Most of us have fond childhood memories of getting gloriously dirty while playing in the mud. Well, it’s time to get your hands dirty again! This book will help you rediscover the joy of creating with clay and clay alternatives—most unexpected—and the vast variety of techniques unique to each.
In this book we delve into the possibilities of using traditional clay in nontraditional ways, and we have assembled a wide array of materials with clay-like properties that you can transform into anything from jewelry components to larger scale sculptures, or use as collage elements or textural backgrounds. This is the perfect way to add more “mix” to your mixed-media art.
Some of you may be asking, “What do plaster, resin, fiber paste and plastics have to do with clay?” It is our intention with this book to wander as far outside the traditional-clay box as we can. All of the mediums we explore have a couple of characteristics in common though. None of them need to be baked or fired in a kiln, and each of them transforms from a malleable substance to a solid form. Some act exactly like clay while others have adhesive qualities or metallic properties. We show you some ways to explore the different clay alternatives, but we leave it up to you to make them your own.
Since we are continually being asked how to cast objects, we explain different kinds of casting as well as hand-built and found-object armatures. Most of these techniques are incredibly easy and, of course, we will tell you which materials work best with the different casting and molding techniques presented.
Whether you are intrigued with the idea of adding surface texture to your painted canvas surfaces or constructing freestanding sculptures combining found objects and a variety of different mediums, you will find a boatload of inspiration here and plenty of new ideas, information and techniques to play with. We will introduce you to clay alternatives you may never have heard of and techniques and ways to use these mediums you may never have thought of.
Come clay with us—
Darlene & Patricia
EVERYTHING IS COMING UP ROSES
Patricia Chapman
Reference chapters: Resin Clay, Plaster of Paris & Plaster Gauze, 3-D Casting