Clay body formation for ceramic and sculpture production

Abstract

Clay is a natural resource that can be found in almost every geographic region of the world. It is a medium that is profusely used by ceramists and sculptors. Its constituents and quality, however, vary from deposit to deposit. This variation is most noticeable in its plasticity and maturing temperature. Plasticity and the maturing temperature are very important elements of this medium in their application in ceramic and sculpture production. However, it is not in every clay body that these qualities may be found. The research burden, therefore, remains on how suitable plastic clay can be sourced for ceramic and sculpture production. This paper attempts to provide a solution to this problem by formulating clay-bodies that combine both qualities using locally-sourced materials and ingredients.