The beginning of this tutorial is here

In this part of the tutorial we make the clay torso and we bake the various pieces in the oven to harden them.

Fill out the torso by tearing off small pieces of clay and applying them to the foil base.

Use any tools you have available. Keep it a moderatly thin layer if possible. This will make it easier and quicker to bake.

For the ribs and the rib cage roll out thin rods of clay and apply them to the skeleton.

Don't forget to do some of the neck bones, the shoulders and the spine that goes from stomach to hips.

And for fun you can add a spine to the back of the skeleton.

Notice here in this picture how I have done a little bit of the neck bones spine portion.

The clay pieces are all done and they look great. I have placed them together so you can see how it all goes. Let's put these pieces together.

So now let's bake these pieces. You can use a conventional oven or a toaster oven like I use. But you cannot use a microwave oven. It has to be an oven that generates heat. Not an oven that stimulates molecules into vibrating!

Sculpey Guidelines for Baking:

I use the regular sculpey. Follow the directions for whatever clay you use.

Here are mine: Bake on oven-proof glass or metal surface at 275F for 15 minutes per quarter inch of thickness.

Remove the pieces as they are done. So, these first few bones are pretty thin and I took them out after 15 minutes. The skull stayed for half an hour and the torso stayed for 45 minutes.

Let's put the marionette together!

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