The Coyote

Date of first sketch: 02-04-26

The Coyote

The coyote has long captivated the human imagination—a trickster figure in indigenous traditions, a symbol of adaptability and cunning, yet also a creature of profound solitude. This piece explores the liminal space between wildness and domestication, capturing the moment a coyote is captured.

Here is a screenshot of the video which inspried this piece

I began with the head and body by making a solid mass in the general shape of the desired pose.

I then worked on detailing the head. This was probably not the best move since it dried a lot faster than the rest of the piece and became prone to breakage, causing me to have to redo teeth many times. But, I felt that doing the head would inform the rest of the piece so that’s what I did.

Once the piece was completed solidly, I would then have to cut the piece into sections and hollow out the pieces. I made the walls a uniform 0.5 inches throughout the piece. According to Beth Cavener you should make your cuts at biological points of connection. I tried my best but at this point the clay was quite tough and difficult to cut through: Another reason to save intricate detailing for the end.

Reassemble, then fire!

This piece measures 17” x 14” x 6” and is available in the shop ➡️.