How to Make a Clay Texture

Clay accepts a wide variety of textures.

One of the benefits of working with clay is that you can create impressions in the material using almost any object. You can create all kinds of textures, ranging from subtle and small to large and dynamic. Create panels of clay texture for use in your next project, adding interest and creating a more professional looking finish.

Things You'll Need

• Household objects
• Air-dry earthenware clay
• Stone or plastic rolling pin
• Spray bottle or atomizer
• Craft knife
• Spatula

Instructions

1. Use a small lump of clay to test various household objects to see what kinds of texture impressions they make. Press the clay against each item to see what you get; use only objects that you can wash or don't mind throwing away. You can experiment with the edges of book pages, rough cloth, shoe soles and wire mesh.

2. Soften about two cups of clay (adjust depending on how much you need for your project) by kneading it in your hands. Add water, if necessary, by wetting your hands occasionally as you go.

3. Flatten the clay against a hard, smooth work surface. Spread it out as much as you can with your hands; finish with a clay rolling pin. Roll the clay into a sheet about ¼ inch thick.

4. Spray the surface of the clay sheet with a light mist of water from the atomizer. Rub your fingers over the surface of the clay to spread out the water. Wait about two minutes for the water to soak into the clay; this process will create a soft, impressionable surface all over the sheet.

5. Press the texture item you've chosen over a small test patch of the clay; if it sticks too much, wait another two minutes to let the clay dry a little more. Once you can make a clear impression without too much stickiness, cover the entire clay surface with impressions from the texture item. If necessary, wash the item partway through to remove accumulated clay, as this will interfere with the consistency in the shape of the impressions.

6. Cut the textured clay sheet into the shapes you need for your project using the craft knife.

7. Use the cooking spatula to carefully pull up the textured clay sheet from your work surface. Handle the clay pieces by touching the sides and back, not the front.