How To Make A Poseable Wire Armature Art Doll

The process of how I made my poseable gnome art doll, from making the wire armature to wrapping his soft body. Check out the links below for materials. #fairytribe
I have the gnome template available in my Etsy shop as a digital download, this also lists all the materials you will need : www.etsy.com/u...
NEW for 2023 - For art doll making I'm now on Patreon: patreon.com/FairyTribe
(for fantasy dioramas the Patreon account is: patreon.com/emzoddworks)
To see more of my work check out the links below :)
FACEBOOK: / fairytribe
INSTAGRAM: / fairytribe_ooak
ETSY: www.etsy.com/u...
See below for links for materials & tools that I use regularly:
AMAZON.COM links:
PAINTS
Genesis heat set paints are unfortunately being discontinued, you may still be able to find them on ebay. Acrylic paints can be used instead:
Vallejo Fairy Flesh Set Paint: amzn.to/3CDUOtW
Model Flesh Colours: amzn.to/3TlLsKf / amzn.to/3Mz6ra8 / amzn.to/3ewsqSK / amzn.to/3ewv0In / amzn.to/3gcSum3 / amzn.to/3CyDcQ9
Vallejo Face/Skin Colors: amzn.to/3g7ZGA0
BODY MATERIALS
Foam underwrap: amzn.to/3ByidvC
Quilt batting: amzn.to/3lKbtS9
Soft toy filling: amzn.to/3e9uigR
Clothing - I wrap the legs and arms in cheesecloth :amzn.to/3TFELmZ
the rest of the clothing is made from old clothes.
TOOLS
Sculpey Cutter Blades: amzn.to/2Vol9Hf
Spoon Stylus Tool: amzn.to/36ov1qS
Ball Stylus Dotting Tools Set: amzn.to/2JqBtoz
Sculpey Etch 'n Pearls: amzn.to/3lmnmxy
Needle Point Tool: amzn.to/3mGvcnj
Knitting needles: amzn.to/36pLtHq
Heat gun: amzn.to/37tIxZs
Atlas Pasta machine: amzn.to/3mwSA6k
Acrylic roller: amzn.to/3msb7ks
CLAY
Super Sculpey Polymer Clay Light: amzn.to/2Vl4vIG
Super Sculpey Living Doll Beige: amzn.to/33yuPU6
Sculpey UltraLight Polymer Clay: amzn.to/3muVOaq
Bake & Bond Sculpey: amzn.to/36oZMMh
Fimo Soft White: amzn.to/3fWmMVZ
Fimo Soft Black: amzn.to/2VqeQmI
WIRE
Aluminium wire 2mm: amzn.to/3mzlKlC
Aluminium wire 3mm: amzn.to/3ltLEFY
Floral wire: amzn.to/3mPuBPV
Plastic coated wire (Fun wire): amzn.to/3AUuk5N
EYE MAKING:
Glass cabochons various sizes: amzn.to/3odt3zz
Glass cabochons 6mm: amzn.to/3gfGVqr
Black glass paint: amzn.to/3lPBGyT
Pebeo iridescent gold paint: amzn.to/33z1PeY
OTHER MATERIALS
Sculpey Gloss: amzn.to/3fUtmwc
3D Crystal Lacquer: amzn.to/3qhWGlg
Microbeads: amzn.to/2Voc1T1
Felt: amzn.to/2HX23F2
Mica powders: amzn.to/3fUtgVo
-----------------------------------------------
Books I own and recommend:
FaeMaker: Making Fantasy Characters in Polymer Clay: amzn.to/39O3BN1
Kindle version: amzn.to/39OnzHE
Creating Lifelike Figures in Polymer Clay: amzn.to/39ERJge
Kindle version: amzn.to/2Ih25rs
The Human Figure in Clay: amzn.to/36srrfl
Fairies, Gnomes & Trolls (kindle version): amzn.to/2L2e0dJ
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[@emzoddworks]

If you're interested in making fantasy creatures - find me on PATREON: patreon.com/fairytribe 😊

[@teresaschaeffer436]

I'm totally subscribing! Curious, what do you use for the hair?

[@ifiloseitall]

Thank you so much for this every time i ask anyone for help on things like this they says its a secret and it jus ugh. I really really appreciate the time you are taking to put out these videos.

[@emzoddworks]

That's so nice to hear thank you! I'm glad people are finding them useful as they do take sooo long to make lol!

[@delaneystorm]

Same thanks so very much

[@katiesaunders7482]

Thank you so so much for this video!!! Just like others have said, when I've asked artist for help with making dolls they've said it's a secret. It's not like I want to copy anyone, I've my own ideas, I just needed the basics. The video is so informative and will help me so much. I really appreciate it and I love your creations xxx

[@emzoddworks]

thank you, I'm glad it helped :)

PERFECT PERFECT PERFECT! I don't have another world! Thanks for that!

