What Is Crafting With Clay Called?

Clay crafting refers to the process of shaping and sculpting objects out of clay. It is one of the oldest and most widespread art forms, with artifacts dating back over 25,000 years. Clay is an abundant natural material that can be easily molded when wet, making it ideal for crafting pottery, sculpture, tiles, jewelry, figurines, and other decorative or functional objects.

There are several major types of clay crafts found throughout history and still popular today:

• Pottery – Clay pots, vases, plates, bowls used for storage, serving, and display.
• Sculpture – Clay figurines, busts, reliefs for artistic expression.
• Jewelry – Clay beads and pendants.
• Tiles – Clay floor and wall tiles with geometric or artistic designs.
• Mosaics – Pictures and patterns made by arranging small cut and colored clay tiles.
• Figurines – Small decorative clay models of people, animals, objects.

Clay crafting allows endless creativity in shape, texture, and decoration. It is enjoyed globally by professional artists as well as hobbyists and crafters.

Origins

The origins of crafting with clay date back thousands of years to some of the earliest human civilizations. Archeological evidence shows that prehistoric cultures were creating pottery, sculpture, and figurines out of clay as early as 30,000 years ago.

Some of the earliest known clay crafts have been found in central and eastern Europe dating to the Stone Age Narva culture between 5200-3900 BC. These early clay crafts consisted of simple round rods and female figurines (Khrustaleva, 2020). Similar clay figurines from the Neolithic Vinča culture have been found throughout the Balkans dating back to 5700-4500 BC.

In ancient Mesopotamia, crafting with clay became more advanced. Clay tablets were used for writing as early as 3500 BC, while high quality pottery was developed around 4000 BC. The ancient Egyptians, Chinese, Greeks and Romans all produced advanced works of art, pottery, and architecture using clay.

Over thousands of years, working with clay evolved across many cultures into the wide range of techniques and crafts still popular today.

Pottery

Pottery refers to objects made from clay that have been shaped while soft and then hardened by firing in a kiln. There are various types of pottery, including earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain. The most common techniques for shaping clay are wheel throwing and handbuilding.

Wheel throwing involves sitting at a potter’s wheel and using centrifugal force to shape the clay as it spins on the wheel. This allows the clay to be shaped into symmetrical forms like bowls, vases, cups, and plates. Handbuilding involves shaping the clay by hand using techniques like coil building, slab construction, and pinch pots. Handbuilding allows for making pottery in freeform and asymmetrical shapes.

Once shaped, pottery pieces are dried and then fired in a high temperature oven called a kiln. Firing hardens the clay through sintering and can also be used to apply decorative glazes and colors. Glazes are mixtures of minerals and compounds that melt during firing to create a glassy coating. The longer a piece is fired and the higher the temperature, the harder and more durable the final pottery becomes.

Some key types of pottery include earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain. Earthenware is fired at lower temperatures and is more porous. Stoneware is fired at higher temperatures and is harder and more durable. Porcelain is the most highly vitrified type of pottery, fired at the highest temperatures to produce a translucent white body.

For more information, see this detailed guide on pottery techniques and types: Looking Differently at Indian History: From the Scientific Angle

Sculpture

Clay sculpture involves creating three-dimensional forms and figures using clay as the primary material. There are several techniques used in clay sculpture including modeling, carving, and casting.

Modeling involves starting with a solid block or ball of clay and shaping it by hand using tools and fingers. Pinching, pulling, smoothing, scraping, and carving motions are used to mold the clay into the desired form. Modeling allows sculptors to work intuitively and directly manipulate the medium.

Carving entails carving away clay from a larger solid block to reveal the final sculpture inside. Subtractive tools like loop tools, knives, gouges and chisels can be used to carefully cut away excess clay. The sculpture emerges as material is removed from the original clay block.

Casting requires making a mold then pouring slip or liquid clay into the mold cavity. Once dried, the clay holds the shape of the mold. Molds can be made from original clay sculptures or other materials. Casting allows for reproducing identical clay forms.

Clay can be handbuilt into abstract or representational sculptures. Figurative, animal, human forms, busts, reliefs, vessels, and conceptual pieces can all be sculpted from clay. Famous clay sculptures include the Terracotta Army and the Venus of Dolní Věstonice. Clay sculpture dates back to ancient times.

For more on clay sculpture techniques, see this article: A Couple of Cool Clay Sculpture Techniques

Jewelry

Polymer clay is a versatile material for making jewelry. It can be shaped, sculpted, and baked to harden into durable beads, pendants, charms and more. Some popular techniques for making polymer clay jewelry include caning, mokume gane, and marbling (Tools for Polymer Clay Jewelry Making).

Polymer clay is an accessible material for beginner jewelry makers. Starter kits provide all the tools and instructions needed to create your own jewelry designs. Techniques like layering colors and textures allow you to achieve beautiful, professional-looking results (How to Make Polymer Clay Jewelry for Beginners). Caning involves slicing layered clay sheets into thin strips to make bead designs. Mokume gane stacks layers of patterned clay that result in woodgrain-like effects when sliced.

