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 Tusks and tail:
To make tusks mix up a sliver of QW and pull off two ¼” balls. Roll each into a ½” cone. Let lay about 10 minutes and then come back and check them. Turn up the tips and allow to cure.
For the tail, pull off a 3/8” ball and roll into a 1 ¼” cone. Pull off a small ball and roll into a cone and lay at the tip of the tail. The fat part of the small cone should be on the smallest part of the longer cone. Blend together using a little extender. Using exacto knife put a few lines in the bottom of the tail. Flatten the top of the tail and using a pointy tool put a hole in the top of the tail. Wait until the tail is almost cured and then pick it up and give it a little bend. Make a second tail.
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 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 on an upward angle 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)
Making and Attaching Ears:
For the ears mix 1/8” of QW and divide into two. Lay parchment paper over pattern. Roll clay for each ear into a ¾” cone. Begin pressing and patting and filling in shape of ear with clay. Allow to sit about ten minutes.
Pick up ear and align to side of head. Blend edge of ear to front of face using extender. Then pull ear out/forward. Reshape if needed. Repeat for other ear. Just before ear cures come back and put a few ruffles in the edges of the ears. Repeat for second elephant. Allow to cure.
Attaching Trunk:
For the trunk mix up 1/8” of QW and let sit 5 minutes before using. For the elephant with the tusks roll into a 2” coil with it coming to a point on top and being fatter where the tusks will be inserted. The widest part is about ¾” – 1” from the top. The rest of the trunk will be skinnier. Using extender, blend top of trunk to face going down about ½”. Insert tusks into each side of fat area of trunk. Blend into place making sure they are about the same position. Push on end of trunk to flatten.
For the trunk without the tusk start with an 1/8” of QW and roll into a 2” coil with the coil being thinner at both ends. Position in center of face and blend about ½” of top of trunk to face. Push on end of trunk to flatten.
Using pointy tool, open bottom of each trunk. Allow to sit until almost cured and then lift trunk up.