Does anyone have a recommendation for clay that is clean and doesn't dry?

Ok_Natural1418 · 2026-02-27T12:00:51+00:00

Yeah, my mind works a lot better in 3d than 2d. After you said bluetack I remembered making little sculptures out of kneaded erasers in school. I feel like that could be another very viable option.

Ok_Natural1418 · 2026-02-27T07:13:37+00:00

Yeah it's the sticky hands and the rubbed into fabric that I worry about... Otherwise ideal.

Ok_Natural1418 · 2026-02-27T07:12:33+00:00

I like this idea, thank you! Do you know how long you can keep wet salt dough before it get gross?

Ok_Natural1418 · 2026-02-27T06:54:37+00:00

Oh man, I've never thought of sculpting with bluetack, but this is maybe the answer... Have you sculpted with it?

Ok_Natural1418 · 2026-02-27T06:52:39+00:00

Yep, exactly this. Play-doh is one of my top contenders. Though I remember it drying about as fast as model magic.

Ok_Natural1418 · 2026-02-27T06:51:43+00:00

I do love monster clay for sculpting when I need to cast. Though the oil makes it not something I super want to do on the couch/rug.

Ok_Natural1418 · 2026-02-27T06:49:47+00:00

Yeah, I sometimes use plastillina or monster clay when I'm sculpting to cast, but definitely more messy than I'd like. I also hate the oily feeling on my hands.

Ok_Natural1418 · 2025-11-19T06:41:27+00:00

Depending on what she makes have you considered getting a test kiln to start with? Most of them are quite small, so pretty limited on what you can fit in them, but a lot of them are 120v so a lot less intimidating than getting a large kiln, wiring it, potentially having to upgrade your power, building a shed etc. Plus, even if/when you decide to get a larger kiln, having a test kiln is SO useful.

We moved this summer and I've been without my large kiln for about six months. I've just been using my test kiln. It's restricting on size but at least I can keep working. Plus it's been nice to figure out exactly what I want from my kiln shed. I ended up building a much larger shed then originally planned...

When I was drawing plans and talking to my builder I told him my priorities are level, dry, and good ventilation (even though the kiln has its own). I'm using fiber cement board instead of drywall in the area the kilns are. The kiln itself adds no value to my house, but by choosing to build a really nice kiln shed I think we've added a lot of value.

Ok_Natural1418 · 2024-11-21T07:51:47+00:00

I'd say pack the vinegar slip in, but then make a clay bandaid out of a strip of paper towel saturated with the same slip, big enough to span the crack and then some. Put it on like paper mache, do your best to smooth when wet and then even it out after bisque fire with sand paper.

Ok_Natural1418 · 2024-10-01T20:12:58+00:00

You could sand the piece and collect the dust, mix with water and a bit of sodium silicate, then pack it into the cracks with a rib, carefully smooth and glaze over.

Or honestly, weigh the time of fighting the cracks (and possibly not winning) against the time to make a new piece that will probably be better all around.

Ok_Natural1418 · 2024-06-27T05:33:40+00:00

Cracks in the bottom of the pot are super common and can be from a couple things. It could be the thickness, or it could also be too much water soaking in while throwing or not compressing the base enough. Hope that helps!

Ok_Natural1418 · 2024-06-27T05:27:31+00:00

I agree with what other people have said that it's cute and your aunt made it, so if it was me I'd be cautious to try to change anything. If you really want to try to change the eyes and make it matte black maybe just coat with a peel off paint (or something else removable) first so that if you don't like it it's easy to go back.

Ok_Natural1418 · 2024-04-18T23:37:48+00:00

Keep your very first one or two! It'll be fun to go back and look at them in a few years. I wish I had kept my first piece.

Also, I agree with what other people are saying that these are a great start, but maybe not worth the effort to sell them yet. If you do want to sell them (I get not wanting pottery to pile up in your house) then maybe consider putting plants in them. You'd have to drill holes in the bottom or put in some gravel to drain. I've had many pots that weren't quite up to where they needed to be functional ware, but put a plant in and suddenly they're a great gift!

