After clay made with ClayShay has dried, you can carve any design, pattern or texture into the surface. A Dremel tool with a carving bit provides terrific control, making it easier to carve. Paint a board with gesso and build a small box out of cardboard around the edges. Pour a mix of ClayShay over the board to make a flat plaque for carving. To make your carvings really stand out, paint your plaque or figure, let it dry and then paint a glaze of a contrasting color over the basecoat, wiping off all the glaze except for what remains in the recesses of the carved areas.
BIRDY
Patricia Chapman
Slab of ClayShay, carved, painted with light glaze over dark paint.
STEP ONE: Tape together a box made of posterboard, and tape the box to a gessoed board.
STEP TWO: Mix ClayShay to a pourable consistency and pour over the gessoed board.
STEP THREE: Tap or shake to smooth the surface of the poured clay. Allow it to dry thoroughly (this usually takes 1–2 days). Remove the box by tearing the posterboard.
STEP FOUR: Sand the surface of the clay if desired.
STEP FIVE: Paint the clay with a dark-colored paint, then transfer a drawing onto the surface using carbon paper.
STEP SIX: Carve over the transferred lines using a Dremel tool or a sharp, metal-tipped wood or ceramics carving tool.