Who Makes Things Out Of Clay?

Clay work refers to any art produced using clay as the primary medium. Clay is a versatile material that can be molded, shaped, and transformed into a wide variety of forms. As one of the oldest art mediums known to humankind, clay has been used to create both functional and decorative objects for thousands of years.

Clay originates from the earth. It is dug up, processed, and refined before being used by artists and artisans. The three main types of clay are earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain. Each type has different characteristics that make it suitable for certain applications. For instance, porcelain is known for its smooth texture and translucency once fired, making it ideal for tableware and delicate pieces.

Evidence of clay art dates back over 25,000 years to the Venus of Dolní Věstonice, one of the earliest known ceramic sculptures. Throughout history, clay has been integral to human civilization. From ancient Greek pottery to Italian Renaissance terra cotta sculptures to contemporary ceramic arts, clay has been a versatile medium used for both functional wares and decorative arts in cultures across the globe.

Types of Clay Artists

There are several main types of people who work with clay, including:

Professional Clay Artists

Professional clay artists devote themselves full-time to creating works out of clay. This may include potters who throw functional pots on the wheel and sell them in galleries or online. It can also refer to ceramic sculptors who create sculptures, tiles, murals and other non-functional clay works to sell. Professional clay artists have usually honed their skills over many years and can support themselves financially through the sale of their clay creations.

Hobbyist Clay Artists

Many people enjoy working with clay as a hobby in their spare time. Hobbyist clay artists may create pottery, sculptures or other works out of clay for their own enjoyment and fulfillment. Their creations may be gifted to friends and family or displayed in their homes. Hobbyists enjoy the creative process and satisfaction of making something with their own hands. They work with clay for fun and as a creative outlet from their regular jobs and lives.

Students/Learners

Another group who regularly works with clay includes students and learners. Many schools and studios offer pottery or ceramics classes for all ages to learn the basics of working with clay. Classes teach handbuilding techniques like pinch pots, coil building, and slab construction. Students also learn how to throw pots on the potter’s wheel. Beginners get a chance to explore their creativity and make functional or decorative works out of clay as part of their education and development.

Working with Clay

Working with clay requires patience and practice. Before clay can be sculpted into art, it must be properly prepared. Most clays start out fairly stiff and need to be wedged or kneaded to make the clay smooth and pliable. Wedging involves cutting the clay into chunks and then slamming and folding the clay together to mix it uniformly. Some clays also need to be soaked in water for a period before use. The clay must be thoroughly blended so there are no air bubbles or inconsistencies in the texture.

Once the clay is ready, artists employ various techniques to sculpt their designs. Potters may throw clay on a spinning pottery wheel, using their hands and specialized tools to shape bowls, vases, cups and other vessels. Sculptors often build around an armature or frame, adding slabs of clay to build up their forms. Details can be carved into the clay or added using clay modeling tools. Mosaic artists press clay into molds to create intricate tiles.

After sculpting, the clay artwork must dry thoroughly before firing or baking. Air drying takes weeks, while a kiln or oven dries the clay rapidly. Firing at high temperatureshardens and strengthens the clay through sintering. Different clays require firing at specific temperatures to reach their optimal hardness and stability. After firing, the surface of a piece may be polished or decorated with glazes and paints.

Working with clay allows immense creativity, but requires care in preparing, sculpting, drying and firing to achieve a strong, finished art piece.

Pottery

Pottery involves shaping clay into functional and decorative objects using various techniques. Some of the main pottery techniques include:

Wheel Throwing

Wheel throwing involves using a pottery wheel to centrally shape clay into symmetrical objects like bowls, vases, cups, and pitchers. It takes coordination and practice to center the clay on the spinning wheel and manipulate it into the desired shape using your hands and special tools.

Hand Building

Hand building involves sculpting clay without the use of a pottery wheel. Techniques like pinch pots, coil building, and slab construction allow you to make items like mugs, plates, and decorative sculptures entirely by hand.

Glazing

Glazes provide decorative colors and effects on finished clay pieces. Glazes come in the form of paints, slips, powders, and liquids that get applied before firing. Different glazes melt and interact with clay bodies in their own unique way during the kiln firing process.

There are many distinctive types of pottery defined by their clay composition, firing method, glazes, origin, and artistic style – such as earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, raku, and majolica.

Sculpture

Clay is one of the most versatile and popular mediums for sculpture. Sculptors use clay to create three-dimensional works of art in a variety of styles and genres. Some of the main types of sculpture made from clay include:

Figurative Sculpture

Figurative sculpture focuses on the human form. Sculptors create detailed figures and portraits from clay. This takes great attention to anatomy and proportion to capture a realistic human likeness. Figurative works range from classical Greek and Roman style statues to more abstract modern figures.

Abstract Sculpture

Abstract sculpture uses nonrepresentational forms, shapes, and lines that do not directly imitate recognizable real world objects. The focus is on concepts, emotions, and visual expression over realism. Abstract clay sculptures allow great creative freedom in their organic shapes and textures.

Relief Sculpture

Relief sculpture involves shapes carved into a flat background. The figures and forms project out from the surface but remain connected to the background. Clay is an ideal material for intricate relief sculpture because it can capture fine details and textures. Relief sculpture adorns architectural structures, furniture, and more.

Installation Art

Installation art takes advantage of the space and environment around it to enhance the viewer’s experience. Installations are often created on a large scale from many clay components. The clay elements interact with the exhibition space and sometimes the spectators themselves to convey ideas and themes.

From classical to avant-garde, sculpture is one of clay’s most adaptable applications for artistic expression. The flexibility and workability of clay allows limitless creative potential for three-dimensional art in all styles.