[@drbravo007]

2 years later... here i am and so thankful for this. Heading to the craft store now.

[@emmachizzit9919]

He is absolutely brilliant!

[@wigglypaw]

I love when people are generous with their lives. I was a volunteer fireman and then went to college for Paramedic degree. I continued volunteering and working a job for money.

[@eileensreborns]

I love this. Your work is so amazing.

[@erixuouji2733]

Awesome work ! ❤

[@oddum3225]

This is fabulous! Looks very durable. The first time I made a poseable doll the wire in the arms broke almost immediately , and I’ve been scared to do it since! This makes me want to do another one 💖

[@emzoddworks]

that's great, give it another go!

[@inkydolls8493]

This video was super helpful for me! I make my dolls' bodies like this, but I have never found a tutorial that showed and explained the process so well for a doll with human proportions.

[@emzoddworks]

Thank you, no I hadn't either, I've tried a few different ways of making them but I find this way is the best so far! :)

[@rosalopes5484]

I Love Tou

[@ven7ce510]

Thank you for sharing your art with us! You are so kind and talented. 🤍

[@attackfrogs]

oh! the quilting batting! that's a good idea, i'll have to try that out for the little leggies on the little grub monster art doll i'm wanting to try and make

[@bonnieklotter4647]

Thank you for this tutorial! It's exactly what I have been looking for.

[@emzoddworks]

You're very welcome!

[@clxwnbabe9148]

Thank you so much for making this its hard to find tutorials like this

[@recreepy]

Your artistic talent shines through every delicate stitch and brushstroke, creating enchanting worlds with every doll and puppet you craft

[@otersos]

he got the dumptruck alright

[@sandyroberts2835]

Thanks!!! I have been scared to make an armature but you make it look so easy!! Now I can finish my 5 dolls! I so appreciate you!

[@emzoddworks]

Aw that's great to hear, thanks 😊

[@mairem.9300]

Thank you! Thank you sooo much for not making your back ground music horribly loud and distracting. It was truly a pleasure to watch this video.

[@emzoddworks]

That's good to hear, thanks. It's tricky to find good free music :)

[@marymitchell-stewart3356]

Thank you! I'm new to exploring doll making, after starting to make clay jewelry. This is a great basic Introduction video for me! Saving to watch again later as well :)

[@angela14962002]

💕💕💕

[@suzannecook1787]

Thank you so very much for this tutorial! It’s clear, informative, well edited and the perfect length. You are a super talented artist. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us inspiring artists!!

[@emzoddworks]

You are so welcome!

[@davidmartinez5459]

I'm watching this video with my daughter and we were very entertained! I'd love to see a video on the costume making/dressing, plus - how did you create the feet, hands and head? Did you sculpt those from scratch?

[@emzoddworks]

Thank you, yes I did sculpt them all from scratch. I have lots of editing to do on the filming I did but they are all coming soon! :)

[@raxxie]

so cool!

[@noctilucera7585]

I'm a bit late, but DAMN this is such a good video! And exactly what I was looking for, so well explained and shown by such a talented artist, thank you so much!

[@emzoddworks]

Thank you, glad it helps 😊

[@toadflax8665]

Such a great video! It's really helpful to see how you construct especially with the feet. I've made armatures before but struggle to get them to stand up, will have to try polymer clay

[@omiNITROUS]

thank you very helpful, slightly disturbing, but helpful.

[@ThisOLmaan]

Make the most fabulous fairies, Posable i know ur a professional Miss have yyou Tried Cosclay that flexible bendable Polymerclay? well Thank you very Mucho for sharing Ur Fine Work.🤓👍🏼

[@emzoddworks]

Thank you, yes cosclay is great!

[@valeriestory492]

This gives me so much inspiration. Plan On watching you for more videos !!! Oxox

[@flyingteacup8369]

Thank you for this tutorial

[@TheDetektywMoonk]

Thank you very much for this video.

[@marlenemisteli6534]

magnifique

[@user-iq5eh4no5o]

Que maravilla , quien pudiera hacerlo🤩🤩

[@Hollywoodvampire]

Beautiful!!

[@emzoddworks]

Thank you! 😊

[@christinnakrogandersen350]

Thank you so much for this video! It's easy to see what you're doing and it's short and to the point - it's perfect! :)

[@issypeassy]

Amazing work very inspiring

[@emzoddworks]

Thank you so much 😀

[@AnelMonse]

Wow dude thats amazing!!!

[@bonniefaltz9505]

Thank you for sharing this. I enjoy making dolls and now I see that I have been making the armature correctly. Now I just need to practice making faces.

[@zajournals]

Awesome 👍

[@burningempire666]

THANK YOU. This is fantastic. I will use this framing technique for my puppets.

[@asmrdreams9617]

Hes sooo cute! Thanks for showing how to do it, and how much work goes into this.

