Clicker Head Planter (The Last of Us)

I recently watched and played The Last of Us for the first time, and I was absolutely blown away! What fascinated me most were the clickers, those terrifying zombie-like creatures with fungal growths erupting from their faces. I really wanted to make something from the game for the contest, so I decided to sculpt a clicker head and make it functional as a planter. This project was inspired by both the incredible game design and by SA7O's amazing 3D model "CLICKER - THE LAST OF US (PORTA VASO)" on Makerworld, which I adapted into my own clay sculpture. I wanted it to be practical and because the clicker's face is covered in fungal growths, it's perfect for housing a small succulent that mimics all of the fungi on a real clicker's face. I hope you enjoy this tutorial on bringing this iconic creature to life as much as I enjoyed creating it!

Materials:

Super Sculpey/Premo

Super Sculpey Ultralight

Liquid Sculpey Bake and Bond

Tinfoil

Cutting mat

Clay pasta maker or Rolling Pin

Pliers

Lamp/light source

Sculpting tools

Knife/blade

Sand Paper (100 - as high as necessary)

Cup/container for plant

An oven

Acrylic Paint

1. White
2. Black
3. Brown
4. Orange
5. Red
6. Yellow
7. Green

Washes (Brown and Black)

Containers or palette for paint/mixing

Paint Brushes

Water Cup

Paper Towel

Paper, Pencil, Eraser

While sketching isn't as crucial for this project, it's still valuable for planning your approach. Sketch a rough head shape and mark where the mouth opening will be - this will be your plant container access point. Most importantly, gather multiple reference images of clickers from different angles. The game's concept art and screenshots will be your best guides throughout this project.

Tip: Don't worry about sketching fine details since clicker anatomy is naturally irregular and unpredictable.

Start by wrapping your plant container completely in tinfoil - this prevents clay from sticking and allows easy removal during baking. Next, wrap the tinfoil-covered container with a layer of regular Super Sculpey, creating a socket that your container will slide into perfectly later. Keep the opening completely free of clay so the container can be inserted and removed easily.

This foundation ensures your planter will be truly functional while providing the structural base for your clicker head.

Tip: Test-fit your container several times during this step to ensure a snug but removable fit.

Now we'll add volume efficiently while conserving clay. First, apply Sculpey Ultralight around your foundation - this helps the tinfoil adhere properly. Then begin adding crumpled tinfoil to bulk up the head shape, focusing on creating a realistic skull proportion. The back of the head should be larger and more rounded than the front.

Once you've achieved good head proportions with tinfoil, cover everything with another thin layer of Ultralight. This creates a workable surface while keeping the sculpture lightweight.

Remove your plant container carefully (unless it's oven-safe) and bake your foundation at 270°F for 15-20 minutes. This creates a stable base to build upon. Let it cool completely before proceeding - working on hot clay can cause cracking and deformation.

Tip: Plan your mouth location during this step by creating a slightly shallower area where it will go. Also, build up the back of the skull more than the front for anatomical accuracy - I forgot this initially and had to fix it later!

This is where your clicker comes to life! Start with the upper lip using Super Sculpey Premo, shaping it to look like it's about to take a menacing bite. The mouth should appear slightly open and threatening.

For the protruding lower jaw, conserve clay by building an armature: form armature wire into a U-shape, wrap it with tinfoil, and insert it into your base. Secure it with Liquid Sculpey and additional Ultralight around the connection point. Then wrap the entire jaw structure with Premo clay.

Build up the cheeks, fill in the mouth sides, and create the basic lip structure. Focus on the front of the head first - you'll refine other sides later.

Using your spoon tool, smooth out the lip details and refine the upper gums. Clickers have distinctive protruding upper gums that extend well past the lips - push the lips higher to expose more gum area, just like in the game references.

Add definition to the interior mouth cavity. If you find the mouth isn't deep enough (like I did), don't worry - we'll address that in the next step.

Tip: Keep returning to reference images throughout this process. The mouth is the focal point, so it needs to be distinctly clicker-like.

Since I didn't create a deep enough cavity initially, I used my scalpel to carefully cut into the base from inside the mouth. Remove some tinfoil to create more depth, but be careful not to cut through to the exterior. Once you're satisfied with the depth, cover the cut area with a thin layer of fresh clay.

Add gum details to the lower jaw where teeth will eventually be placed. Refine the interior mouth surfaces and ensure everything is smooth and ready for teeth and tongue.

For the tongue, flatten a small lump of clay between your thumb and finger, creating natural curves. Add a slight crease down the center and use a ball tool to create surface texture with small lines. Insert a short piece of armature wire into the back for easy positioning later, securing it with Liquid Sculpey.

For teeth, roll small pieces of clay and flatten them into various shapes. Study your references - clickers have broken, irregular teeth! Use your knife to chip and break some teeth realistically. Make bottom teeth smaller than top teeth, and create different types: incisors, canines, and molars.

Bake all teeth and tongue at 270°F for 10-15 minutes.

Tip: Make more teeth than you think you need - it's better to have extras than to run short during assembly.

Once cooled, insert the wire-supported tongue into the back of the mouth. Position the upper teeth first, trimming the roots as needed to fit the back molars properly. Then add the smaller bottom teeth.

Brush all connection points with Liquid Sculpey to ensure strong bonds and fill any gaps. Add final mouth details: create divots between teeth in the gums and add a small uvula at the back of the throat for realism.

Now for the signature clicker feature! Create thick "snakes" of clay and attach them to the upper lip area, pointing upward for an aggressive expression. There's no single "correct" way to add fungi - it grows organically and chaotically.

Use your reference images as guides, but remember that each clicker is unique. The fungi should look like it's bursting through the skin naturally.

