Sculpting with clay?

[Sue]

I bought 20 pounds to give sculpting a try. Any suggestions?
Sue

[Sue]

No one?

A smiley face should be easy or how about Godzilla?
Sue

[luvmysuper]

Scuttles??????

Maybe some Shave Den art - like a model razor or a badger looking at you with an accusatory stare.

[aodenkou]

A couple of quick things. How do you plan on firing the clay once you have made something? Do you have access to a kiln? If it's your first experience keep the things small and not very thick. If you make a thick heavy piece you will probably have problems with it breaking during firing. When you are working with clay, you must keep the "wetness" of the clay. When you join clay, make a little cup with a bit of clay and water mixed up to the consistancy of thick cream. Make little "score" marks on both parts and lighty touch the mixture to both pieces let it sit a bit then push them together. Between working on the project keep it tightly covered in a big plastic bag. When you are ready to let it dry, put a plastic bag over the top and leave a little space to let the air in and let it dry slowly over several days.

Take a look on youtube - Simon Leach - he has a lot of clips to look at. Plus, there will be some other video to look at as well. Or search youtube and see what you can find.

If you get any technical questions fire away - I "may" be able to answer, I am a potter.... but just semi-pro.... I have sold a few pieces but not that many.

[luvmysuper]

If you get any technical questions fire away - I "may" be able to answer, I am a potter....

Wow. And a member of a Shaving Forum.



I never dreamed I'd actually get the opportunity to do this.




In the morning, before you shave, would you say that you are a hairy potter?

[gollum83]

Scuttles??????

Maybe some Shave Den art - like a model razor or a badger looking at you with an accusatory stare.

Scuttles were the first thing that came to mind? I guess that's what you get ask our advice.

Well, I don't know. What do you feel like making Sue?

[Legion]

Wow. And a member of a Shaving Forum.



I never dreamed I'd actually get the opportunity to do this.




In the morning, before you shave, would you say that you are a hairy potter?

FACEPALM!!!

[ouch]

I bought 20 pounds to give sculpting a try. Any suggestions?
Sue

Tea pots!

[jjjackso]

Maybe some Shave Den art - like a model razor or a badger looking at you with an accusatory stare.

+1 to the badger. :) hah that would make me chuckle every day.

[Intrigued]

Badgers & Boars as brush or razor holders.

[Sue]

A couple of quick things. How do you plan on firing the clay once you have made something? Do you have access to a kiln? If it's your first experience keep the things small and not very thick. If you make a thick heavy piece you will probably have problems with it breaking during firing. When you are working with clay, you must keep the "wetness" of the clay. When you join clay, make a little cup with a bit of clay and water mixed up to the consistancy of thick cream. Make little "score" marks on both parts and lighty touch the mixture to both pieces let it sit a bit then push them together. Between working on the project keep it tightly covered in a big plastic bag. When you are ready to let it dry, put a plastic bag over the top and leave a little space to let the air in and let it dry slowly over several days.

Take a look on youtube - Simon Leach - he has a lot of clips to look at. Plus, there will be some other video to look at as well. Or search youtube and see what you can find.

If you get any technical questions fire away - I "may" be able to answer, I am a potter.... but just semi-pro.... I have sold a few pieces but not that many.

Great!! Thank you No, I don't have a kiln. The clay I have is air dry ..maybe the wrong kind? Cerrtainly not the type that can be used for something of purpose.

I haven't decided on 'what' yet but probably human or animal which may not be a very good choice for a first attempt.

Years ago, I painted in oils and have decided I miss the artistic hobbies.

If you have photos of your work, please post 'em, I'd love to see them.
Sue

[Sue]

Tea pots!

A twenty pound tea pot would be funny!
Sue

[Duamuteffe]

There's some good info here about sealing finished pieces and air-dry cracking due to shrinkage.

I don't know much about air-drying clay (I mostly work with polymer clays) but I would hazard a guess that it will do you just fine for small projects. And the great thing about sculpting is, much like painting, you don't have to be perfect at it to enjoy yourself!

[valmara1971]

A couple of quick things. How do you plan on firing the clay once you have made something? Do you have access to a kiln? If it's your first experience keep the things small and not very thick. If you make a thick heavy piece you will probably have problems with it breaking during firing. When you are working with clay, you must keep the "wetness" of the clay. When you join clay, make a little cup with a bit of clay and water mixed up to the consistancy of thick cream. Make little "score" marks on both parts and lighty touch the mixture to both pieces let it sit a bit then push them together. Between working on the project keep it tightly covered in a big plastic bag. When you are ready to let it dry, put a plastic bag over the top and leave a little space to let the air in and let it dry slowly over several days.

Take a look on youtube - Simon Leach - he has a lot of clips to look at. Plus, there will be some other video to look at as well. Or search youtube and see what you can find.

If you get any technical questions fire away - I "may" be able to answer, I am a potter.... but just semi-pro.... I have sold a few pieces but not that many.

So PM you for custom B&B scuttles right??

[Sue]

There's some good info here about sealing finished pieces and air-dry cracking due to shrinkage.

I don't know much about air-drying clay (I mostly work with polymer clays) but I would hazard a guess that it will do you just fine for small projects. And the great thing about sculpting is, much like painting, you don't have to be perfect at it to enjoy yourself!

Thank you for the link. I think it will be a good outlet and I don't have to show anyone the potentially embarrassing results.
Sue

[pb300]

My mom ran her own pottery business for years, a "Clay Club" as she called it. You could either glaze things she had pre-made or bring in your own and she would fire them for you.

This is something you could look into if you start using clay that needs to be fired. I know in Central Florida there is a chain of places like the Clay Club called Get Fired Up and I believe they work the same way. So I'm assuming there are more places like this around. Its a good way to try the hobby before investing in a very expensive kiln.

Also some schools still have kilns on site and the art teachers may let you fire something while they're doing stuff for the students.

edit:
http://getfireduppottery.com/

[Sue]

Thank you Joe
Sue

[Confilo]

I bought 20 pounds to give sculpting a try. Any suggestions?
Sue

Great idea. You might consider taking a class, that way you can try modeling throwing, wheel or sculpting and the use of a kiln.
But the most important thing is to have fun while making art and never forget that with clay there are no mistakes just new opportunities

[Mr. Imperial]

Badgers & Boars as brush or razor holders.

This.

Seriously. This would be awesome.

[Sue]

Great idea. You might consider taking a class, that way you can try modeling throwing, wheel or sculpting and the use of a kiln.
But the most important thing is to have fun while making art and never forget that with clay there are no mistakes just new opportunities

I like that
Sue