How to Sculpt a Hextech Crystal Ring Out of Polymer Clay.

I am a huge fan of Arcane by Riot Games.

I wanted to create a fan art piece that I could wear,

and I chose to sculpt the Hextech Crystal, but as a ring.

I am using a polymer clay called 'Cos Clay'.

It is stronger and more flexible than regular polymer clay.

Which makes it perfect for everyday wear.

I am sculpting the ring on a metal cutter.

But you can use a ring sizer or even a cylider of rolled up foil.

Some simple sculpting tools are used.

But don't let this hold you back.

You can use items around the house like needles, pins and pencils to sculpt with.

To paint the finished piece,

I used acrylic paint and polyurethane gloss.

Photo 1: Start by rolling out a ball of clay.

Then lightly mark in some jagged cracks.

Photo 2: I placed the ball onto a tool, so it was easier to handle.

Deepen and refine the cracks,

then smooth down with some baby oil on an old paintbrush.

Photo 3: Place this onto a tile, then bake.

Photo 1 and 2: Roll out a length of clay.

Then wrap that around your ring sizer.

In my case, that is a metal cutter.

Photo 3 and 4: Flatten out an area on top, for the crystal to sit on.

Then smooth out the edges of the ring band.

Photo 5: Place on the baked crystal.

Using a small amount of liquid clay to hold the pieces together.

With a small needle tool I carve in some rune symbols

from the Arcane Hex Core.

I then baked it again, so I didn't squish what I had already worked on.

The claw setting (also know as the prong setting in the USA).

Is when a gemstone is held in place by a metal 'claw' or 'prong'.

Photo 1 and 2: To achieve this look in polymer clay

I cut out 4 small pieces of clay.

Roll these into cone shapes, then flatten in to triangles.

Photo 3: Lightly place on the triangles, to see were they would suit.

Photo 4: I then blend these claws to the ring band.

Photo 5: Vary the lengths of the claws to give it

more of an ominous appearance.

Photo 6: Carve in some more rune symbols

on the claws of the ring.

Photo 1 and 2: After it has been baked for the final time.

It is time to paint with acrylic paint.

I start with a couple of coats of a medium blue.

Photo 3 and 4: I then paint in all the cracks with a lighter blue,

using a fine detail brush.

I then go in with white on a needle tool.

And paint in the deepest parts.

Photo 5: With a needle tool and some white paint,

I add some random white lines coming from the cracks.

This will help it appear to be

producing it's own light.

Photo 6 and 7: I add some fluorescent green in with the blue paint, to create a slightly different hue.

I then brush this over some of the white lines to dull those down a bit.

Photo 8: Paint the ring band with a metallic silver

and add black paint into the rune carvings with a small detail brush.

Photo 9: To give the crystal some extra shine,

I gave it 3 coats of polyurethane gloss.

The Hextech crystal ring is now complete and ready to wear.

I really enjoy wearing this fan art piece and hope it inspires you to make one of your own.

If you are more of a visual learner, then I have also added the video tutorial from YouTube.