Using Paper Clay In Your Ceramics

Make your own paper clay you ll need clay slip and paper pulp.

Using paper clay in your ceramics.

Here is a simple procedure to help you learn how to use paper clay. You select the right paper without shiny coatings for example soak the paper in water then use a paint mixer to blend the mixture into pulp. Sound like a lot of work. Ceramic artist lisa merida paytes has found paper clay to be a great tool with which to build her ceramic sculptures.

Clay adheres to most surfaces with a dab or two of glue. You can cut this clay while still wet or when it has dried. Pour three handfuls of your. That s why you can also buy commercially pugged paper clay.

As a start you might add about 5 pulp by volume. But when it sits around it can get rather stinky. Then you wedge this paper pulp into your clay. If you re using paper fibers like newspaper or printer paper you will want to prevent mold from developing.

Paper clay is an ideal solution for building complex or delicate ceramic sculpture. Made by mixing any type of clay body earthenware stoneware raku or porcelain with paper pulp paper clay improves joining capabilities and decreases warping and shrinkage all the while reducing the heft of the work. Use a fine sanding paper or emery board to smooth clay edges once clay has dried. Generally you will need two gallons of recycled clay slip to make 10 to 15 pounds.

This makes it ideal for building complex or delicate ceramic sculpture. Paper clay improves joining capabilities and decreases warping and shrinkage all the while reducing the heft of the work. First wash your hands and make sure that the surface is clean. Use a wet fingertip to smooth rough edges while clay is still wet.