If you are looking for a bright colored clay, polymer will be your best option. Air dry clay is a good option for all ages as it requires no use of heat. These 3 varieties of clay have a similar appearance to kiln-baked clay once they are dry.
Contact a local pottery or university ceramic department to rent some space in a kiln. Standard clay can come in a variety of natural shades. Choose one which most suits the style of your sculpture.
If you are sculpting clay with young children, consider working outside or over a wipeable floor.
If you have long hair, tie it back into a bun or a ponytail
Draw inspiration from objects and nature around you. Take pictures of things you might like to try sculpting.
Repeat this process until all the clay has an even texture and there are no air bubbles. This can take up to 50 kneads. Try to use your palms instead of your fingertips when pushing the clay down.
Take a fist-sized piece of clay and roll into a ball. Place the ball down on your hard surface and push it down slightly so that it has a flat bottom and can stand by itself. Gently push your thumb into the middle of the bowl to create a small dent. Don’t press any further than your first knuckle. This hole makes the opening of the bowl. Place your thumb inside the bowl and your index finger outside the bowl. Pinch them together and pull them up to create the sides of the bowl. Keep pinching and pulling the bowl until you are happy with its shape and size. [7] X Research source
Stop rolling once the coils are your desired width and length. If you are wanting to make a vessel from your coils, note that a longer coil will make a wider structure and a shorter coil will create a narrower structure. Coils are useful for creating many sculptures and details such as caterpillars, eyebrows or patterns.
Pinch the ends of each coil together and shape the coil into the shape you want. For example, if you want a heart-shaped vase you would shape each coil into a heart shape and pinch the ends together. Place the coils on top of each other to form a stack. Put gentle pressure on the top of the coil stack to help the coils join together. Gently press on the side of the structure to smooth out the walls. If you’re stack isn’t stable, start again and use thicker coils.
Roll a lump of clay using a rolling pin, until the whole slab is an even height. Cut the slab into your desired shapes using a knife. When making a cube, cut the slab into 6 squares of the same size. Place a ruler over the clay to help you make slabs that are the same size. [8] X Research source Make small cuts along the edges of the slabs to roughen them up. This will help the slabs join together. Place the rough edges of your slabs together. Gently push the edges of the slabs together with your hands to help them fuse. Repeat this process until all of the squares are joined together to make a cube. [9] X Research source
For example, fuse a coil onto the side of a pinch pot to add decoration. Be creative and express your personal style in your creations. If you are using standard clay, sprinkle a few drops of water onto the rough edges before pressing them together. [10] X Research source
Experiment and be creative with using different household objects to create patterns. [11] X Research source
Glitter is a fun and sparkly option for polymer and air-dry clay. Sprinkle the glitter over the sculpture and lightly push it into the surface of the clay.
If you are using oven-dry clay, wait for your sculpture to cool before you try to paint it. Be creative with your patterns. Try polka dots, flowers or zig-zags. Cover the table with newspaper before painting. Leave the paint to dry for 24 hours before moving the sculpture.
Try searching YouTube for “Clay sculpting techniques”.
