How to Make Lifelike Clay Dolls

Fold the strip of wire in half. Form the wire into the shape of a body. Create the legs and twist the wire for each leg up to the beginning of the torso. Repeat this process for each arm.

Cut separate pieces of the clay to be wrapped around the limbs and body of your armature. A utility knife works well for this.

Shape the clay around each limb as well as the torso. Smooth and define the body parts using your fingers and your sculpting tools.

Cover and attach the aluminum ball to the lollipop stick with masking tape. Make it as smooth as possible. This will help the clay to adhere to the head.

Form two round, flat pieces of clay for the front and back of the head. Apply them to the head and blend the clay together.

Reinforce the horizontal line that represents where the eyes will go by firmly pressing your sculpting tool against the indentation.

Fashion ears out of two small symmetrical pieces of clay. Define crevices and grooves that match from ear to ear. Apply the ears by blending the outer edges of each ear to the head. An imaginary horizontal line from the top of the ears should come to rest on the eyebrows. This will help you to place them appropriately.

Create pieces of clay to apply to the head that will become the face of your doll. Make two identical clay spheres that will become the eyes. Place them in the indentation you created. Make sure to leave enough space for the nose.

Make a small worm-shaped strip of clay and place above the eyes to form the brow line. Blend the clay and smooth out the lines.

Make another worm-shaped strip one third the length of the brow line. This will become the top lip. Apply it below the nose.

Roll out a ball of clay about the size and shape of an oblong pea. Position it where the chin would be. Using a spoon-tipped sculpting tool, push the top half of the pea up to the top lip. This will become the bottom lip. Blend and smooth clay into the rest of the face.

Form two symmetrical balls of clay and slightly flatten them by pressing them lightly between your fingers. Apply them to either side of the cheek area. This will build up the face and help create cheekbones and depth to your sculpture.

Continue to add depth and define features of the face until you are pleased with the symetry and shape of the face.

Do not forget lines and creases around the mouth and eyes.

Cut the lollipop stick to about a half an inch below the head so you can insert it into the armature.

Bake your sculpted doll at the clay manufacturer's suggested time and temperature on a glass, oven-proof dish. Lining the dish is not necessary, but be careful how you place your doll so intricate lines and shapes are not compromised during baking.

Paint on the eyes once the doll has been removed from the oven and cooled. You can layer different shades of Genesis® Artist Colors heat-set oil paints until you achieve the desired effect. Use your embossing gun to set the paint by aiming the gun at the area you want to dry.

Apply hair to the finished doll. Hair can be added by gluing on a wig or individual sections of hair.

Spray on a sealer to protect the finished doll. Your doll is now ready to be dressed and displayed.