Fig. [350].—Fore-foot of alligator.
Fig. [351].—Alligator's hind-foot.
Model two front and two hind legs and feet; see that the hind feet and legs are larger and differently formed from the front ones. The hind feet have only four toes ([Fig. 351]). The line A ([Fig. 340]) designates the place where the front legs should be joined to the body, and the line B ([Fig. 340]) shows where to fasten on the hind legs. That you may have a thorough understanding of the manner and direction in which the joints of the legs bend, we will suppose that you rest on the floor on your knees and elbows. You will then find that your knees bend forward and your elbows backward, with your arms corresponding to the front legs and your legs to the hind legs. Now, when you draw or model hereafter, you will not make any mistake in regard to it. Look again at [Fig. 349]. The foot, V, corresponds to or rudely resembles your hand; T, your wrist; P, your elbow; O, your shoulder. Examine [Fig. 329]. On the hind leg are the foot, ankle, knee and hip joint. While the alligator is in a plastic state make him open his mouth, by cutting a slit in the head from the front along the waved line up back beyond the eye; carefully pull apart the jaws ([Fig. 352]). Have your alligator measure at least fourteen inches from tip to tip, for it will be more difficult to model a smaller one. Once having made the little creature, you will find it easy to model similar animals; select something else in the same line and try to make it.
Fig. [352].—Cut open the mouth.
Most fruits are readily reproduced in clay.
The Banana
is very simple to copy. Roll a piece of clay, making the ends bluntly pointed; bend it slightly as in [Fig. 353] and, paying strict attention to proportion, carefully form the work like the original, adding, taking from, smoothing and flattening as may be required ([Fig. 354]).
