Need more help getting started with QuikWood (QW) go to this page: Quikwood Tips and Tricks
Getting Started:
Mix sliver of QW and roll into a coil that is 1” long. Insert dowel into center of pointy end of egg with about ½” showing. Wrap coil around dowel and blend clay down onto Styrofoam, and then blend clay up on dowel, use extender if needed. Allow to cure.
Attaching Head:
Press 1 ½ ball on top of dowel and then remove. Mix ½” of clay to cover head. Roll into a ball and then begin pinching between your fingers to make a flat pancake. Lay on top of ball and then begin pressing and pulling to cover ball. Keeping working with ball until it is nice and smooth. Place on top of dowel and press to secure in place. If needed, place hook in top of head by folding over a piece of wire and then trimming to ½”. Insert into top of head. Allow to cure.
Making Rhino Tail:
To make the tail, mix 1/8” of QW and roll into a 2” long coil. When rolling, keep the end of the tail a little fatter by not applying as much pressure to the end. Press down on the top of the tail to make a little wider and then gently press on top like you do for the legs. Using tool put hole in top of tail. Put a little wiggle in tail and lift up tip. Let cure. When it is almost cured give the tail a little bend.
Making Arms & Legs:
For the arms mix 1/4” of QW and divide into two. Roll each piece into a coil that is about 2 ¼” long. Lay on a piece of parchment paper and gently press pointy end on top to make a little fatter, then gently flatten a little. Using pointy tool put a hole in top of leg so that you will be able to put your wire through to attach legs to body. Allow to cure.
For the arms mix 1/4” of QW and divide into two. Roll each piece into a coil that is about 2 ¼” long. Lay on a piece of parchment paper and gently press pointy end on top to make a little fatter, then gently flatten a little. Using pointy tool put a hole in top of arms so that you will be able to put your wire through to attach arms to body. Bend each arm out at the elbow. Let arms sit about 10 minutes. Pick up and position on Styrofoam body and bend so that the arms conform to the shape of the body. Keep checking them until they hold their shape. Allow to cure.
Attaching Legs:
Mix up 1/8” of QW and divide into two. Cut two pieces of wire each about 3” long. Fold wires in half using round nose pliers. Slip wires through holes in the legs. Pick the side that you think would be the best for the face and then insert them into the bottom center. Have them evenly spaced and about 3/4” apart. Leave the wires out of the body about ½” to ¾”. Roll clay into a coil that is about 1” long. Wrap around the top of the wire and have it connect together. Shape it into a little mound and have it securely press against Styrofoam. Repeat on the other leg. You want to make sure you have enough room for the legs to swing freely. Adjust them in or out as needed. Allow to cure.
Attaching Arms:
Mix up 1/16” of QW and divide into two. Cut two pieces of wire each about 2” long. Fold wires in half using round nose pliers. Trim to about ¾”. Position arms and then insert wires through holes in the arms. The one prong of the wire should go in the arm and the other should go to the back of the arm. Leave the wires out of the body about ½””. Roll clay into a coil that is about 1” long. Wrap around the wire next to the body. Make sure the clay is connected in the center and then blend the edges out onto the body. Repeat on the other arm. You want to make sure you have enough room for the arms to move freely. Adjust them in or out as needed. Allow to cure.
Attaching Rhino Tail:
Bend piece of wire and fold over to make ¾” hook to insert tail. Place tail in center back at widest part. Insert hook into body with one prong going into the hole in the tail and the other going above the tail. Mix a sliver of QW and roll into a 1” coil. Wrap around hook and push clay together so that the clay connects in center of hook. Blend excess clay out onto body. Adjust hook in or out as needed. Allow to cure.
Covering body with clay:
Mix a small amount of QW up at a time. Pull off a small piece and flatten between your fingers and then lay it on the body where there is no QW. Press the clay to the body and then press and pull it out to cover the body. This is just a thin layer of QW that you are putting on the body. Continue until the entire body is covered. Allow to cure. (Video)
Adding Rhino Muzzle:
Mix ¼” of QW and roll into an oval that is about ½” in diameter and about ¾” long. Place in center of face and then blend edges to face using extender. Shape face with muzzle going down and flat at the front with it getting narrower towards the front. Allow to cure.
Adding Rhino Ears and Horns:
Mix 1/8” of QW and pull off 3/8” and ¼” balls for the horns. Roll the 1/4” ball into a small cone for the small horn and place on back of muzzle. Blend edges to the muzzle using a little extender if needed. Roll 3/8” ball into a ½” cone and place on front of muzzle, blend into place. Reshape if needed.
For the ears divide the remaining clay in 2, they should be about 3/8” balls. Roll each into a ¾” cone and flatten. Flatten bottom of cone and lay pointy tool on ear with the point on the widest part of cone and coming from the direction of the point of the ear. Wrap clay around point of tool and then press in place on top of head. Open ears with tool, if needed. Have ears go slightly forward. Allow to cure
Adding Hippo Nose and Ears:
Mix ¼” of QW and pull off two 1/8” balls for the ears. Roll remaining clay into a wide ball and place on front of head. Blend edges to face using a little extender. Shape nose, it should be about ¾” wide and ½” long. Place small balls for ears at top of head and blend back to head. Using round end of paint brush or tool, insert into center of each ear. Using pointy tool, insert holes for the nostrils. Allow to cure.
Adding Hippo Tail:
Mix 1/8” of QW and divide into two. Roll into ¾” coil and position on center back of body, slightly below widest part with point going up. Press into place with tip going out. Allow to cure.