Polymer Clay Axolotl Sculpture

Polymer Clay Axolotl Sculpture by Patricia Roberts-Thompson

Before you Axolotl of questions, let me tell you a little bit about these cute creatures. Axolotls are an aquatic Salamander, native to Mexico, and on the Threatened List in the wild. Scientists have studied them extensively because they have the ability to regenerate lost limbs. They have become a popular aquarium pet for the skilled hobbyist. Axolotls come in a few different colors – brown/tan speckled version, Albino, which is a golden color, Grey, black and a Leucistic, which is the pale pink variety I have chosen to portray.

Materials:

120g White Makin’s Clay®   Pinch of red clay, or white clay tinted with red acrylic paint                                                                                                                                                    Makin’s® Push Molds, 39003 Sea Shells

Makin's Professional® Ultimate Clay Machine®

Small glass eyes, or seedbeds or small black balls of clay

White glue

Clay roller, clay blade, scissors, brushes, ball tool 

Tin or paper mache box to attach your Axolotl on

Baby wipes, ziplock bags

Acrylic paints, CraftSmart  - Hunter Green, Lush Foliage Green, Folk Art Brushed Metal – Pearl Gold

Lumiere paints – Pearl white, Halo Pink Gold

American DuraClear Gloss varnish

Directions:

Fig 1:  Take 60g white Makin’s Clay® and form into two balls, one for the body and one reserved for the legs and gills. Tear off a small bit from the smaller ball and use it to mold two or three snails from the sea shell push mold. Place the smaller ball in a ziplock bag or wrap with a baby wipe until ready to use.

Fig 2: Using the larger ball, form it into the head, body and tail. The head is wedged shaped, give him a little belly and make the tail pretty thin.

Fig 3: Use a ball tool to make the holes for the eyes. Add a bit of white glue in the holes then place the eyes. I used eyes that I purchased from Amazon, but you could use small black beads, or even roll your own small black balls from clay. It would be best to let the clay eyes set up, as pushing them into the sculpture can distort them.

Fig 4: Add a curved mouth, Axolotls are known for looking very friendly!

Fig 5: Using your fingers, pinch a fin that starts just behind his head, and runs all the way around his tail, stopping just before the hind legs. Make the fin thin, and work some ripples into it.

Fig 6: Mix some white clay with a pinch of red clay, or alternately mix some red paint into the white

clay. Flatten out some strands; you will need six of them. Using a craft blade, cut many tiny lines all along the edges. Turn the gill over and texture the underside, but more lightly. Use some pure white and roll tiny snakes of clay to become the center of the gills. Add water to the clay if it seems to dry to roll into a nice thin snake. Make six gills in total, ranging in size.  ( two large, two medium, two small).

Fig 7: Use a ball tool to make three holes on each side of his head (behind his jaw) Add a drop of white glue and pinch the end of the gill before you push it into the hole.

Fig 8: This picture shows the six gills in place.

Fig 9: Use the white clay to make the legs. To make the feet, flatten a paddle shape, then, use a craft knife to cut and remove small triangle pieces. The front legs have four toes, and the back legs have five toes.

Fig 10: I made some curved lines on the belly before attaching the legs. Make a hole for each leg with a ball tool, add some glue and stick the legs in place. Except for a bit of painting, your Axolotl is finished. Now we will put him on a container.

Fig 11: I choose a Gift Card Tin to put my Axolotl onto. To make the grassy riverbed, I added Hunter Green paint to some white clay, also Lush Foliage Green and Pearl Gold to more white clay. I took half of each color, twisted it together to marbleize it, then, ran it through my Ultimate Clay  Machine® to the 4^th thickness. Add it to the container, smoothing it out, then place your Axolotl. You can use different shades of green and tan clay to get a similar look.

Fig 12:  I thinned the remaining pieces of colored clay on the 5^th thickness, and cut pointed strips from each color. These pieces, I placed on the container, flowing in the same direction as if the river currents were moving the grasses. Lastly I used Lumerie Pearl paint with just a hint of Halo Red-Gold on the Axolotl, and brushed a tiny bit of Halo Red Gold on his lower belly and also on the snails.

Fig 13: Another view of the Axoltol  I sealed it with Americana DuraClear Gloss varnish for a wet look, after letting him dry for 24 to 36 hours.

Hope you had fun making this adorable little creature!