Clay Terms

7. a thinly rolled pancake of clay used to make base or walls of a form
10. a wooden tool with a curved or flat end which is used to blend coils and sculpt a form
14. method used to attach two pieces of clay together
16. can be pressed into a clay surface or sculpted and added to the surface
18. a slim, worm-like piece of clay which can be used to fill gaps or strengthen joints
19. stage where clay is stiff but flexible, it will crack if pushed too far
20. another name for the bone-dry stage of clay

1. a method where you carve away the surface or carve holes through the clay to create negative space
2. can be pulled, rolled, or carved and then added to a mug form
3. also called "alto relievo" is a more 3D relief style where you have to walk around the piece to see all sides of it
4. sometimes added to a cup (such as a tea cup), giving the vessel something to stand on
5. stage of clay that looks like mud and is used to "glue" two pieces of clay together
6. method of building a mug or bowl where you use your thumbs to press and shape the form
8. stage of clay after it has been fired in the kiln where the molecules have been fused together
9. stage where clay is most malleable, easy to twist and shape
11. the rim of the mug which should be smooth so that you can drink from it comfortably
12. also called "low relief" where sculptural elements come off the flat surface but all details can be seen when looking straight-on
13. the stage of clay where it has been fired twice, one bisque firing and a 2nd after glaze has been applied
15. clay must reach this stage before it can be fired, it's fragile like bones in a desert
17. the "oven" where clay is cooked