How to Make a Clay Owl

Make an adorable clay owl with this easy folding technique and air dry clay. This simple clay craft is perfect for kids or beginners, and can be customized with fun colours and patterns!

Active Time30

Drying Time2

Total Time2 30

Yield: clay owl

Author: Debbie Chapman

Cost: $2

Equipment

Materials

Instructions

Step 1: Find what you need

Gather your supplies and materials.

Step 2: Roll out the clay

Place a ball of clay on a cutting board in-between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. This will ensure the clay doesn't stick to the cutting board or the rolling pin.
Roll out the clay until it's about 1/4 inch thick.
Lift the top piece of plastic wrap and then set it back down loosely on top of the rolled out clay.
Set a 5 inch bowl upside-down on the clay and press it down firmly to make an indent.
Use the lid of a large Crayola marker to create feather marks on the center of the circle in the bottom half.
To do this, press the cap down at a 45 degree angle while the top plastic wrap is still in place. This will mark "U" shaped feathers in the clay without cutting all the way through.
Remove the top layer of plastic wrap and use a wooden skewer to cut around the circle. You can also use the back of a sharp knife.

Step 3: Form the clay owl

Get rid of the excess clay and then clean up the edges of the owl. To do this, dip your finger in water and gently smooth any rough areas.
Fold the left and right sides in on an angle so they almost meet at the center curve and go out a bit wider towards the bottom.
Again, use a bit of water on your fingertips to smooth out the folds.
Now fold down the top 1/3 of the circle so it overlaps the wings. Use your fingers to push the center bit down, creating 2 pointed ears for the owl.
Smooth out the sides, ears, neck, and bottom of the owl as needed.
Set the plastic wrap back on top of the owl and use the full marker cap to make round indents for the eyes.
Then press the flat end of the wooden skewer into the center of the eyes to make the pupils.
Remove the top plastic again and use the pointy end of the skewer to make impressions for the beak.
Set the end where you want the bottom point of the beak to be and press the skewer down, almost horizontally at an angle. Repeat on the other side.
Again, dip your finger in water and smooth the indents and edges, so everything looks neat.
Allow to dry for about 48 hours.
After 24 hours, flip the owl over so the back can dry nicely as well.

Step 4: Paint the owl

Use brown (or another colour of choice) acrylic paint for the owl's chest and head. Try to avoid the eyes if you can.
Then use another colour of paint for the wings.
You can use a different shade of brown for a realistic owl, or choose a fun pastel like we did.
Once the brown paint is dry enough, paint the eyes white.
Use black paint and a fine tipped brush to add pupils to the eyes. Then use yellow paint for the beak.
(You can also use paint markers for this.)
Use a paint marker in a different shade of green (or whatever your wing colour is) to add feather details.
(You can also use acrylic paint and a brush.)
Your clay owl is complete!
Have fun making a whole parliament of owls (that's the name of a group of owls) in fun colours!

Notes

Looking for more owl crafts? Here's a few of our favourites:

Owl Painted Rocks

How to Make a Macrame Owl

Printable Owl Masks