Clay Made Simple

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Wedging & Shaping

Some people make their own clay, which is very easy but requires access to the right kind of soil. Beginners should probably start with a supply of the store-bought variety. If you have trouble finding some, any hobby shop or pottery store will be able to direct you to a source.

Once you have a small supply on hand, you'll need to "wedge" your clay to get rid of any air bubbles. If you're using scraps of clay, take two huge handfuls of moist clay and clump them together. If you're starting with a block of wet clay, place your fishing line about 3/4" from the top of the block and, holding washers, pull the line horizontally toward you, creating a perfect slab.

To wedge, begin kneading the ball of clay on a clean surface by pushing the heap down and away from you with the heels of your palms. This motion should be a gentle twist. Continue to turn the pile and wedge for approximately five minutes. Do not fold the pile directly over itself, as you would kneading bread, or you will defeat the process by creating air pockets.

Place the wedged clay on the canvas and roll it out with a rolling pin until it is approximately 1/4"-inch thick. Then cut a giant slab(s) into a 10" x 10" square. The texture of your clay should be almost leather hard. If it's too soft, let your slab sit for a half hour or so. It's ready when you can stand the slab on its side and it remains stiff.

Next, use a paring knife to cut a rectangle out of your slab, making sure all of the edges are straight. Do not throw out the scraps; move them out of the way. Then roll your slab into a cylinder form so that the two side edges overlap each other by approximately 1/2" to 1". To join the two sides, stand the cylinder on its base, take your knife and place it at the top of the inner edge (previously the upper left-hand corner of your rectangle). Cut a straight, diagonal line through the slab so that your knife ends up at the bottom of your outside overlap (previously the bottom right-hand corner of the rectangle). Remove the excess scrap and then join the two new edges by lightly pinching them together and smoothing out the seam with your finger. Smooth the inside seam, using the wooden molding tool for better reach.

For the Base

Set the cylinder on top of one of the pieces of slab you've cut away and cut around the circular base, through the scrap, with a knife. Remove the scraps, and pick up your new base. Now you must score the pieces together. Using a fork, scratch lines along the outside circle of your base. Do the same for the bottom of your cylinder, and then dip the bottom into a bucket of water. When you join the cylinder with the base, the scratches will strengthen their attachment. Smooth the outside seam with your finger and the metal rib until you can no longer see it. Then gently roll the whole cylinder along the canvas to get rid of any markings.

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