About Clay Modeling

Working with modeling clay is a hands-on, artistic technique of bringing 3-dimensional details to form, through molding, shaping and sculpting techniques. Modeling clay comes in many textures and compositions, and various modeling tools are used to add the details to the project.

Types

There are two main categories of modeling clay: the types that harden and the types that remain pliable. The hardening clay types are used to make permanent items, such as dishes, pots and decorative accessories, while the non-hardening clays are the first choice for pliable applications that remain a changeable work in progress.

Drying

The hardening clays are air dried over time, baked in an oven, which yields a medium-durability product, or kiln-fired to produce the most durable products of all drying methods.

Children's Play

Non-hardening clay is also used by children, who enjoy the flexibility of creating and recreating over and over again, with the same clay.

Recipes

There are simple recipes for making your own modeling clay, even though there are many commercially-available types. Just by combining measured amounts of flour, salt and water, you can make a workable piece of modeling clay.

Amount

For occasional projects, work with small amounts at a time to prevent excess amounts from drying out.

Tools

There are different types of tools used to work with modeling clay. These include tools to cut the clay into the right-sized pieces and to cut away gross sections of excess clay. Sculpting tools are used to carve finer details into modeling clay, and shaping tools are used to smooth out the final molded piece of art.

Resources

• Start Clay Sculpting and Progress Towards Clay Modeling Artistry
• How to Make Modeling Clay
• 3D-Sketching with Modelling Clay
• Virtual Clay Modeling Using Adaptive Distance Fields