For example: If you pull out the ball at the front, you can shape it into an animal’s face.
Cone
This shape is the basis for all bodies. It is made by rolling and narrowing the ball at one end, leaving it fatter at the other.
For example: The cone can be pulled out at the widest part to form the body of a bird.
Sausage
From this shape we can make arms and legs. It is simple to make by applying even pressure to the ball and continuing to roll, keeping it uniform thickness along its length.
For example: The sausage shape when turned up at the end will form a foot, or can be marked to make a paw.
Oval
This is the least used of the basic shapes, but is used to make cheeks, ears and other small parts. It is made in the same way as the sausage, by applying even pressure to the ball, but not taking it as far.
For example: Smaller oval shapes can be used for ears.
How to Give Your Characters Personality
When you start to model a character start as if you have a blank piece of paper, and, just like an artist, begin to form the basic shapes. On top of these, then add the details that will eventually become the character you have in mind.
The Head Shape
There are many different head shapes. If you think about it, this is one of the things that gives us our character. Decide what the personality of the character is going to be, and then go ahead and create it. It is the details you put on to the shape that will determine the finished character.
The heads shown on the right are made from a simple shape, and all the elements are then added to create the finished appearance.
How to construct a head
In this quick step-by-step example, I will show you how to make a baby’s head.
1 Start by rolling a basic ball shape (see page 15). Place the ball into the palm of your hand, and with the side of your little finger on the opposite hand, lightly indent the eye area by rocking it backwards and forwards (A).
2 Roll a tiny oval shape for the nose and attach to the centre of the face with edible glue (A).
3 Push the end of your paintbrush into the mouth area, pulling it down to make a simple but effective mouth (A).
4 Roll two small balls for the ears and attach to the side of the face. Push the end of your paintbrush into the balls to indent them. The ears should look rounded and low set (B).
5 Make two flattened white oval shapes for the eyes, which will look much cuter if they are large, and glue to the face above and on either side of the nose (C).
6 Add two smaller flattened oval shapes in a lighter shade of blue on top, leaving some whites of the eyes showing. On top of these, add two smaller flattened ovals in a darker shade for pupils (D).
7 Attach a tiny piece of white inside the mouth opening for some bottom teeth (D).
8 Emphasize the eyes by painting a fine line of liquid food colour in a darker shade of blue around the edge of the pale blue shape (E).
9 Dip the end of a cocktail stick into some white paste food colour or edible paint and use this to add a highlight to each eye (E).
10 Dust the cheeks with pale pink dust food colour and a dry brush. Using a No.0000 paintbrush make a fine arched eyebrow using a light brown liquid food colour, and then add some fine eyelashes (E).
11 Roll three or four thin tapered cone shapes and glue to the top of the head for the hair (E).
Tip
Use a flower former to hold the head in shape while you are working on it.
Faces
To construct any face, such as the ones shown here, use the same order as for the baby in the step-by-step example. First, form the basic shape, then add the nose, the ears, the mouth and the eyes. Finish off with the hair.
Hairstyles
Hair is a great way of adding personality to your characters. For this example I will show you how to make a simple girl’s hairstyle.
1 Fill the cup of a sugar press (or garlic press) with the desired colour of sugarpaste mixed with some white vegetable fat (shortening) and extrude the hair. Do not chop the hair off in a clump, but slide tool no.4 through a few strands, taking off a single layer at a time.
2 Apply edible glue around the head, and then starting at the back of the head, work around the sides adding thin layers of hair. If there is a parting at the back of the head, work from the parting to the side of the head, keeping in mind the direction in which you would comb the hair.
3 To make bunches, extrude the hair and cut off several strands together, forming a bunch. Attach to the side of the head and shape as desired.
4 If you want
