CERAMIC CLAY
CERAMIC CLAY is one of the easiest, most popular materials used to make AWESOME SCULPTURES, or 3-Dimensional Artworks. Clay has been formed into all sorts of creative and useful objects for thousands of years.
Of all the different types of Clays and Doughs, Ceramic Clay is one of the easiest to use, and the most permanent when it is FIRED in an oven, or KILN.
TECHNIQUES (tek - neeks)
"HOW TO" use Ceramic Clay:
Prepare all of your TOOLS and MATERIALS, and get ready for a bit of a MESS.
Once you decide what you would like to CREATE, work thoughtfulness and care.
Ceramic Clay dries out as you work, REMEMBER to add WATER back in as you go!
If you need to stop, Ceramic Clay can be stored wrapped in Damp Paper Towel inside a Plastic Zipper Bag.
WEDGING
SQUEEZING Ceramic Clay helps remove any AIR BUBBLES that may be trapped inside.
SCORING
Making light, ROUGH lines on Clay pieces before joining them together is called SCORING.
JOINING
Scoring Clay pieces, and adding WATER or "muddy clay" (SLIP) allows pieces to be JOINED together.
CERAMIC CLAY can be used in many, MANY different ways. The Ideas below are just the first steps for a project . . take them as far as you'd like:)
ART IDEA #1
Slabs
FLATTENED pieces of Clay are called SLABS. They can be used in many different ways, alone or joined with other slabs. Objects can be PRESSED into the Clay for extra TEXTURE and Effetc. See what you can FORM with a SLAB or two of clay.
ART IDEA #2
Coils
Rolling out a length of Clay with your hands creates a COIL. Once you have a handful of COILS, then SCORE and SLIP between each one, BLENDING them together as you work your way UP. Once your SCULPTURE begins to climb, then you get to decide where it goes!
ART IDEA #3
Pinch Pots
PINCH POT BOWLS can be used as a simple container, or they can be the beginning for any Bowl-Shaped Sculpture. Start by pushing your THUMB into a ball of Clay, and then carefully TURN and SQUEEZE the sides, working evenly up from the bottom.
ART IDEA #4
Sculptures
Clay SCULPTURE can end up looking like most anything, but typically it turns out to look like a PERSON or an ANIMAL. Grab a piece of Clay, and start Bending, Shaping, Carving and Forming!
ART IDEA #5
Wheel Throwing
Finally, beautiful CUPS, PLATES and BOWLS can be formed on a spinning POTTERY WHEEL. It usually takes a bit of Patience and Time to learn the proper Techniques for THROWING Clay on a Wheel, but once learned the possibilities and creative fun are nearly endless!!
The ideas above are very basic. Below are some more Detailed Ideas to get your brain heading in a specific direction. Again, the possibilities are nearly ENDLESS!!
