CLAY TERMS
BUILDING METHODS:
PINCH- Shaping
clay by pressing it
between the thumb
and fingers.
COIL- Using clay
ropes to build thin,
hollow structures.
SLAB- Using thin,
rolled-out sheets of
clay to build a
structure
WHEEL THROWNForming clay vessels
on a large wheel that
turns.
VOCABULARY:
ARMATURE- A skeletal support underneath a sculpture. (balloon, wire, wadded up paper)
ATTACHMENT- One piece of clay added to another. (i.e.- an arm or a leg)
SCORING- “Scratching” the surface of clay before it is added to another piece of clay.
SLIP- Watery clay mixture (thickness of sour cream) used before an attachment is added.
WEDGING- Kneading the clay to remove air bubbles.
KILN- A large oven used to fire (harden) the clay. The temperature reaches over 2000 degrees!
STAGES OF CLAY:
1. PLASTIC- Wet, workable clay.
2. LEATHER HARD- Clay that is partially dry. Once clay is at this stage, no new clay can be
added to it. Wet clay will crack off partially dry clay.
3. BONE DRY- Clay that is completely dry & ready to be fired. MOST BREAKABLE STAGE.
4. BISQUEWARE- Clay that has been FIRED ONCE at a low temperature.
5. STONEWARE- Clay that has been FIRED TWICE after glaze was applied (over 1200 ).
THICKNESS OF CLAY: Clay should be 3/8 of an inch thick (a finger width).
o If it’s too thin, it will break.
o If it’s too thick, it will have air bubbles or water inside and it will EXPLODE!