Clay is a soft material that feels cool on an artist's hands, and often leads to relaxation and feeling calm. Six stages of development are experienced when an artist uses clay, and they are described here, as this artist displays his collected skills from all six.
The Exploratory stage focuses on the quality of the clay- what it feels like and what it can do. The artist here is pushing, pounding, smoothing and pushing the clay to explore its malleability.
The artist is engaging in the Shape stage here, by rolling the clay into balls or cutting in into shapes. He is then lumping them together and experimenting with how they look stacked. This experimentation with shaping and putting those shapes together leads to the next stage of design.
The Design stage is shown here, as the artist determines exactly what to do with the balls and coils of clay that he has created. He has decided to make a cave/garage and ramp for his cars.
The artist refines and strengthens his idea during the Simple Representation Stage. Figuring out the basic form for his piece is an important step, which will lead to the next stage of more specific building methods.
During the Detailed Representation Stage, the artist uses appropriate tools and works more with more focus to make his creation look real. Creating the actual form of the garage by scoring and adding slip to the clay pieces, he recalls techniques that he has learned, which allow his artwork to become more sturdy and functional. His concentration allows him to assess whether or not the garage/ramp will actually be durable and stay together when fired in the kiln.
At the Decoration Stage, the artist adds details and texture to the surface, making it more personal. He can use tools, but chooses to use hands, which allow a more direct experience with the clay. After the first firing of the piece, the artist can add color by glazing it and having it fired again.
It is a process that requires patience and persistence, but also a pleasing product!
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