How to Sculpt with Clay

Up until college I had never considered myself much of a visual artist. I have always loved to create things but nothing I ever drew or painted came out any good and I gave up art early in frustration with my mediocrity. In college however, my freshman roommate was something of a Renaissance man. I have always considered myself eclectic but he read books about everything, played guitar, played chess and was an easy going, cool guy-like Japhy Ryder from Dharma Bums. One of Jake's (for that was his name) many talents was clay sculpture. He has artworks that he had crafted meticulously strewn all over the room. They were curious creations of pink modeling color that he had not yet painted. One of his best works was a tiger lily, ornately produced with life-like petal, stamens and a long narrow stem. Linked around this gorgeous flora was a chain that Jake had forged link by link. It was quite a feat for a seventeen year old.

Jake invited me to play around with his clay, which at first did not much interest me. One day on the phone with a friend, however, I found myself mashing a wad of the stuff until it became soft and malleable. I rounded three small balls, each smaller than the next and mushed them together to create a rudimentary snow man. I thought it was adorable so I decided to add more detail. I made tiny balls that I gingerly affixed to his face and front making eyes, a mouth and buttons. Of course with a little careful maneuvering I attached a carrot nose, a tiny pipe and topped him off with a ten gallon hat. Unlike any crude cartoon artwork that I had ever attempted to draw, he came out very cute. I was hooked.