Sculptures from clay can be made using the hand building techniques of coiling or slab work. Sculptures can be made from a solid block of clay by removing the areas that are not needed. The easiest sculpting method is using the coil technique. This technique provides the most control and versatility.
Instructions
Process
1. Coiled pot
Take a piece that's approximately 2 inches in diameter and roll it on the table to make a long snake. The coil will be finished when it is the diameter of your little finger. All coil pieces will be made in this same fashion.
2. Place the first coil around the outline of the bottom of the sculpture. Overlap the end of the coil to begin climbing and creating height in the sculpture. Continue to add coil to gain height.
3. After four to five rows, smooth the outside coils. This is done by placing your fingers on the inside of the sculpture and using your other fingers to smooth out the lines of the coils. Smooth the clay up and across the coils to fill in the cracks. Repeat the process until the sculpture is complete.
4. When adding features that extend out from the body it is necessary to let the wall coils dry over night in a plastic bag. This will turn the clay leather-hard. Cut a hole in the clay using a knife and build with the coils outward just a few coils at a time. This process is time consuming; if the clay is too wet when the next row is added, it will fall off the sculpture. The added features may take several days to complete.
Storing and Restarting the Sculpture
5. Place damp paper towels around the outside of the sculpture and over the top edge. Make sure the water is rung out of the paper towel. Too much water will cause the clay to disintegrate. Place in a plastic bag. Fold the edges of the plastic bag over and place under the board. This will help to keep the clay moist.
6. Remove the sculpture from the bag to continue sculpting. Remove the paper towels. Score the top coil with a fork. Scoring is simply making lines in the coil with a fork that will be used to hold the slip. The slip is a watered-down clay that is used for glue. It helps a drier piece of clay adhere to a moist piece. Place a generous amount of slip on the top coil using a paintbrush. Place a coil on top of the slip and gently pat to secure the two pieces together. This same process will be used when adding features that extend from the main body of the sculpture.
7. Repeat the coiling process and continue building the sculpture. Smooth the outside of the sculpture after every four to five rows of coils.
8. Replace the paper towels and bag if the sculpture is not complete. If the sculpture is complete, loosely drape the plastic bag over the top of the sculpture so it may begin to dry from the bottom up. This will help to prevent cracking. No damp paper towels are needed during the drying process. After 24 hours, remove the plastic bag entirely from the sculpture and let it air dry.
