CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Clayshay

CUKOO BIRD

Patricia Chapman

ClayShay over mask form, painted, with found objects added.

All it takes is a little added water and your own wild imagination to make magic with this stellar powdered clay/paper mache hybrid. Mixed to a thin, slip-like consistency, ClayShay can be used as a casting medium with either press molds or three-dimensional block molds. ClayShay slip can also be used to coat fabric or objects, and voilà—you have turned those objects into a solidified clay piece! Mix slightly thicker than slip consistency to create stencilled reliefs. Mixed to a thick, frosting-like consistency, it can be smoothed over foam, foil or cardboard armatures. Mixed to a very thick, claylike density, it is a wonderful modeling medium.

All this versatility and ClayShay is also nontoxic, has zero-percent shrinkage, is lightweight, durable, easy to clean up, has a crazy-long shelf life, and can be carved, filed, sanded or painted after setting.

MATERIALS USED IN THIS CHAPTER:

• acrylic paints
• brushes
• ClayShay
• craft or utility knife
• drawing and carbon paper
• Dremel tool with carving bits (or wood carving tools)
• found objects
• gessoed board
• glue
• mask form, paper mache
• metal leaf
• plastic wrap
• posterboard and tape
• sand paper (optional)
• small balloons
• spatula or modeling tool
• twist tie or string

Mixing Tips

• To mix ClayShay to a thin slip consistency for casting or dipping fabrics or objects, use approximately 1 part water to 2 parts ClayShay.
• To mix to a medium-thick consistency for smoothing over armatures, use 1 part water to 4 parts ClayShay.
• For an extra-thick consistency for modeling, use 1 part water to 5 parts ClayShay.

You can vary these ratios according to your own preferences and the atmospheric conditions where you live.