Clay Animal Sculptures

Frog with Box - View more Animals below

Viewed from afar we are all simple creatures, but up close the intricate design of nature becomes apparent. Millions of cells work together to form a single being, while millions of atoms make up each of those cells. It is with this concept in mind that these beautiful works of art can be truly appreciated. Stand back and you will see a quizzical gecko or a playful pony, but look deeper and an endless array of detail becomes apparent.

What makes these animals even more incredible is the fact that they are made entirely of clay. There is no painting involved. Using the millefiore technique, the artist strategically lays strips of different colored clay together to form a large block of clay. When this block is sliced into cross-sections, many identical design “chips” are formed.  The trick is knowing how to lay the initial strips of clay down so that an interesting design is made. Each single design takes an entire week to make and ends up being about the size of a loaf of bread. This large design loaf is rolled and stretched until it is very long and thin. The resulting “snake” of clay is then sliced into a multitude of individual chips, which are each about the size of a thumbnail. These chips are applied to different animals, but once they are used up, the design is never repeated. This ensures that each animal is completely unique.

Each animal’s base figure is formed using a rough wood carving or leftover clay. The design chips are then carefully placed over the base figure so artfully that it becomes very difficult to see where one chip ends and the next begins. The animals are then heated and cooled so that the clay hardens in place. A final sanding and polishing ensure that each product is silky smooth.

What is also remarkable about these figures is the artist’s uncanny ability to make truly lifelike creations. Whether it’s the seam along the turtle’s shell, the fat padded toes of the gecko, or the deadpan gaze of the ram, all will leave you feeling like you’ve just gotten a new pet.  The artist’s love of animals is apparent in each piece. Be sure to look for his “signature” – a tiny dated self-portrait on the bottom of each animal!

To keep his line fresh, the artist occasionally creates a new line of animals. His latest addition is a series of brightly-hued tree frogs with eye-catching orange feet. In order to make time for the creation of new animals he must also retire them. No one animal will be around forever.

A portion of the profits generated are donated to various causes, including the Defenders of Wildlife, in the hopes that the real versions of these animals WILL be around forever.

Come see Kokopelli’s selection of intricately handcrafted animals- including bears, horses, frogs, snakes, lizards, buffalo, and more. All animals come with a decorative box which features a clay design chip attached to the top. Please be aware that each animal’s design is different – the design of the animal pictured may be different from the particular ones we have in stock. Below are photos and a list of some of the sculptures we carry.

Other Collectibles:
Desert Ironwood Carvings
Trail of Painted Ponies

**We try to keep this list updated; however we cannot guarantee that every item will be available at any one point in time. If you are concerned, please give us a call before your visit.

Don’t see the animal you are looking for? We can also special order fimo sculptures we don’t have available in the store. Email or call us via our contact page for more information.

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