STEP 1
Stir together the flour, salt and cream of tartar in a large pot.

STEP 2
Add the water and oil. If you’re only making one color, add in the color now as well.

STEP 3
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the dough has thickened and begins to form into a ball.

STEP 4
Remove from heat and place clay inside a gallon sized bag or onto wax paper. Allow to cool slightly and then knead until smooth.

STEP 5
If you’re adding colors after cooking, divide the dough into balls (for however many colors you want) and then add the dough into a quart sized bags.

Start with about 5 drops of food coloring, water based markers, or natural spices and add more to brighten it. Knead the dough while inside the bag so it doesn’t stain your hands, OR cure it for a day and let the kids knead it and add color on a cutting board or other smooth surface.

STEP 6
Store the sculpture clay inside the bags once done to keep soft. Keeps for up to 1 month.

STEP 1
Gather Materials and choose who you will sculpt.

STEP 2
Dye the Clay. We can use all sorts of colors found in our kitchens and craft cabinet to dye the clay to look like the people you know. Shown are examples of craft clay dyed with cocoa, turmeric, and marker. All sorts of spices and food coloring can be used!

STEP 3
Draw a mark in the center of the tube. Everything above it is a face and below that line is the neck and shoulders. Draw a face on the tube using the rule of thirds (1/3 for the eyes and forehead, 1/3 for the nose and ears, 1/3 for the mouth and chin). 

For young children: Allowing them to think about the face’s details, like noses and eyes and to draw and “plan” on the tube is a great way to teach 3/D thinking. Proportions will come later when that is important to get “right” for them.

STEP 4
Use clay to add features. A bust needs a neck, shoulders, and a back. Start with the neck. Once that is added with a layer of clay, then add the head and features using your tools. A paper towel (or two) pushed in the center of the sculpture will create the “crown” of the head to cover with clay.

STEP 5
Add hair. The hair can be a contrasting color and texture of the clay. You can use plastic forks or toothpicks to make the texture of the hair 0r you can use embedded materials like yarn, pebbles, or leaves for hair or any feature!