How to Make Clay Tiles for Teracotta Murals

Video Transcript

"Hi, I am Tamal Bhattacharya, speaking on behalf of Expert Village. A prepared clay body has its own characteristics, plasticity being its primary quality. There are three methods to mixing clay, pug milling, slip and shocking. All three methods will produce a good mixture of clay. To begin your slab, place a canvas cloth on a flat surface. The canvas should be large enough to fold over the completed slab. Place your ball of clay on one half of the canvas. Using your hands beat the clay into the shape of a slab, turning the clay at least once. After you have attained the slab shape, fold the other half of the canvas over the clay. The clay should be sandwiched between the two halves of canvas. Roll the canvas covered clay between two rollers. After rolling all the way through, pull the canvas back through the rollers. The rollers are set up much like a pasta machine. The thickness of your slab will depend on the gap between the rollers. After you pull the canvas back through the rollers, your slab is complete and ready to be cut into the desired shape. I am making square tiles and using a completed tile as my pattern. I lay the tile on my slab and cut off the excess clay. My tile is complete. Thank you."