Discover published sets by community

Engobe is a clay slip that is applied to the surface of a form and fired. Sculptors use engobes to add color, texture, and visual depth as well as to alter the clay's natural color before applying glaze or other finishes.

Slip casting is a technique involving pouring liquid clay body (slip) into molds. Sculptors use slip casting to reproduce detailed forms consistently and to make hollow pieces.

Slab construction involves rolling out flat pieces of clay and joining them together to make objects. In sculpture, this can be used to create geometric shapes and to construct larger forms with flat surfaces.

Paddling is a technique used to shape clay by gently hitting it with a flat tool. This can help in creating flat panels or altering the texture of a sculpture without altering the thickness significantly.

Press molding involves pressing a slab of clay into a mold. This technique can be used to create repeatable shapes with precise detail, beneficial when form symmetry or uniformity is needed in a sculpture.

Coiling is a method of creating pottery by building up the walls with ropes of clay and smoothing them together. In ceramic sculpture, the technique can be used to build up complex forms and add texture.

Pinching involves creating forms by pressing and moving the clay between the fingers. This technique is often used for creating organic shapes and small details in ceramic sculpture.

Nerikomi is a decorative process of stacking and slicing colored clay to create patterns that run through a ceramic piece. Sculptural ceramics use this for complex pattern work which is revealed when the form is cut or carved.

Sprigging is the addition of small molded decorative elements to a work. Ceramic sculptors use this to add relief decorations which can enhance texture and detail.

Overglazing is the application of glaze on top of an already fired glaze surface. Sculptors use this technique to add additional colors or decorative elements without affecting the previously applied glaze layers.

Underglazing involves applying color to a piece before it’s glazed. In sculpture, underglazes are used to create designs that won’t blur or change in the final firing, preserving sharpness and detail.

Glaze effects encompass the variety of visual effects achieved by applying different glazes to a sculpture, such as gloss or matte finishes, speckling, crackling, or crystal growth. Sculptors utilize these for functional coating as well as visual enhancement.

Sgraffito is a technique in which a top layer of slip or underglaze is scratched away to reveal the clay body beneath. It's often used for making intricate line drawings or patterns on sculptures.

Burnishing is the process of polishing the surface of leather-hard clay with a stone or spoon to create a smooth, shiny surface. This technique is used to finish sculptures where a glossy texture without glaze is desired.

Incising involves carving narrow lines into the clay to create detailed patterns or textures. It’s often used in sculpture to define lines or borders and to add elaborate details.

Raku firing is a low-fire process involving removing pottery from the kiln while it’s red hot and placing it into materials like sawdust or paper to create distinctive surface effects. Ceramic sculptors use raku firing for its dramatic and unique textures and patterns.

Carving is a subtractive technique where material is removed from the clay body to create textures or forms. Sculptors can carve into leather-hard clay to produce intricate designs or shapes.

Agateware refers to a technique where different colored clays are mixed together to create marble-like patterns. It's used by sculptors for aesthetic purposes, to imitate the natural marbling of agate stone in their works.

Hollow building is forming sculptures with a hollow interior to reduce the weight and the risk of cracking during firing. This technique is critical for large scale or delicate ceramic sculptures.