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 tail:
To make the cow’s tail mix 1/8” of QW and roll into a 2” coil keeping the one end heavier. Lay on parchment paper and roll with fingers keeping the 3/8” at the bottom fatter and the rest of the tail the same width. Press down on top of tail to make it fatter and then press down on top to flatten. Using pointy tool, press hole in top of tail. Shape tail by putting a little wiggle in it and lifting the end of the tail. Allow to cure. 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 on lower 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)
Cow muzzle, and ears:
Mix 1/4” of QW and divide into two. Use one half for the muzzle and divide the other half in two for the ears. For the muzzle roll the half into a ball and then shape into and oval. Attach to face just below the center. Have the center top dip down. Using pointy tool insert on each side to make nostril. As you are pulling out on the tool pull down a little to make the nostril a little longer and curl in towards center. Note: If you want a ring in to the nose you will want to do that before the clay cures.
For the ears roll each piece into a ¾” cone and gently flatten. Make a little point on fat end of cone. Position ears on top center of head, about ¾” apart. The thin end of the cone attaches to the head. Have the ears lift up and out, keep checking as the clay cures to lift the ears up. Allow to cure
Adding nose ring:
If you would like to add a nose ring, before the clay in the nose is cured insert a 7mm jump ring into the nose between the nostrils. If needed, using a little extender on a brush, blend clay together under ring.
Horns:
If you would like to add horns mix a sliver of QW and pull off two 3/8” balls. Roll into a ¾” cone and sit base of cone next to top of ear on each side. Shape each horn by curling out and up. Allow to cure.
Making Bell:
Mix up a sliver of QW and pull off a 3/8” ball. Make a small hook by folding over a piece of wire 3/8” and then trim. Begin shaping clay with your fingers by flattening the ball and then shaping into a triangular shape like a cow bell. Reshape if needed. Insert wire into top of bell. Allow to cure.