Home >> Hobbies >> Other Hobbies

How to Make Realistic Polymer Clay Eyes

Polymer clay can be modeled to form a realistic looking human eye. The one doing the modeling will need a reference eye to work from, as well as the proper tools acquired from a hobby store or crafts supply house. The sculpted clay can be baked afterwards to solidify for being painted afterwards or being placed on display. No special protective clothing or head or eye wear is needed.

Things You'll Need

Ruler
Flat sculpting tool
Wire brush tool

Instructions

- 1
  Roll a ball of polymer clay between your fingers. Compare the size of the ball with the eye socket on the figure that the eyes will be made. Add clay to the ball as needed until it is large enough to fill the eye socket. Place the ball in the eye-socket.
- 2
  Measure the width of one of the two eye sockets on the model that the eyes will be made. Form three rods of clay that each match this width. Cut one of the rods in half. Place one of the cut half's against the right bottom side of the ball inside the eye socket. Smooth the rod against the socket with a pointed end of a flat sculpting tool. Repeat this procedure with the other cut half and the left bottom side of the eye socket.
- 3
  Bend the ends of a rod down to form a half circle. Place the rod against the top of the ball. Twist the other rod between your fingers until it is half as thick as it was originally. Bend the ends of the rod up to form a half circle. Place the rod against the bottom of the ball.
- 4
  Smooth the left end of the rod with the flat sculpting tool. Cut the other end of the rod where it meets the upper rod at a 45-degree angle to the right with the point at the end of the flat sculpting tool. Pull the cut rod off. Smooth the right end of the rod with the flat sculpting tool.
- 5
  Form three rods that are half the length of the top rod. Place one rod against the top of the top rod. Flatten the rod with the flat sculpting tool. Form another ball the same size as the one that was made from the cut rod earlier. Place this ball above the flattened ball inside the eye socket on the left side. Flatten the ball with the flat sculpting tool.
- 6
  Place another rod against the top of the eye socket to the left of the other rod. Flatten this rod with the flat sculpting tool. Score the lower right corner of the ball with the flat sculpting tool.
- 7
  Place the third rod against the top of the eye socket at the middle and flatten it with the flat sculpting tool. Stroke the top and bottom of the ball from one side to the other with the flat sculpting tool.
- 8
  Scrape the area above the ball from one side of the eye socket to the other with the wire brush tool. Make diagonal strokes from one side to the other in the very top rod above the eye socket with the wire brush tool.
- 9
  Smooth the inside edges of the rods above and below the ball with the wire brush tool. Smooth the top edge of the rod above the ball with the wire brush tool. Repeat this entire procedure with another ball of clay and the left eye socket.

Other Hobbies