Sculpture in clay clay

Sculpture in clay clay

Here is an explanation of the dry clay in the air, the composition and properties, emotional dimension and personal expression that allows the clay, how to use, tips and sculpting techniques with clay clay.

Sculpture in dry clay is ideal and versatile for anyone who is interested in sculpting and getting a sculpture or a stable and rigid work without burning in the oven. Clay Dry is a convenient material for work and design, suitable for sculpture and popular among DIY communities for creating diverse craft works. The exemption from oven burning makes it a recommended and useful material for any home for children and the whole family. Here is an explanation and features of dry clay, how to use and tips for the job.

Facts and properties of clay clay

  • Air-dried dry clay is a synthetic clay, usually containing paper, resin and glue.
  • Dry clay mixes with water easily and can be sculpted with it in various ways. It can come in different colors; Brown, terracotta, white and more. There are various companies of clay dry that dries in the air, from experience we highly recommend DO & DRY from Creall.
  • A dry clay sculpture does not require firing in an oven like a ceramic clay sculpture. Dry clay dries in the air within 24 hours, depending on the thickness of the layer. When the clay sculpture dries it shrinks a little and hardens.

Emotional dimension and personal expression that allows for sculpture in clay clay

Kneading the clay, touching, sculpting, testing the clay - are sensual actions, which return the creator to his initial experiences. The material allows for control and loss of control, invites concentration, meditation and a sense of inner peace.

The wide range of possibilities that the clay contains, from vigorous work to delicate work, has long been a wide range of emotions that may arise in the process of working with it.

Dry clay sculpture - equipment and related materials

  • Work surface - It is recommended to work on a smooth work surface made of Plexiglas or other plastic.
  • Design tools - For designing small details, different textures and smoothing the sculpture.
  • rolling pin - For flattening the clay to a flat surface.
  • Water spray - To wet the sculpture in the work process.
  • construction - A support skeleton can be built for a dry clay sculpture made of iron wire with the help of pliers or by designing a skeleton from aluminum foil.

How to use, tips and recommendations for sculpting in clay clay

  • Once you have removed the clay from its packaging, knead it so that it is smooth, soft and flexible like plasticine.
  • It is recommended to build the sculpture from clay from dividers and not from a massive block sculpture. It is recommended to work in small pieces, the parts stick together easily, to strengthen the wet with a little water.
  • It is possible to build a construction for a dry clay statue, which supports and strengthens the statue. Since a sculpture made of dry clay shrinks when it dries, care must be taken to place it inside the sculpture, so that it does not stick out during the drying process. For an explanation of animal sculpture made of dry clay with the help of construction » 
  • If you are interested in working on a large sculpture (above the size of a fist), it is recommended to make a skeleton out of aluminum foil and over glue the pieces of clay clay.
  • You can work on a piece of dry clay in stages with breaks. To do this, make sure to wet the statue and cover it with a damp cloth and a nylon top. Even dry clay after it has been removed from the package should be kept with a damp cloth and be sure to moisten it from time to time in a plastic or nylon storage box.
  • at the end of the work On a dry clay sculpture, the surface can be smoothed with a damp finger, damp cloth, sponge, etc.
  • As mentioned, unlike normal clay, dry clay that dries in the air does not need to be burned in a special oven and can be left as it dries. Since dry clay is sensitive to moisture, it is recommended to protect your creation with another method detailed below.
  • painting: The finished statue can be painted with water-based paints - Gouache וAcrylic. Gouache paints are more kid-friendly, wash off easily and are great for creating a hobby with air-drying clay. The acrylic paints, on the other hand, do not wash off after drying, so they are suitable for older ages. In terms of preserving the statue and strengthening its durability, it is recommended to use acrylic paints, which are actually ideal for DIY works in dry clay (and a variety of other materials).
  • Finishing and preservation: If the work is important to you and you want to preserve it for a long time, it is advisable to cover the first layer with acrylic paint mixed with plastic glue in a ratio of 1:1. Second layer to design and paint with acrylic paints. The third layer should be coated with different types of lacquer / varnish / sealer according to the need (for example - a pot made of dry clay that is intended to stand in the garden should be coated with a lacquer that will provide water resistance and allow efficient use of the pot you sculpted).

Watch a video demonstrating a giraffe sculpture with dry clay drying in the air 4:30

 

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