Tile & Mosaic Art

Tile and mosaic art refers to decorative ceramic tiles and mosaics made of ceramic tiles. Ceramic tiles have been used for centuries to create vibrant mosaics, backsplashes, murals, and other installations.

Ceramic tiles come in a huge variety of sizes, shapes, colors, textures, and finishes. Tile artists carefully design mosaic patterns and images using combinations of different ceramic tiles. The tiles are cut, shaped, and arranged before being permanently affixed to a backing with adhesive or grout.

There are various mosaic techniques used by tile artists. Some arrange regular square or rectangular tiles in intricate geometric patterns. Others use irregularly shaped ceramic tile pieces to form figurative images and designs. Combining ceramic tiles of contrasting colors and textures can produce particularly striking mosaics.

In addition to mosaic panels and murals, ceramic tiles are also popular for kitchen backsplashes, bathroom accents, flooring, countertops, pools, patios, and more. Their durability makes them well-suited for high-traffic areas. Custom ceramic tile installations can transform indoor and outdoor spaces.

Notable tile and mosaic artists include Xenia Hausner, NEVERCREW, Marcy Epp, and Sachihiko Arakawa. Their visually captivating ceramic tile creations adorn walls, floors, ceilings, and furniture around the world.

Jewelry & Accessories

Clay is commonly used to create beautiful jewelry and accessories. The most popular clay jewelry items are beads, pendants, and earrings. Clay is an ideal material for jewelry because it comes in endless colors and can be molded into any shape.

Clay beads are made by rolling clay into balls or other shapes, piercing a hole through them, and then baking them in a kiln. They can be painted, textured, or left smooth. Strung together, clay beads make lovely necklaces, bracelets, and more. The beads can be uniform or a mix of sizes and shapes for an organic look.

Pendants start with a thicker and flatter piece of clay shaped using molds or hand-modeling techniques. A bail is added so the pendant can slide onto a chain or cord. Pendants can be geometric, natural shapes like leaves or seashells, abstract, or realistic like animals or hearts. They are lightweight and comfortable to wear.

To make clay earrings, many techniques are possible. Clay earring studs often feature balls or shapes attached to earring posts. Dangling earrings may connect clay shapes to wire findings. Or, clay can be hand-shaped around hoop findings for hoop earrings. The designs for clay earrings are endless.

Jewelry makers can also make decorative brooches, hair clips, hat pins, cuff links, and more out of clay. With its versatility, clay allows artisans to make coordinated jewelry sets and accessories to complete an outfit.

Functional Ware

Functional ware refers to pottery and ceramic objects that serve practical purposes in everyday life. These items are designed and created to be used, not just displayed. Some common examples of functional ware made from clay are:

• Tableware – This includes plates, bowls, cups, and other dishware used for serving food and drinks. Tableware can range from basic, durable items for everyday use to finely crafted sets for special occasions.
• Cookware – Clay pots, casserole dishes, pie plates, and other baking dishes fall into this category. their heat resistance makes clay vessels ideal for use in the oven and on the stovetop.
• Vases and flower pots – These vessels hold fresh cut flowers and houseplants. the porous nature of clay helps regulate moisture for the contents inside.
• Garden wares – Think planters, birdbaths and chimeneas made from clay used outdoors.

Clay artists take into account factors like strength, durability, heat resistance, porosity, and aesthetic appeal when designing functional ware. While having a practical purpose, functional pottery can also reflect the artistry and creativity of the maker through choice of shape, surface design, color, and finishing techniques.

Clay Artists to Know

Throughout history, clay has been a popular medium among artists looking to create both functional and decorative works. From ancient potters to contemporary sculptors, many clay artists have made a name for themselves and left a lasting legacy.

Some of the most notable clay artists through history include:

• Bernard Palissy – A French potter from the 1500s known for realistic enamel sculptures of animals and nature.
• Josiah Wedgwood – An English potter from the 1700s who pioneered new techniques and created elegant tableware.
• Hiram Powers – An American neoclassical sculptor from the 1800s famous for life-like busts and statues.
• George E. Ohr – An eccentric American potter from the late 1800s who created innovative abstract pieces.
• Maria Martinez – A Native American potter from the 1900s acclaimed for black-on-black pottery.

Contemporary clay artists making an impact today include:

• Peter Voulkos – An American sculptor known for abstract expressionist ceramic works.
• Simone Leigh – An African American sculptor exploring race and gender themes.
• Magdalene Odundo – A British Kenyan potter acclaimed for modernist vessels.
• Arlene Shechet – An American sculptor of complex, dynamic porcelain forms.
• Yoshitomo Nara – A Japanese artist famous for cute yet unsettling ceramic dog sculptures.

These innovative clay artists have helped shape ceramic art over the centuries, demonstrating the creative potential of this versatile medium.

Conclusion

Clay is an incredibly versatile art medium that has been used by artists for thousands of years. The timeless appeal of working with clay is evident in the continued popularity of pottery, sculpture, tile work, and other clay artforms. Clay’s accessibility, affordability, and forgiving nature make it an ideal material for creative expression.

As technology advances, new techniques emerge for working with clay. 3D printing allows artists to design intricate shapes. Special glazes create dazzling effects. Yet the fundamental practice remains unchanged—shaping humble clay into something beautiful or functional.

Clay art will continue evolving with the times, but maintain its essential connection to human civilization. The interplay between creators’ hands and the malleable earth is central to the ongoing allure of claywork. Master artisans pass down knowledge, while new generations innovate with fresh perspectives. The future promises more wondrous creations from this primal medium.