Categories: Crafts & Hobbies

Introduction to Working with Clay

Working with clay is a fun, affordable, and versatile way to create art. It is perfect for children, teens and adults. Many people find working with clay relaxing as well as a great stress reliever after a long day. This introduction to working with clay should help you understand some techniques for creating almost anything. It is also an introduction into a variety of clay products on the market today. So, whether you have access to a kiln or not you can work with great clay products that will create long lasting works of art.

Clay Working Terminology

Slip –

Slip is another name for clay glue. Potters create their own slip by adding water to clay. Simply painting on some water with a brush or their finger helps glue pieces of clay together. You do not want to make a watery product, simply add a thin small amount of water to the surface of the clay. Repeat on the second piece of clay and work them together.

Score –

Scoring clay is also a method potters use to adhere two pieces of clay together. Simply use any pointed utensils, like a pen, pencil, toothpick, or clay tools to make X shaped marks into the clay where you will be adhering another piece. This helps hold the two pieces of clay together while you work. It breaks up the surface area of the clay, which is needed for a good adhesion between the two pieces.

Slab –

Slab is exactly what you think it is. You use a wire cutting tool to cut a slab of clay off of the block; sort of like cutting a very large piece of cheese.

Coil Method-

Coil method also is very much what it says it is. Potters break off a piece of clay and work it in between their hands or on the work surface to create coil of clay. This malleable clay can be shaped in to pottery, plates, baskets and more. The coil is usually worked together with fingers or clay working tools to make a smooth a finished product. The coil method is one of the oldest forms of making pottery on Earth.

Kiln-

The brick lined oven that pottery is fired in. This strengthens the clay and sets it. A kiln is very insulated and provides a high and controlled heat that is necessary to fire pottery. Heating or cooling pottery too quickly can result in cracks and breakage.

Clay Products

Traditional Clay

Clay can be bought in many forms. Generally artist clay comes in a large 25 or 50 pound block. While it is sold at many art supply stores you can often buy it locally at pottery stores that sell only clay and clay supplies.

Traditionally clay goes through a process where it is shaped and allowed to dry. The shaped clay piece may be bisque or biscuit fired in a kiln to induce permanent changes that result in increased structural strength.

Clay can then fired a second time after adding a glaze.

Many local stores that sell pottery have their own kilns. So, if you want to work with traditional clay that needs to be fired you can make your art at home, let it dry completely, and then take it to the clay store to be fired for a fee.

Air Drying Clay

Air-drying clay is a fabulous product that has seen many changes over the years. This clay product looks and works just like real clay. The only difference is it does not have to be fired to strengthen it in a kiln. This makes it perfect for art projects at home. While most artists will stick to traditional clay that needs ot be fired, you really can make some great art out of air drying clay. It dries as durable as traditional clay and can be easily painted. You cannot glaze air-drying clay because it cannot go into the kiln.