Design Resource
Clay Modelling
Hand Building Techniques
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Introduction
Hand building is generally the technique of building any form of material with clay by hand with simple tools that are made to that form for support. Lump of clay are made into coil shapes and coiled on the plank of the wooden surface. This technique of clay modelling is generally done with hand and with the minimum usage of tools. Clays are the inelastic earths that are formed by the result of the decomposing rocks with the particle size smaller. In wet conditions, clay forms a cohesive mass that retains its shape when molded to the required shapes which is referred to as its plasticity. Referring to the conditions like, when it is heated to higher temperature it partially melts becoming lighter and towards hard rock like substance.
The colors of the moist earthen clay are generally red, yellow, light grey, brown and orange varying as per it is collected with different locations available. Clays are referred to as plastic only because of the water content that is present in them which makes them hard, brittle on drying under shade and firing. Clay are also used as anti-diarrheal medicines in the prehistoric periods.
There are methods of clay hand building techniques such as Pinch pots, Coil method, Slab method where the clays materials can be made to any shapes and forms. The artisan of the Shilpakala Shale, Devanahalli is showing us the coil method of clay modelling techniques where there is requirement of the potter’s wheel in making of the items.
