Clay Sculpture
by Gail Lang

Clay is the simplest form of sculpture offering the shortest time span between the thought process and completion. With clay, an idea can be shaped and molded with the hands almost as quickly as the mind can envision it.

Since early time man has used clay to shape and build, sometimes for practical and much needed items such as shelter, bowls and other everyday necessities. These everyday necessities were sometimes simple and made to serve the need, but occasionally they were artwork in themselves. Clay eventually grew as a form of art because of it's abundance and ease of expression. Even today, the uses of this ancient medium are vast.

In some instances clay is both the beginning and finished work, but in the world of art, it is also used as a creative medium to help build the shape in the mind in preparation of using a more difficult medium, working as a transitional material. Even Michelangelo, in his maturity, made full-scale clay models of his work before carving it in stone.

Clay is found in abundance in the earth near rivers, wetlands and hills. There are several types of clay that can be used. Kaolin is a fine white clay used to create porcelain. Terre-cotta is a wet molding clay. Terre-cotta and stoneware are chiefly used by sculptures. These clays are all natural, have a water base, and dry to various levels of hardness. Plastelene, an oily synthetic clay, is used by many sculptures and has the advantage of not drying but does not have the flexibility of wet clay.

Clay can be purchased in various forms, but can also be dug directly from the ground. Just remember, if you dig up your own clay to experiment and sculpt, you will need to clean it and work it to an even consistency before you can sculpt with any success.