Noadi - Octopus Oddities and Cuttlefish Creations

We’ve admired the work of Noadi, an artist that primarily sculpts in various clays including MonsterClay, polymer clay, and also works with resin. In February, Noadi posted a new video using time-lapse photography to show them sculpting an octopus in MonsterClay, so we thought we’d ask them some questions about their work. Here is the video, then you can learn a little more about Noadi and see more of their work below the video.

Time-Lapse Photography Sculpting an Octopus

Interview with Noadi

How did you get started sculpting and working with clay?

I basically started on a whim. I was part of an art IRC channel (yeah, it was long enough ago that IRC was a thing) and one of the other artists had just started sculpting and introduced me to the sculpture forum he was part of. I thought “this looks fun” and started dabbling in sculpting and it went from there. The IRC channel is long gone now though the forum was relaunched as a Facebook group a few years ago so I’m still in touch with sculptors I met there.

What is your favorite thing to make and why?

My favorite thing is my bigger sculpture projects. The ones that are personal labors of love that take months or years like the Lady of Innsmouth, the Spring Faun, or my current work in progress Danse Macabre.

You have a very specific niche. What inspired you to select this niche?

I didn’t really select it. It’s what I’m into myself so I play to my strengths and interests. I’ve always been deep into fantasy and horror, and cephalopods have been my favorite animals since I was a kid. I was the weird nerdy goth kid in school. Now I’m the weird nerdy goth-punk adult who plays D&D and Vampire; the Masquerade regularly and collects weird stuff with tentacles or skulls.

Do you have any artists/people that inspire you? If so, who and why?

So many I couldn’t list them all. Probably my biggest influences are the Shiflett Brothers, Forrest Rogers, Paul Komoda, Mark Newman, and Simon Lee. All of them are current artists because while there are lots of artists of the past I admire there’s something great about the way artists now share so much of their process.

How long did it take to make the octopus sculpture in the video?

Usually I couldn’t tell you but I streamed sculpting it live on Twitch (and then sped it up for the YouTube video) so I know exactly how long. An hour and 40 minutes.

Do you sculpt every piece that you sell or do you use another process?

The start of most of my jewelry and all of my sculpture is sculpting in clay, whether as a unique piece in polymer clay or to be molded then cast in resin. I do create non-sculpture work that I sell too. I draw and paint and sell those sometimes. I design and make t-shirts, and I also make chainmail jewelry. Those last two I have separate Etsy shops for than for my polymer clay and sculpture work.

How do you choose a new project to make?

When it’s personal projects, I have a list of ideas and I pick whichever one calls to me the most. A lot of what I do though is keeping the Etsy shop stocked with the things I already make and commissions so those things come before new personal projects.

How many hours do you spend sculpting or working on artwork?

Anywhere from 20 to 60 hours a week. This is a full-time job for me so it takes up a lot of my time. I wish I didn’t have to spend another 15-20 hours or so a week on the non-art parts of running a business but those things need to be done too.

Is there anywhere people can see you in person?

Yes, I do conventions and art shows throughout the year. I don’t currently have any scheduled but when I do they go up on my Facebook page.

Sculpture and Other Artwork by Noadi

Here is just a small selection of the large inventory in Noadi’s Etsy shop. To see more, just click through any of the links below. You can get more details about each individual item, or learn more about the artist.

Gold Sommelier of the Sea – Resin Octopus Bottle Stopper Orange Cuttlefish Necklace, Handmade Polymer Clay Jewelry Gold Tentacle for Tipplers – Resin Bottle Stopper Gilded Steampunk Cuttlefish Necklace, Handmade Polymer Clay Jewelry Green Brown Cthulhu Figure, Original Horror Sculpture Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft Rainstorm Nautilus Necklace, Blue Polymer Clay Jewelry Pendant

How to Get Started Sculpting Clay

If you are inspired by Noadi’s work shown on this page, you can learn more about sculpting in various types of clay by reading one of these books to get you started.

Beginner’s Guide to Sculpting Characters in Clay Ceramic Sculpture: Making Faces: A Guide to Modeling the Head and Face with Clay Fantasy Characters: Easy-to-Follow Clay-Making Projects in Simple Steps (Modeling Clay Books) SCULPTING THE EASY WAY IN POLYMER CLAY FOR BEGINNERS FaeMaker: Making Fantasy Characters in Polymer Clay