How to Cut Clay for a Sculpture

Sculpting is all about creativity and usually not about exact measurements. When you cut clay for a sculpture, use your hands and eyes to estimate what you need. Try the piece out after you have cut it, and if it isn't the right size, re-form your piece and start the process over.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clay
• Wire clay cutter
• Ruler
• Rolling pin
• Knife
• Sculpture stand
• Water

1. Drop the clay on a hard surface a few times to flatten it out as much as possible.

2. Pull the wire clay cutter through the clay. Measure the thickness you need from the base of the table up.

3. Hold the slab of clay with one hand on each end. Swing it back and forth and drop it back onto the table. This stretches the piece for kneading and shaping.

4. Move the rolling pin over the clay in a back-and-forth motion to flatten and stretch it. This should result in a similar stretch as in step 3.

5. Use a knife to cut the excess off the slab of clay, and stand it up on the platform. Check the size of the clay at this point, adding or subtracting clay before you begin to sculpt the piece.

6. Scrap the piece if it isn't the right size. Work it into a ball or chunk, and start over again until you get the exact desired lump of clay for sculpting.

Tips & Warnings

• If the clay gets too hard to work with, dampen it with water and work it in with your hands to soften it up.