Apply a thin base layer of clay to the sides of the head, then begin adding fungi of various sizes. Focus more fungi growth around the front and top of the face, as this matches the game's design. The fungi should appear denser in these areas.

Use your ball tool to blend the fungi into the surrounding "skin" while maintaining texture. Most fungi pieces should be substantial in size, making this step move relatively quickly.

Tip: I ran out of black clay during this step and had to use other colours temporarily - plan ahead and have extra clay on hand!

The back of the head should be less fungi-dense than the front, according to game references. If your initial head shape needs adjustment (like mine did), add tinfoil bulk near the top and cover with clay for better proportions.

Add smaller fungi pieces to the back, using your ball tool to blend them naturally into the skull surface. The back should feel more like exposed skull with occasional fungal outbreaks.

The pictures here may look slightly different from the next steps since I redid the back of the head later on, but this is the current version.

Create a functional neck that doubles as storage for your plant saucer! Apply a thin clay layer to the sculpture's bottom, then form a tinfoil cylinder roughly the size of your saucer. Position this where the neck should be.

Wrap the cylinder in clay, keeping the bottom opening clear so you can remove the tinfoil later. Add anatomical details like neck muscles using thick clay snakes, and include a subtle adam's apple for human-like authenticity.

Clicker ears don't need to be perfectly human since the creature is mutated. Use reference photos of human ears as a starting point, then distort them slightly. Use your ball tool to create the ear's curved surfaces and attach them by pushing firmly and adding small clay snakes behind each ear for extra support and bulk.

Blend the connection points smoothly to ensure they stay attached during baking.

Add fungi to the neck area using smaller pieces than you used on the face. Place small clay snakes on the front neck area and slightly larger pieces on the back and sides. This creates a natural transition from the heavily infected face to the less affected neck area.

Before the final bake, examine your entire sculpture. Smooth any unintended marks and refine your intentional textures. Ensure all fungi pieces are well-attached and that the overall proportions match your reference images.

This is your last chance for major adjustments, so take your time with this inspection.

Since this piece has many layers and complex details, it needs a longer baking time. Bake at 270°F for 25 minutes. The longer bake ensures all layers are properly cured and bonded together.

After cooling, inspect for hairline cracks (common with complex sculptures due to trapped air). Fill any cracks with Liquid Sculpey - they won't affect structural integrity, but filling them improves the finished appearance.

Return to the oven for a few minutes to cure the Liquid Sculpey repairs.

Remove all tinfoil carefully (save it for future projects!). Use cutting tools and sandpaper to adjust the neck cavity until your container lid fits comfortably without jamming. Sand the bottom flat so your sculpture sits evenly.

The goal is easy insertion and removal of your plant container.

Drill a small drainage hole in the neck cavity. This helps prevent water from collecting and also makes it easier to remove the container. Keep the hole small so it doesn’t weaken the structure, but large enough for water to drain out.

Sand any rough areas, particularly where the container inserts. Focus on removing tool marks and creating smooth transitions between different clay sections. This preparation is crucial for professional-looking paint results.

Sanding the container slot is also crucial for being able to easily remove the container whenever watering the plant is needed.

Apply two coats of white acrylic paint to create a uniform base. Since I used mixed clay colours during construction, this base coat ensures even colour coverage in subsequent steps.

Let each coat dry completely before applying the next.

Paint the mouth interior a dark red colour, using dabbing motions rather than brushing to avoid brush marks.

For the skin, mix a light pink-grey tone that suggests infected human flesh. Apply multiple thin coats for even coverage.

Paint the fungi with an orangey shade that contrasts with the skin tone. Dab rather than brush to create natural colour gradients between skin and fungi.

Tip: Don't settle with a paint colour if you're unsure. I had to try multiple different skintones to find my favourite.

This step transforms your sculpture! Apply brown and black wash generously - it will settle into crevices and create depth. The wash should pool in natural shadows and define all your sculpted details.

Don't be afraid to go heavy with the wash - clickers should look dark and ominous.

Tip: Store-bought washes work better than homemade for beginners. I learned this the hard way!

Using the dry brush technique, lightly apply orange to the fungi tips. Load your brush with paint, wipe most of it off, then quickly brush over raised areas. This technique helps make the fungi look more vibrant and life-like.

Keep the dry brushing subtle - less is more with this technique.

Paint teeth white, then apply a dark wash to create depth in the crevices. Clean up any paint that got on surrounding areas. The teeth should look aged and realistic, not pristine white.

Address any missed spots or areas where paint was accidentally removed during handling. This is your opportunity to perfect small details and ensure complete coverage.

Place your sculpture on a piece of cardboard or another disposable surface. Read the can's instructions carefully, but shake the can of spray finish well, then apply light, even coats across the entire sculpture. I used a glossy finish to give the surface a wet, realistic look, but you can use matte if you prefer a softer effect. Always work in a well-ventilated area or outdoors, and wear proper protection like a mask and gloves to keep yourself safe. Let each coat dry before handling.

Insert your container and add a small succulent or air plant. The living plant completes the illusion of fungi growing from the clicker's face - it's a brilliant way to bring this terrifying creature to life in your home!

I am incredibly proud of how this sculpture turned out. It captures the haunting beauty of The Last of Us while serving as a unique, functional planter. The hidden saucer storage in the neck adds an extra level of thoughtful design that makes this piece truly special.

I hope you enjoy creating this project as much as I did! Remember to be creative with your fungi placement and painting - every clicker is unique. Most importantly, have fun bringing this iconic creature to life!

Tip: I personally recommend finding an Echeveria Cubic Frost succulent because I believe that it is the best fitting plant for this sculpture, even though I have been unsuccessful in finding one myself.