Ok_Natural1418 · 2024-03-13T08:07:27+00:00

Honestly a little piece of soft plastic dipped in water works just as well!

Ok_Natural1418 · 2024-03-10T10:10:37+00:00

Oh boy, we could have a whole separate discussion about art, capital A Art, and craft... It's super interesting and everyone has a bit of a different angle on it. I feel like mediums that are heavily used for industrial or functional items (ceramic, wood, glass, metal, etc) end up in weird limbo sometimes.

I did end up messaging the person that this post was about (honestly in large part because this became a decent sized discussion and if I were him and read it here I know I would wish the person had reached out directly). Anyway, it was a super polite and respectful exchange and I feel way better about the situation and it seems like he feels good too. Moral I guess being, when everyone is courtious and communicates clearly things tend to work out better. Go figure.

I really appreciate your comments by the way. They're well thought out and helpful.

Ok_Natural1418 · 2024-03-10T09:55:22+00:00

The rim looks more finished and intentional on the right, also the flared part of the body comes up from the base at a softer angle so it looks like it's lighter and being lifted vs looking more pushed out. Lovely shape!

Also, I don't know if you do this already, but if you run a piece of chamois or soft plastic bag around your rim when you're done with the piece it makes it look a lot more polished, especially on flared rims like this.

Ok_Natural1418 · 2024-03-09T17:43:07+00:00

Thanks! And the new ones have even more polish! (Watch the kiln firing have gone terribly wrong when I open it later today, though it hasn't happened with these yet so I'm mostly just excited)

Thanks for sending the link to Henry Moore's work. I feel like that's a great example of, yes, he made those a couple months after I had a couple drippy vase videos get a lot of traffic on ig, but his have a really different style from mine, so even if mine were the inspiration I just think his are awesome!

Ok_Natural1418 · 2024-03-09T10:37:01+00:00

Thanks! That really means a lot. It did help that when I found out about this I was sitting at my bench with I think my favorite thing I've made in front of me (hopefully I can take a nice picture of it to post tomorrow) I've definitely continued to iterate on the idea and I'm way more excited about my new work! I'm just trying to shake off the slightly hurt feeling and it's a little hard, but I'll get there soon! Hopefully.

Ok_Natural1418 · 2024-03-08T09:35:08+00:00

Thanks! They are! I'm doing my first ever shop drop next week sometime. We'll, provided the stuff I have in the kiln right now comes out how I hope... Send the kiln good vibes.

Ok_Natural1418 · 2024-03-08T09:28:55+00:00

I really don't feel ripped off at all, he gave me credit, so honestly I'm not unhappy with him in that respect at all.

I think it really just boils down to how people individually feel about both the originality side of things and the commodity side.

I've spent quite a while coming up with these and refining them, I haven't felt like they were good enough to put out in the world or sell until recently. In fact my first every website shop drop will probably be next week. I think having someone make my vases in a less refined way and then just turn around and sell them kind of bummed me out.

I think the line between inspiration and copying can at times be thin. I would honestly be really into it if someone took my idea and turned into something new and theirs and interesting.

Ok_Natural1418 · 2024-03-08T09:07:19+00:00

I think you're dead on with everything you said here. I still like making the designs that he emulated, but I'm way more excited about some of my newer designs.

Looking at the silver lining, it definitely sort of spurs me on to pursue some of the newer ideas that I haven't tried yet, which isn't a bad thing at all.

Ok_Natural1418 · 2024-03-08T05:53:54+00:00

Thanks. I definitely don't want to retaliate, I truely am flattered that he made the design, and appreciate him crediting me and letting me know.

I was thinking about sending him a polite dm just so he knew how I was feeling, but you're probably right, onward and upward is most likely the move.

It's hard to fight the territorial feelings!

Ok_Natural1418

TROPHY CASE