Make a Peony with Air-Dry Clay by Cindy Willingham

All levels | 34 min 31 sec

Make a Peony with Air-Dry Clay
Overview00:56
Materials01:58
Condition, cut, and mold clay06:59
Assemble flower08:56
Paint first layer07:57
Watercolor paint technique07:45

Taught by Cindy Willingham

This class will be available to view on May 07, 2025.
Cindy Willingham is a painter, potter, and everything in between. Her work is often inspired by nature, and when she used to spend six months of winter living in Maine, she would always dream of flowers. Join Cindy as she teaches you how to create beautifully textured peonies with air-dry clay. Air-dry clay shares many similarities with kiln-fired clay, and all the hand-building you'll learn in this class applies to both. Cindy demonstrates how to condition air-dry clay, form a slab - which is the foundation of many clay projects - and sculpt a flower using unexpected but accessible household tools. You'll then learn how to paint the clay with a dreamy watercolor-inspired technique and seal it to protect your work. No kiln is needed with air-dry clay, just patience and time for your clay flower garden to grow.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Air-dry clay (not Crayola or clay with a fluffy texture - Cindy uses Trinity Ceramic Air Dry Clay)
Porous work surface such as wood, cork, fabric, or slab mat
Small bowl of water
Fondant/gum paste molds with cutters in flower and leaf shapes
Cornstarch and sock for application
Shallow sauce bowl
Rolling pin and guides for rolling - Cindy uses two wooden stir sticks taped together
Paper towel
Acrylic paint - two shades for petals, two shades for leaves, and two shades for flower center
Acrylic varnish/sealer like Maker's Magic
Plastic wrap
Pen
Scoring tool
Pottery rib
Bench scraper

Note: this project may be done with kiln firing clay and glaze, but air dry clay and kiln firing clay must not cross contanimate. differences are clay and glaze instead of paint

Downloads:

Download Materials List

Learn how to: