Introduction

I learned these techniques as well as others from two very good books on the subject of sculpting with water base clay. They are Terracotta by Bruno Lucchesi and Margit Malmstrom and Modeling A Likeness In Clay by Daisy Grubbs. I've developed a few techniques and tricks that work better for me, but the basics are the same. After all, there are only so many ways to hollow out a sculpture!

- Frank Moran

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Terracotta By: Bruno Lucchesi, Margit Malmstrom Paperback, 1996 Watson-Guptill Publications ISBN: 0823053210 Price: 15.96, Buy Now!	Modeling a Likeness in Clay By: Daisy Grubbs Hardcover, 1982 Watson-Guptill Publications ISBN: 0823030946 Price: 15.96, Buy Now!

Step 1/15:

This sculpture is a study of the head and neck muscles, but the size and shape are the same as for a portrait. It is mounted on an armature and must be removed and hollowed out for firing. All the sculpting should be finished except for the surface embellishment.

The sculpture is allowed to dry until it is leather hard, which is as soon as you can press firmly against the clay and not leave a fingerprint.

Step 2/15:

These are the tools I use which include, from top to bottom and left to right, a bag of wet clay, spray bottle with water, clay slip, wire tool for slicing the clay, 4 loop tools, a fork, paint brush and awl.

I also use sawhorses, sand bags, and plastic bags.

Step 3/15:

The bag of clay is supporting the back of the sculpture while the wire tool slices from bottom to top along the armature. If this sculpture had ears I would go behind them while avoiding making where the base of the skull meets the neck too thin.