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Activities / Kondapalli Toys / Kondapalli Clay Figure

Kondapalli Clay Figure

Kondapalli-Style Village Figure: A Painted Clay Toy

Level
Beginner
Duration
1.5 - 2.5 hours (plus 2 days drying)
Budget
₹658 – ₹853
Age
8+
State
Andhra Pradesh

Materials

  • Air-dry clay, white
  • Acrylic paints, 12 colour set (green, orange, red, black, white, skin tone and gold or yellow are used)
  • Round paint brushes, sizes 0 and 2
  • Water-based gloss varnish
  • Toothpick
  • Small bowl of water, cloth, baking paper and a flat board

Steps

  1. Cover your table and lay out the clay, paints and brushes
    Cover a table with baking paper or a plastic sheet and keep a small bowl of water and a cloth nearby. Real Kondapalli toys are carved from soft wood, but this version copies their look in air-dry clay. Open the clay, cut off about 80 g (a lump the size of a small lemon) and wrap the rest tightly in cling film or a bag. Common mistake: leaving the clay open, because it dries and cracks within an hour.
  2. Roll a 40 g lump into a cone 7 cm tall for the body
    Take about 40 g of clay (a ball slightly bigger than a ping pong ball) and knead it for one minute until it is soft and has no cracks. Roll it between your palms into a cone about 7 cm (2.8 in) tall and 3 cm wide at the base. Press it down on the table to make a flat bottom so the figure stands on its own. This cone is the sari-wearing body of a village woman.
    Tip: If the clay cracks while rolling, dip a fingertip in water and smooth the crack.
  3. Attach a 2 cm ball for the head with a scratch and a drop of water
    Roll a ball of clay about 2 cm across (around 10 g) for the head. Scratch the top of the cone and the bottom of the ball lightly with a toothpick, add one drop of water and press them together. Blend the seam with a damp fingertip until you cannot see it. Common mistake: skipping the scratching. The head then falls off when the clay dries.
  4. Press a tiny nose, two dot eyes and a hair bun into the head
    Roll a grain of clay as a nose, about 3 mm across, and press it to the middle of the face. Use the toothpick tip to press two small dots for eyes, 8 mm apart, and one short curved line for the mouth. At the back of the head, stick on a small ball about 1 cm wide for a hair bun. Keep the features small and slightly deep, because the paint will fill them a little.
    Tip: Press the toothpick straight in and out so the eye dots stay round.
  5. Roll two thin arms and bend one to hold the pot
    Roll two coils about 4 mm thick and 3 cm long. Attach them at the shoulder with a scratch and a little water, and blend the seams. Bend one arm up at the elbow so the hand rests near the head, and let the other arm hang or rest on the hip. Pinch the end of each arm slightly to suggest a hand. Common mistake: arms that are too thick, which look heavy next to the body.
  6. Make a small pot from a 10 g ball and set it on the head
    Roll a ball of about 10 g and press your thumb into it to hollow it, shaping it into a small pot about 2 cm tall with a narrow neck. Flatten the base a little. Scratch and wet a spot on top of the head, press on the pot and blend with a damp finger. Gently pinch the lip of the pot to make it flare. The pot should sit straight, not leaning to one side.
  7. Smooth the figure and let it dry for 48 hours
    Smooth the whole figure with a damp finger or a slightly damp soft brush, so there are no fingerprints. Press two or three light lines down the cone with the toothpick to show the folds of the sari. Stand it on a flat board in a shaded, airy spot for 48 hours, turning it gently after 24 hours so that the bottom dries too. Do not use a heater or hairdryer. Fast drying makes cracks.
    Tip: If a thin crack appears, fill it with a dab of fresh clay and water and leave it to dry again.
  8. Paint the base colours: sari, skin, hair and pot
    When the figure is bone dry and feels light, paint with the size 2 brush. Do the sari in a bright green, the face and arms in a warm skin tone, the hair and bun in black and the pot in a terracotta orange. Use a thin even coat and let each colour dry for about 20 minutes before painting beside it. If the first coat looks patchy, add a second coat after it dries. Common mistake: thick paint that hides the face details.
  9. Add a gold or white border, jewellery, eyes and a red bindi
    With the size 0 brush, paint a border of dots or short stripes along the bottom of the sari in white or gold. Add tiny dots for a necklace and earrings. Paint a black dot on each eye and a very small red bindi between the eyes. Hold the brush near the metal end and rest your little finger on the table for control. These small details are what make a Kondapalli figure look alive.
    Tip: Practise the dot and stripe on paper first, to get the right size.
  10. Brush on a thin coat of gloss varnish and let it dry
    Wait at least 2 hours after painting. Brush one thin coat of water-based gloss varnish all over the figure and the pot, working in one direction and avoiding drips at the base. Let it dry for 24 hours before handling it, and wash your brushes with water and soap straight away. Common mistake: a thick coat, which turns milky white as it dries. If that happens, wait until it is dry and brush a thinner coat on top.

Sustainability

Medium - air-dry clay and acrylic are not biodegradable. Inspired-by exercise: real Kondapalli toys are carved from soft wood, assembled and painted by hand

Safety

Not for children under 3 (small parts); clay dust irritates lungs when sanding, so wear a mask; keep paint away from the mouth