Clay modeling is a great way for those looking to develop and exercise their artistic talents in a 3-dimensional medium without the difficulties associated with reduction sculpture. However, while experimenting with clay may be child's play, developing the skills for real mastery of this art form is a little more complicated. A few helpful fundamental techniques can go a long way.
Softening
Before working with any modeling clay, it's important to soften the clay thoroughly. With some clays, such as oven-bake polymer clay, that means warming the clay in your hands while working with it, while earthenware pottery clays are softened by working water into them. Either way, a good way to soften stubborn clay is to start with a small amount that you can work into softness with fingertip pressure, and then gradually add more clay as you go. This is easier than trying to soften a large amount all at once.
Proportion
Developing a sense of proportion is important for successful modeling. Learning this skill is largely a matter of trial and error, but the more you work with clay, the more you will begin to have an instinctual sense, both visual and touch-based, of the amount of clay you want for different sculpture components. However, you can help the proportion in your pieces. Any time you want to create a sculpture with parts of equal size (for example, the legs on the model of a figure), pull 2 pieces of clay and shape them into balls of the same size. This way, after creating the 1st leg, you will know exactly how much clay to add or subtract to the 2nd ball to make the 2nd leg exactly the same size.
Tools
Many professional tools are made for working with clay, including wire cutters and wooden, metal and plastic picks, knives and flat-edged shapers. These can be useful pieces to have in your clayworking arsenal, but you may also find that your favorite tools are improvised tools. Try household objects like toothpicks, knitting and sewing needles, screwdrivers, chopsticks and nail cuticle tools. You may also find that pressing clay against surfaces like walls, baskets or sheets of sandpaper gives your work a unique texture that enhances its appearance.
Blending
Another important clayworking technique is blending. Without proper blending, sculpted pieces that are attached to one another won't have any structural integrity and will easily break. For the best and most secure blending, soften (and moisten, where applicable) both the piece being attached and the body of the sculpture where it's being fastened. Press the 2 pieces firmly together, and then blend the clay together at the edge with your fingertip. Ideally, there should be no visible cracks between the 2 pieces and the clay should appear to 1 single, solid piece.