The versatility of polymer clay makes it a fun, creative way to make customized jewelry items. Homemade polymer clay beads can be strung into necklaces and bracelets or used to make clay charms, focals, and pendants. The finished clay pieces can be embellished with gems, paints, and other mixed media. When cured in a home oven, polymer clay jewelry is lightweight, durable, and water-resistant.

Tiles

Clay tiles have been used to decorate floors, walls, ceilings, countertops, and more for thousands of years. Tiles can be made from many types of clay including earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain. Earthenware tiles are porous, while stoneware and porcelain tiles are non-porous.

There are several techniques for molding clay tiles. The clay can be rolled out into a slab and then cut into shapes using tile cutters, cookie cutters, or templates. Clay can also be pressed into molds to create 3D tile designs. Another option is to hand build the tiles using techniques like pinch pots, coils, and slabs.

After molding, the tiles are left to air dry or fired in a kiln. Once fired, the tiles can be glazed or painted to add color and effects. Glazes are glass-like coatings that are fused to the clay in a kiln firing. Multiple firings may be required to achieve certain glaze effects like crazing or mottling. Tiles can also be decorated using underglaze, overglaze, luster, and decals (Making Clay Tiles For Children – YouTube).

Mosaics

Mosaics are images or decorative patterns created by assembling small pieces of materials such as stone, glass, ceramic, or clay. With clay mosaics, pieces of polymer or air-dry clay are shaped and arranged to form intricate designs and pictures. This art form dates back thousands of years.

Clay mosaics use small clay pieces called tesserae that are applied to a substrate in a mortar or glue. The tesserae can be created by hand or using clay extruders to create long coils that are sliced into small cubes or tiles. Polymer clay is commonly used for its bright colors and flexibility. The clay allows for shaping intricate patterns and blending colors.

To create a clay mosaic, first a base or substrate is prepared. This may be a wooden panel, cardboard, ceramic bisque, glass, or any material that allows the clay tiles to adhere. A template can be used to lay out the design. The clay tesserae are then fixed to the substrate using liquid clay, tile adhesive or clear gel glue.

Clay mosaics allow for limitless creativity in both 2D and 3D designs. Color blending, textures, and dimensional elements can be incorporated. Some basic tools include clay extruders or rollers for preparing the tesserae, cutting blades, and sculpting tools. Finished pieces can be sealed or varnished for protection and display.

For inspiration and techniques for working with clay mosaics, see sources such as this polymer clay mosaic art on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/market/polymer_clay_mosaic or this clay mosaic project: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/245235142197990353/

Figurines

One popular form of crafting with clay is making figurines. Figurines are small statuettes or sculptures representing human or animal forms. Clay is an ideal material for crafting figurines due to its malleability and ability to maintain fine detail.

When making a clay figurine, the first step is to mold the basic shape out of clay. This can be done by hand or using basic sculpting tools. Once the basic shape is formed, small tools like loop tools, ribs, and wooden sticks can be used to refine the details and textures of the figurine.

Clay figurines are often made around an armature or wire frame to provide extra stability for appendages like arms and legs. The clay is built up around the armature bit by bit.

Another important technique is “scoring” – using a knife or tool to cut cross hatch grooves where two pieces of clay will be joined together. This helps create a stronger bond between the clay pieces.

Once the figurine is fully modeled, it needs to be dried, fired in a kiln, and painted or glazed to complete it. The firing process hardens and sets the clay permanently. Acrylic and ceramic glazes are often used to add color and effects to the final figurine.

Clay figurines allow crafters to create custom sculptures, characters from books or movies, portrait busts, nativity scenes, and more. With some basic skills and the right tools, clay is an accessible and fun material for crafting small scale figures.

DIY Crafts

One of the most popular ways to work with clay at home is through DIY crafts. This involves using air dry clay, which is a type of clay that dries naturally at room temperature. Air dry clay is an affordable and accessible material that allows anyone to create a wide variety of crafts and sculptures right at home.

Some common DIY clay crafts include making jewelry, figurines, tiles, bowls, vases, decorative boxes, magnets, wall hangings, and more. The clay can be shaped by hand or molded into molds. Many clays work well with extruders and clay guns to create unique shapes and textures.

There are many recipes for making homemade air dry clay using ingredients like glue, cornstarch, baking soda, and water. These homemade clays provide an even more affordable option for clay crafting. Some popular homemade clay recipes produce clays with texture and colors similar to commercial clays like Model Magic or Crayola Air Dry Clay ^[1].

Clay crafts allow for immense creativity, making it a fun DIY activity for both kids and adults. Simple projects can be completed in an afternoon, while more complex creations may take days to complete as the clay fully dries and sets. The finished pieces can be decorated with paint, varnish, or left natural.

Conclusion

In summary, there are many different types of clay crafts that allow for creativity and artistic expression. Pottery and sculpture use clay to shape functional and decorative objects. Jewelry makers can form intricate pendants, beads, and more. Tiles and mosaics arrange clay pieces into beautiful patterns and images. Figurines bring clay characters and creatures to life. DIY clay crafts make modeling with clay accessible to crafters of all skill levels. No matter what type of project you pursue, working with clay allows endless possibilities for tapping into your imagination and creating unique works of art. The tactile and malleable qualities of clay make it a wonderful artistic medium.