Clay Oogie Boogie

I’m a big fan of the classic movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas which was directed by Tim Burton. And since the Halloween season is already here, I decided to create a clay sculpted Oogie Boogie. Using Crayola’s air-dry clay, I created the infamous Boogeyman.

In this instructable, you’ll learn how to make Oogie Boogie yourself!

• Crayola air-dry clay
• Sculpting tools
• Black acrylic paint (you won’t need white paint because the clay dries white)
• Water

Roll a ball of clay the size of a large Pom-Pom. Roll one end so it’s somewhat smaller than the other. Make two thin strips of clay with a width of 1½ cm. Bend each into V shapes. Near the smaller end of the head, place each horizontally so that they’re pointing up. These will be the eyes. Smooth out the ends of each V.

Next, make another strip of clay 1 inch in width. Place it slightly below the eyes and smooth out the upper part. Make the same strip of clay, then place it directly under the first except curve it down to make a smile. Smooth out the lower part. Next, add dents with a sculpting tool as shown in the image.

Roll another thicker strip of clay and make a point at one end. Scorch (add hash marks with tool) the flat end and the top of the head. Curve the strip into a crescent moon shape. Add water to each hash marked spot and attach the curved strip as shown in the image. Smooth out the bottom.

Make a ball of clay the size of a golf ball and shape it to look like a raindrop without a point. Flatten it slightly as you can see in the image. Flatten the top and bottom as well. Scorch the bottom of the head and the smaller end (top) of the body. Add some water to each scorched end and attach. Smooth out the seam. Add vertical lines down the sides and make short, horizontal lines down them. These will be the stitching seams Oogie Boogie has.

Roll a strip of clay slightly thicker than a pen and make a pint at one end. Make the same stitching seams down one side. Curve it slightly where the arch is curving outwards as seen in the image. Flatten the rounder end. Do these steps twice. Scorch a spot at the top of each side of the body as well as the flat ends of the arms. Add water and attach them so the arches are curving outwards and the stitches are visible.

Side Note: Use small amounts of water to smooth out and rigid areas or cracks in the clay.

Create two balls of clay the sizes of a large Pom-Pom each. Roll one end of each to look like a rounded point as shown in the images. Flatten both ends of the legs. Scorch the tops of the wider ends and two equally large spots on the bottom of the body. Add water to each scorched spot and attach. Smooth out the seams. Continue the stitch lines from the body down to the ends of the legs.

Sculpt lines resembling wrinkles on the front and back of the body and smooth out the hard edges. Wait 1 full day for everything you’ve done so far to dry. This next part is optional. Create a rectangle of clay and imprint the bottom of the legs on the top. Flatten the bottom (has not imprints). This will be a stand for the figure. Wait 1 full day for it to dry.

Grab the black acrylic paint and a small brush. Carefully paint inside the lines and make sure the paint is opaque as you see in the image. Wait for this to dry.

Congratulations! You finished this project. Did you enjoy it?