set into place as shown. 

Press it into place , under the nose as shown, and sculpt and blend into a mouth shape.   

This mouth really won't be seen much under that wooly beard. It does not need to be perfect.  You just want a hint of lips showing through. , so they need to protrude out as shown. 

I hope you are having fun !   The first time I worked with clay, I was surprised how easy and fun it was.  Even though it took me a long time and some patience with myself to get it to where I was happy with it.  It simply takes time.

To add a little detail.... use a needle or a toothpick to create a few creases in his forehead.

Maybe a few little lines on the sides of his eyes...

Then , smooth them out with your dampened fingertips. 

Happy , Silly Santa Face !  

Your face should be dry in 2 - 3 days.  Keep in a warm , dry area.   It is possible to speed it up if you put in the oven at a very low temp. ( 200 degrees )  But, you must be careful of cracking.   Once it is fully dry, you  will not need to worry about it cracking.  It becomes very durable. 

2 different Santa Faces.   Each one as unique and original as you and me ! 

FACE SHOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 1/2'' THICK WHEN DONE  ( POSSIBLY 3/4'' WITH CHEEKS )  IT SHOULD BE 3 - 3 1/4'' LONG AND 2 3/4'' WIDE 

I hope that this has helped you.   If you feel that I have left something out, PLEASE feel free to let me know.  Sometimes, well... Lots of times I forget things.  I'm happy to help as much as I can. 

Best way to contact me is through Facebook messenger for the quickest reply.   Of course, I can't always answer instantly, but I'll do my best. 

Happy Santa Making ! 

Dru Ann

p.s. ----  Tomorrow ( Saturday, Dec. 1st ) I will share how to paint the face and apply the beard.