Clay Sculpting - Making China Figurines
Clay sculpting is the process that starts the process of fine china moving forward to a beautiful collectible item. Many collectors and enthusiasts are curious about this process and want to have an insider's insight into this world of ceramic sculpture.
This page is a huge hub for all you were ever curious about.
The details of clay sculpting shown in this section may be of interest to collectors as well as a reference point for those wanting to develop their own clay art.
Making pieces for bone china slip-casting production requires an exacting type of modeling, the roots of which goes back a few hundred years.
The pages here explain my knowledge and interpretations of this time-honoured art-form.
I hope you enjoy reading about the processes. There are 16 pages of the various time-honoured techniques in this section. This is the hub-page leading to all of them and below is a useful key to help navigate through the information.
Clay Sculpting Tutorial Topics Covered
- What They Don't Teach You At Sculpting School
Preparation (Grunt Work)
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Ideas:- The value of an idea lies only in the using of it ....more
Research:- Research taps the undiscovered knowledge inside you ....more
Posture:- Good posture reflects a good state of mind ....more
The War of Art:- Self-doubt is a gauge of the strength your creative impulse ....more
Tools & Clay
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Clay Brands:- Do not descend into miry clay, without knowing how to find your way ....more
Homemade Clay:- Happiness is homemade cold porcelain - non-fire, non-expensive and beautiful ....more
Basic Tools:- Basic sculpting tools together with their unwritten rules ....more
Master Tools:- Knowing about master tools will take you to a place of refinement and taste ....more
Clay Sculpting
The Essentials:- The essentials of sculpture technique ....more
Start to Finish:- A clay model shown from start to finish ....more
Fine Detailing:- Putting fine detail on a ceramic sculpture ....more
Sculpt Faces:- How to sculpt faces in clay ....more
Work in Parts:- Building your model in easy sections ....more
Firing Hollow:- How to hollow out a clay sculpture for firing ....more
Armatures:- The inside information on armatures ....more
FAQs:- Post your questions or your work online ....more
The Journey from Clay to China: My Life as a Master Sculptor
When people see a beautiful Royal Worcester, Coalport or Doulton figurine, they rarely think about the journey that brought it there. Allow me take you behind the scenes of the world I have been lucky enough to have inhabited for decades. It is a fascinating process of creating master sculptures for Britain's most prestigious china companies.
The Birth of an Idea
It all begins with a spark – sometimes a character from literature, a beautiful dancer, or perhaps a moment in history that captures my imagination. Working closely with the art directors at companies like Royal Doulton and Royal Worcester, we'll discuss the vision, the market, and what will resonate with collectors worldwide. These conversations often happen over countless cups of tea, naturally.
Sculpting the Master
In my studio, surrounded by tools that would be familiar to sculptors from centuries past, I begin with a simple block of clay. This isn't just any clay – it's a specially prepared modelling clay that holds fine detail beautifully. Every fold of fabric, every curl of hair, every subtle expression must be perfect because this original sculpture, my "master," will be the template for potentially thousands of pieces.
The process is meditative yet demanding. I might spend weeks on a single figurine, building up layers, refining features, and ensuring that every angle tells the story I want to convey. The clay must be kept at just the right moisture level – too dry and it cracks, too wet and it won't hold the intricate details that make these pieces special.From Master to Mould
Once I'm satisfied with my master sculpture, it embarks on a journey I've witnessed hundreds of times but still find magical. The skilled mould-makers at the factory carefully study every curve and undercut. They create what we call a "case mould" – essentially a negative impression of my work, usually made in several interlocking sections to capture all those fiddly bits like outstretched arms or flowing skirts.
My original master, having served its purpose, typically remains in the factory's archives. Some masters I've created decades ago still sit on shelves, silent witnesses to the thousands of their offspring that have graced homes around the world. It's rather like being a proud grandfather to an enormous family you'll never meet.
The Alchemy of Slip Casting
Here's where the real magic happens, and frankly, it never gets old watching this ancient craft in action. The skilled craftspeople pour liquid clay – what we call "slip" – into those moulds I mentioned. This slip is like a perfectly balanced recipe: the right clay, the right water content, the right consistency. Too thick and it won't capture the fine details; too thin and the walls will be fragile.
The slip sits in the mould just long enough for the plaster to draw out moisture from the edges, forming the walls of the piece. Timing is everything – leave it too long and the piece becomes thick and clumsy; too short and it won't have the strength to survive. When the moment is right, the excess slip is poured away, leaving behind a perfect hollow replica of my original sculpture.
The Finishing Touch
After careful drying and the initial firing, my sculpture is ready for the decorators' artistry. These skilled painters bring colour and life to what I created in clay, following traditional techniques passed down through generations. Each piece is hand-painted, making every figurine slightly unique – rather like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike.
The Legacy Lives On
What strikes me most about this process is how it connects past and present. The techniques I use today would be recognisable to sculptors from the 18th century, yet each piece carries contemporary relevance. When I see one of my figurines in someone's home, carefully displayed and obviously cherished, I'm reminded why I fell in love with this craft in the first place.
Every master sculpture I create is a small act of faith – faith that somewhere, someone will connect with the story I've tried to tell in clay. In our digital age, there's something wonderfully reassuring about this ancient dance between sculptor, craftsperson, and collector. Long may it continue.
Local Classes
For those wanting to have a go at developing their ceramic modeling skills and need some information about local classes near to them.
I have developed a page to help with this task ....more
About This Clay Sculpting Section
As explained in the intro, this section of the site, is for people to get some insights into an interesting old craft. When I say 'craft', maybe I mean 'applied art'. Maybe I even mean 'art'.
Sometimes, with my type of work, it's hard to know the difference - especially for me.
Anyhow, whatever I am (artist, craftsman, commercial artist or artisan), is not as important as what you are - collector, a sculptor, a historian, a random surfer.
Most bone china production has moved abroad, and future generations probably won't know or care about the English bone china tradition (dating back to 1799). The inventor (Spode) went into administration in 2008/9, as did Royal Worcester, Coalport, Royal Doulton and The Wedgwood Group.
For me, it's an industry of note and one worth writing about. It has been a pleasure to be associated with it for two decades.
I hope you enjoy this section.....
If you are thinking about trying sculpting, I hope I help you find your creative touch.
If you are a collector, I hope you enjoy the insights, and thanks for collecting.
Most Popular Pages
If
you are wanting tutorials on how to sculpt, the 'Start to Finish'
article which shows a clay model being made from start to finish, is a
must ...more
The page on faces, gives people a leg up on a difficult skill ....more
The section on cold porcelain (something I know not a lot about) just got a life of it's own (thanks to site visitors taking over) and is one of the most Googled pages on the subject now ....more
There are 16 different pages in this section in all. This is the hub page leading to all of them.
Please feel free to bookmark and browse and give me any feedback you think fit, especially about how easy (or otherwise) it is to navigate and find your way through.
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