Modeling and Clay and the Making of It

Modelling clay, clay, plasticine, some kinds of ceramics, clay in English, etc., are all masses made of earth, dust or dried mud and aggregates of different compounds. This mixture dissolves in water or oil to form the dough. The compounds added the type of soil and the agent in which it is dissolved give the clay different properties. In general, being wet, it is moldable and flexible and once dry it contracts and remains permanently hardened. By the clay making singapore options you can find the best deals now.

Clay has been used for a variety of purposes throughout the ages and is still used for many of these purposes today. It is used and has been used to form from pots to bricks and even as writing support.

Different types of clay

There are different kinds of clays to work with. Today it is easy to find most of them in the main craft stores. There are the clay of different colours and different types of drying. The main thing is to know which clay to use for the different jobs to be done.

Oil-based clays: they are plasticine. This type of clay can be reused many times since they do not dry easily. They are malleable and easy to handle at room temperature. It comes in multiple colours that can be mixed and matched. Due to their oil base, they are difficult to clean from staining surfaces.

Water-based clays, it is the most common in crafts since it dries in the air and does not require ovens or heat, it is cheap and if it has the right amount of moisture you can work and model it easily. As air-dry if you don’t want your project to dry from one day to the next, you should protect it with a plastic bag to keep it moist and you can continue working on it. It can be painted once dry.

Modelling dough made of polymers: this very fashionable dough today comes in various colours and from different brands, it is generally used for jewellery projects you work at home and you can dry it in a home oven that makes the figure look permanently, some even dry to form erasers. There are several brands and others that you find in some stationery and craft stores.

Clay for ceramics, generally this clay dries in the air and then requires baking at high temperatures to take on its characteristic shine. It is used to make tableware and plates.

Working the clay

There are several ways to work clay and not all of them require expensive or difficult to find and use instruments. Children know that with a stick of clay and toothpicks, made of wood, paper, paper clips, bottle caps, toothbrushes, coins, cookie cutters, garlic press, lemon squeezer, etc. With objects present in all the houses we can form fun figures.

You can buy the utensils that sculptors use called antiques that they sell in art supply stores, or you can make your own with some basic instructions.

To make a large or medium solid sculpture

The first thing is to define the shape that your sculpture will have. Make a sketch on paper of what you want to sculpt.

Acquire the necessary clay.

Put it on a work surface, preferably one that does not absorb moisture and dry the underside of your sculpture, also ensure that you can save it and remove it from the path. Squash the clay on all sides as if kneading it to make it malleable and uniform. If you have to join more than one clay brick this is the time.