Tutorial : Gandalf The Grey Clay Figurine

Lord Of The Rings . Hobbit . Lord Of The Rings . Hobbit

It’s the Hobbits’ season again! Have you catched their latest movie : “The Battle Of The Five Armies” yet?
I’m gonna watch it tonight with my DIY elf ears!Anyways, here’s a tutorial on Gandalf I did some time back! Enjoy!

What you will need :
1) Clay (Grey, Beige, White, Black, Brown)
2) Craft Tools (if available)
3) White Glue

4) Wire

Using any coloured clay or scrap clay, form a rectangle for his body.

Then, roll out a large thin piece of grey clay for Gandalf’s clothing. Wrap it from the front to the back and cut off the extra that overlaps.

As you push the thin grey clay down, little ‘flaps’ would form as shown above. Gently press it down and smoothen the top. Attach Gandalf’s arms with wires to secure it.

Roll out another thin piece of clay, this time for Gandalf’s sleeves and wrap it around your finger. Use a scissors to snip off the ends to make the edges smooth.

Your clay would most likely stick together where it is cut. Gentle open them up, either with just your fingers or with tools.

Stretch the ends gently on one side so that the sleeves would look slighter bigger there.

Slip it through the arms with the smaller end facing Gandalf’s body. Attach it with glue and press it down.

Add Gandalf’s brown belt by rolling a long thin piece and wrap it around the mid section.

Mix grey with white to form a lighter shade of your choice for his scarf. It doesn’t have to be perfect, wrinkle the ends and place it over the shoulder.

Finally, make Gandalf’s head and estimate the size.

If the head is alright, pull it back out again to complete the scarf.

Make another thin long grey strip. Make folds and place it around the neck area. Leave the middle to fit Gandalf’s head.

Roll out long strips of very light grey for Gandalf’s hair. It doesn’t have to be exactly the same length throughout. Then add his mustache. Gandalf looks much better now that his hair is place huh?

To make his hat, repeat the steps for the sleeves, but pinch one end (the smaller side) together.

Use scissors to modify the top of the hat to make it pointy. You can use a needle tool to make lines on Gandalf’s hat.

Make another thin piece and cut out a circle slightly bigger than the pointed part of the hat.

Let Gandalf wear his hat and add eyebrows! The same shade and colour as his hair/stash. You can use white glue to attach them.

Can you see how Gandalf has one hand reaching out for something? Well, he’s missing his ‘Staff Of Power’ which acts as both his primary weapon and walking stick.

It wasn’t too hard to make this.

Roll out 2 different shades of brown together, form a stick shape where the top is slightly fatter in size, cut the ends a little with a scissors, use a needle too to make wooden marks throughout, and finally adding extra ‘wood veins’ curling around it. I think Gandalf’s staff looks pretty good.