Saturday, November 27, 2010

Tips on clay

I decided to just give some tips about clay. Just in case any of you wanted to know. ;) I'm no expert on it, but I hope to take a class in it next year!

1.) The most important thing to know is that clay is a very temperamental element. Do one thing wrong and everything can blow up in your face. That's why each of these tips are VERY important.

2.) The first thing you need to do with your clay is what is called 'wedging'. You take the amount of clay you want to use, and throw it (not too hard or it will get cracks) on a surface into a cube shape repeatedly. This gets rid of any air bubbles. I recommend doing this for at least 5- maybe not even 10 minutes. But if you feel like there are still air bubbles in the clay, keep wedging. If there is even the smallest air bubble in the clay, it will explode when it is firing.

3.) Scoring and slipping. If you have two pieces you want to attach (ex. Girnio's tail to his body) then you do what is called scoring and slipping. Scoring means you take a sharp tool and slash small lines on the areas you are going to connect. Slipping is the 'glue'. Basically it is liquid clay - clay mixed with a lot of water. You dab your finger in the slip and apply it to the scored areas, then attach them. This is to ensure that they will stick together. Then take a flat-edged tool and smooth the attached pieces to make it look like it's one thing.

4.) Usually you'll need to hollow out your sculpture. Once you are done, take your piece and hollow out the bottom. I really don't know why, but it is essential! All of my pieces (spare Ginny and Girnio's book, because they're small enough to get away with) are hollowed out on the bottom.

And that's about all I remember. If you ever want to do this at home, find somebody with some knowledge close to you.


Alright, I want to bring up a safety issue. Scezzle, this is for you. I don't want to mom anyone, but this is a really serious topic to me.

Never, under any circumstance, not even if you have been blogging for YEARS, give any personal information about yourself. It's very dangerous. You know why? You never really know the true face behind someone's profile. Now, I'm not saying I don't trust any of you! No, I really do, and that's why I'm still blogging. But I am not comfortable handing out my personal information because in the wrong hands my life as it is would be risked. I won't go into details about it, but some creepers take advantage of the blogging world. Just please, don't go sharing any personal information. I don't need it, and bad people do.

Scezzle, as of now I don't think giving your age would harm you, but just be warned that giving information about yourself is as dangerous as playing with a forest fire.

Thanks for reading,
~Icewolf

10 comments:

Icewolf said...

Scezzle, even talk to your mom about it, I'm sure she'll understand.

Golden Eagle said...

I've taken pottery classes in the past; I remember wedging, but we never got around to scoring and slipping. It wasn't that advanced, although I loved the stuff we were making.

I've given out my age in the past--I don't see any problem with that, since there are plenty of people my age in the world. :P But locations, no, and definitely not names.

Icewolf said...

Well, I don't think there's much harm in saying your age, but it's not something I personally want to give out.

Megs said...

Um, Hello? I've gotten half hour lectures on computer safety, I know what I'm doing. And I'd NEVER give out my last name. Hey, I might be looser than you, but I'm not stupid when it comes to computer safety.
P.S. I've talked to my mom about computer safety since I was like, 6.
SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME!

Megs said...

Some times I'm like, "That was me?"
Sorry, totally random.

Megs said...

So great, you know my first name. Don't worry, I'm not some wanted serial killer. ;)

The reason I comment so much:
- It's fun.
- It's tempting.
- I love it.
- I post, then relize I forgot to say some thing.
- I have lots of time to do stuff.
- I could think of a few more things too.

Megs said...

Yet another comment. Different subject.

I have tonnes of 'Sculpey' clay from Christmas last year. Ever used 'Sculpey'? I've used it before in an armature class. (Armature: You make a wire and foil (Tape too) frame and cover it with clay.) I made some things at home before too. A dog, pretend cookies, doughnut, and chocolate bar, and a bendy dog. Yes bendy, one of the packs of clay, when you baked it, it was bendy. At, least, it was supposed to be. I think we did some thing wrong. It bent a little, but not as much as it was supposed to.
the good thing about 'Sculpey', is that you don't need to do all the extra work, no wedging, scoring, or slipping. And it doesn't dry out, you have to bake it to make it harden.
I've also used a clay some thing like yours in an art class that I went to years ago. And my mom bought some thing like that too.
whew! long comment. (look up ^ )

Megs said...

By the way,
It's to late.
YOU'VE MOMMED ME!

Icewolf said...

Sorry! *bows in shame and more shame* Just wanna make sure you know! Don't want to see anyone hurt, you know? Don't worry, I won't worry anymores! :D

Megs said...

Wat ever.