Crafts Crazy

Sculpture 101

Posted in General Crafting | January 12th, 2012

The art of sculpting takes many forms, including the use of hard materials like marble, and more pliable materials like clay. The latter is my personal preference as it can be molded and changed with ease, especially with a little water and a dollop of patience. Here’s a look at sculpting when you’re ready to engage your hands in a new art form.

The tools

I like using a variety of tools when sculpting, including household items like paper clips for creating fine detail, paintbrushes to change texture, and plasticware to manipulate the medium. Plastic knives are great for cutting, spoons smooth surfaces, and forks make precise, decorative holes. There are also plenty of sculpting toolkits available at craft stores that help with shaping and smoothing clay. Since tools can get messy, I like using tool boxes to keep everything together and prevent clay from getting on other projects I’m working on. I have used Sculpey and air-dry clay, which are both available at craft stores for a nominal cost. The bonus of using a product like Sculpey is that it comes in a variety of colors. It makes good practice for experimenting with color before going to a pottery studio and glazing bisque.

The process

Sculpting should always be fun. While it can frustrating when something I’m creating doesn’t come out the exact way I want it to, I should always remember that there is magic in the process of creating. (Stay with me.) Angels aren’t going to sing as I’m crafting a project but engaging my brain in creative activity is fun, relaxing, and a great alternative to getting lost in front of Netflix for hours. I find that keeping projects on an easy-to-handle scale helps me from getting overwhelmed, especially since I don’t always easily claim the label of artist. Always take your time when learning a new craft. The project you’re trying to create is in you; it just might take a minute to find it.

Project ideas

One of my favorite and simple projects is making clay flowers. I generally roll out a short length of green clay and coil it until it looks like a sleeping snake. Form petals by hand (using a sharp tool to cut out precise shapes) or smooth a single piece of clay into a shape reminiscent of a sunny-side-up egg. Set the flower shape on the base and connect the pieces gently with a smoothing tool. If using Sculpey, you can bake the flowers in the oven for a short time on low heat (keeping in mind that your colors will change slightly). The finished product is generally just a few inches tall, making the craft perfect for decorating mantels or cheering up a desk at work.

Again, be patient when you’re creating. The project you’re working on does not need to become The Next Big Thing at the Louvre… but it just might.

Danielle, who blogs on behalf of Sears and other prestigious brands, enjoys crocheting and is signed up for ceramics and glassblowing classes at her local art center.