This document provides instructions for making a realistic portrait mask out of clay. It outlines the steps which include starting with 5 lbs of clay, wedging it into a slab and cutting out the shape of the mask. An armature is wrapped in plastic or paper and the clay slab is laid over it. Facial features are lightly sketched and balls of clay are added to sculpt the nose, nostrils, lips and other details while looking in a mirror for reference. Eyeballs, cheeks, jaw and hair are also established. The finished mask should have texture and details added to match the person it depicts and hangers should be attached to the back for display.

1. How to Make a Realistic
Portrait in Clay
Photo Tutorial by Mr David Sohn

2. Facial Proportions

4. How to
Make a
Mask
Start with 5 lbs of clay.

5. Wedge 5 lbs of clay – Pound, throw, & roll into a slab about
½’’ thick

6. Sketch out the shape of the mask.
Cut it out with a fettling knife.

7. Wrap an armature tube with plasticWrap an armature tube
with plastic or paper.

8. Lay the slab on the armature tube.

9. Lightly sketch in the facial features, then start to
impress eye sockets to establish the bridge of the
nose.

10. Add a ball of clay for the nose.

11. Add smaller balls of clay for the nostrils.

12. Sculpt the nose. If you are making it naturalistic, look
in the mirror or take a selfie.

13. Rough it out first, then clean it up later when
the clay is firmer.

14. Look at your mask from the side while you
work. Prepare to add the lips by scoring.

15. Attach a coil for the upper lip – it should be
thicker in the middle.

16. Compress clay to form a slope from the bottom
of the nose.

17. Upper lip should slope outward as viewed from the
side. Use a small dowel tool to impress a groove
on the upper lip.

18. Use a small tool to shape the outline of the upper
lip. Remember to look at your reference.

19. Add another coil for the bottom lip (thicker in
the middle!)

20. Attach the bottom lip so that it hangs out from
the face. Use your reference.

21. Lips should wrap around the mask. Upper lips
slopes out and the bottom lip hangs out

22. Establish eye ball, cheek & jaw bones

23. Establish eye ball, cheek & jaw bones

24. Roll out a small coil for upper eye
lid Roll out a small coil for the upper eye lid.

25. Roll out small coil for lower eye lid.

27. Compress eye lid upward & downward around the eye

29. Shape eye opening to match yours

30. Add mass under brow to soften edge.
Create an edge where eyelid
would retract

31. Draw out the iris of the eye

32. Add texture for iris contrast

33. Add texture for eyebrow

34. Find hair-line and
add locks of hair
that match your
hair around the
top edge and
sides. Ears not
needed

35. Important!
Attach hangers to
the back for
hanging later.