[@emzoddworks]

Thanks for watching!

[@bettyriddle4341]

Really nice thank you

[@jaseys]

So Cool !!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!! Brilliant work!!!

[@marieknowlton5146]

i am new and want to try this

[@lucyl.4356]

Amazing artist! Love your videos. Thank you for taking the time to make them....

[@leannabryan6851]

I love your armature style! Mine is close but, slightly different. I like yours much better. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@emzoddworks]

Glad to help, I've tried a few different ways over the years but I think this is probably one of the best. :)

[@ashleyrich5345]

You are so insanely talented! I love watching your videos, thank you for taking the time to show people your process!

[@emzoddworks]

You are so welcome! thanks :)

[@ashleyrich5345]

@@emzoddworks Also thank you for posting your fairy template on Etsy, I recently purchased it and it has been super helpful! If you ever post more templates I will gladly buy them, I am very new to sculpting and that was soooooo helpful!

[@juguetesdiyenporcelanayarc4328]

Amazing💯

[@dagonte]

Woooow me dejaste impresionada!!!!

[@veronicacarroll8889]

SPECTACULAR!!!

[@chloeanaisblanchard2158]

The coolest thing I have ever seen 😍😍✨✨

[@emzoddworks]

thank you so much!

[@wandalemon9766]

i wish I could do this I love your creations!! Thank You So Much for Sharing!!!

[@evadnyx]

thank you so much for making this tutorial vid 💖

[@emzoddworks]

thank you :)

[@HAGGISWOOMAN]

So beautiful, thanks for this

[@aracelimanualidadesdayra8347]

Me encanta tu trabajo gracias por compartir saludos desde México

[@hazelpixie56]

this is fantastic! thank you so much for sharing!

[@8-bitbuni]

I love this! super helpful

[@DesmondASMiles]

Jaw on floor but inspiration is soaring

[@euniceappling7912]

Thank you for helping me make my characters posable. I really enjoyed your video and I did subscribe looking forward to more great videos. Your character is absolutely awesome !!!

[@emzoddworks]

Thank you, I'm glad it helped! 😊

[@ghostlypreciousartandcraft]

Thanks for your beautiful work of art! So lucky i found your channel!💖🙏

[@emzoddworks]

Welcome!

[@RogueT-Rex8468]

You have a watcher. Your work is beautiful and informative for someone looking to get into this craft.

[@emzoddworks]

Thank you so much 😀

[@RogueT-Rex8468]

@@emzoddworks thank you for posting!

[@nicolejackson4753]

I was wondering how to get the body right ! This is so easy and on point! Thanks💜💜💜

[@mariadelcarmenfernandezcamino]

Lleva un gran trabajo me encanta todo lo que hace

[@darkforestzombie218]

Thanks. I am making some dolls of the puppet master characters and this helped me make Pinhead. The method I was using for the other characters simply wouldn't work for him so this helped.

[@emzoddworks]

that's great!

[@MarionJules]

Awesome! ♥

[@txuri1950]

Maravilloso, millones de gracias. Es la mejor armadura de duendes que he visto. Mil felicidades. Un saludo desde España

[@lindahazel5075]

I'm wondering if you can crack walnuts with your bare hands. Watching you wrestle the wire is impressive! 🙂

[@emzoddworks]

haha, my hands are not that strong at all! Sometimes it does hurt your hands, you can twist with a drill but I can never be bothered!

[@browmeye69]

Amazing 😍👋🏻🇸🇪

[@Olga-ib3lh]

Excelente 💖

[@savannahbrant5720]

I'm trying to create a giant polar bear about 6 feet and trying to figure out best way for posable limbs. I like this

[@brentreed9065]

I love watching and would do so just to listen to the music. I might try this today

[@delaneystorm]

I’ve made several static sculptures with sculpey thanks so much for the step by step for a poseable creature…. Mine’s gonna be a little weird half bat half dude 🦇

[@emzoddworks]

sounds cool! :)

[@marialiebl9051]

❤❤❤❤😂danke

[@dragosisters8548]

That is amazing!

[@dylanroemmele906]

now I can make those dolls from Bobby Yeah.

[@amandasidthidtham1865]

I love Bobby Yeah!

[@dylanroemmele906]

@@amandasidthidtham1865 Nice!!!

[@user-natali950]

Спасибо! Понравилось, хочу слепить такого!

[@deborahshariati8345]

You make it look so easy! Many thanks for your share. I just had to subscribe after watching this! x

[@xaviermoralez2189]

spinal column!

[@Caroline-ml5ld]

Amazing ♥

[@lindsay6171]

(Speaking in a British accent) BFG is that you?! ☺ So talented 🌟

[@emzoddworks]

thank you lol!

