31 May How to Make a Clay Model of an Onion

We are busy working through the book, A Manual of Clay-Modelling by Unwin, as we learn about clay modelling. Today, we will be making a clay model of an onion, which is model #13. I guess we’re working through all of the fruits and veggies! So far we’ve made an orange, an apple, a plum, a pear, a lemon, a pea pod, and a tomato. For this model, we went picked up a nicely shaped onion at the grocery store. It will serve two purposes – a model for our clay modelling, and then dinner.

Materials Needed

• The book, A Manual of Clay Modelling by Hermione Unwin (or free online HERE)
• Modeling Clay (the book suggests red terra cotta clay)
• Clay modeling tools (this kit includes many tools, along with a sponge and wire to cut the clay)
• An modelling board with an armature – hopefully you’ve made this with us already
• A bowl of water
• An apron or paint shirt to protect your clothing
• Newspaper, or plastic covering to protect your table
• An Onion

Happy Handicrafts Video: How to Make a Clay Model of an Onion

This model began as many others – by forming a square slab around the armature. We then rolled up a ball of clay, smoothing it as we went, until it was about the size of our onion. The ball was then slightly flattened as we pressed it onto the armature. You want to be careful to “give the planes the same inclination as in the object.”

Carefully compare the object and the model. Then begin to build up the top and bottom. The top typically gets very thin and papery. Luci built this up by adding thin pieces of clay around the tip, almost as though adding rose pedals. This worked very well to create a multi-layered top.

The rootlets were not so simple. The book suggests “making a number of little sharp cuts with the tool” to give the appearance of rootlets. The problem is the rootlets are mostly covered because of the onion’s position. The sharp cuts were not very visible or realistic. So we changed things up a little, creating several little clay twists that we joined together in the middle and then pressed onto the bottom of the onion. This created much more realistic rootlets and was a little easier to do.

We finished our clay model of an onion by smoothing the surface from top to bottom, as in the original.

Come and craft along with us! We are a family who homeschools using the Charlotte Mason method. We record our handicraft lessons and share them on YouTube @HappyHandicrafts. Go to the playlists and choose a handicraft you’d like to learn.