[@TheNoose15]

Fantastic tutorial! But it seems you haven’t listed that stretchy fabric you use as the outer layer of his body in the description? (Unless I’m blind which I won’t put past me)

[@rosalopes5484]

Amei. Amei. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@maturinthecosmicturtle6783]

I've always wondered how people do this!

[@minerva7699]

Wow. Seem Im in a magical channel! =) I like your craft. You're so unique and I just notice this channel. Newly subbie here 🎤💋💕

[@emzoddworks]

Thanks and welcome

[@josecat436]

This is awesome, always curious about the specific wire used and strong it is since bending back and forth can break wires

[@emzoddworks]

thanks, yes any wire can eventually break if they are treated like dolls :( I use galvanised steel or aluminium.

[@meganjohnson8418]

Amazing videos ❤️ Do you bake the frame with the sculpy bum & head before continuing?

[@emzoddworks]

I'm not sure exactly which stage you're talking about but the wire can go in the oven too if you need to, not once you have hot glue on it tho :)

[@maximpotvin6665]

This tutorial is fabulous and helped me a great deal! Thank you

[@emzoddworks]

mostly wrapped around :)

[@oojj513]

Wow thank you so much for being so kind to make this video! I love your design and sculpting skills! I haven’t made a doll before and didn’t know where to start but now I have a way better idea! If you don’t mind me asking, where can you get that kind of stretchy body wrap?

[@emzoddworks]

I’m glad it helps, links to materials are under the video 😊

[@RianShafer]

Fantastic! I missed what the spool of stretchy fabric was in the final wrapping. Can you tell me what it is & where to get it? It's so much easier & nicer than other stuff. Thanks again for the great tutorial.

[@emzoddworks]

Hi, I have links under the vid but at the moment I can't find any more of this exact wrap!

[@samanthaschoeler86]

Bought your template from your etsy just a moment ago!

[@emzoddworks]

thank you! :)

[@lisalundstrom1591]

Do you have a video on how to make the clothing?

[@joanfox2919]

Absolutely love the video. Question what do you use for hair?

[@teresaschaeffer436]

that's what I was wondering! I have tried a few things but this looks so realistic.

[@middna05]

fantastic tutorial. I've been looking for a good tutorial for so long. Thanks also for the list of materials and tools. Really very helpful. Can you show me how to make the clothes for these sculptures? Thank you for your response.

[@emzoddworks]

thank you, I mostly glue fabric but a few people have asked for a vid now, so maybe! :)

[@middna05]

Thank you for your response. A video on how to make the clothes would be really fantastic. I ordered the materials yesterday and can't wait to try them out. In the tutorial for the body, you have a template that you will use to shape the wire. Is that drawn yourself? I looked for something comparable on the internet, but couldn't find anything. Unfortunately, I can't draw or paint at all. How do I get the proportions right anyway? Excuse me for asking so many questions, but it is my greatest dream to create figures like this myself. And I am happy and grateful for any help. Thank you in advance for an answer.

[@emzoddworks]

@@middna05 yes I made it myself. I am thinking of selling one in my Etsy shop as a few people have asked. :)

[@middna05]

@@emzoddworks That's a fantastic idea. It's a great help, especially for beginners. I would pay for that too.

[@emzoddworks]

The gnome template is finally available on Etsy :)

[@louisewatson3129]

Wow! when you glued that spine, will that stop the spine from bending as well?

[@emzoddworks]

Yes it will be rigid after 😊

[@louisewatson3129]

@@emzoddworks but you can still move the legs and arms?

[@louisewatson3129]

@@emzoddworks Also..please...when you started off with the head shaping, what was it sticking in? is that something you made yourself Or something we can buy?

[@estennison]

Just attempting to make the base armature here, how long did you initially cut the 3mm diameter wire before you twisted them? Trying to minimise wasted material! Thanks!

[@piedadtorres69]

I congratulate you very nice work, what is the name of the tape that you stick on it? thank you very much ☺️

[@cesarca156]

Hiii!! I love ur art!!Is it safe to bake the head, hands and feet with the wire? thnx u so much

[@emzoddworks]

Yes, it is!

[@laurend2103]

I have been looking to make a doll of a character from a Dungeons and Dragons campaign my friend LOVES. This tutorial is just what I needed. Question, how tall are your dolls?

[@emzoddworks]

thank you, glad it will help. I sculpt all sizes but these gnomes are normally around 30cm tall.

[@laurend2103]

@@emzoddworks do you have any tips for keeping the body balanced? Also, the doll design I'm making is a Frankenstein, so how do you figure out proportions?

[@julis9957]

I really want to make this! Im looking an alternative for the wire, any recomendations? Also, i love this tutorial!!! 💗💗💗

[@emzoddworks]

The only other thing you could look into would be plastic doll armature. That’s more expensive tho.

[@julis9957]

@@emzoddworks thank you for responding! I am very excited for making this!