FAQFORMING BRONZclay™ Login

FORMING BRONZclay™

Using simple tools and your own talented fingers, roll, press, form and sculpt BRONZclay™ into any desired shape. Clay elements can be added, removed and refined as you go, making this
a spontaneous and highly creative process.

SUGGESTED HAND TOOLS

One of the best things about BRONZclay™? You can find tools to work the clay just about anywhere—around the house, in the studio or shop, the kitchen, the office, the toy box and the great outdoors. In fact, you'll find yourself always on the look-out for everyday objects that can become the next great tool for enhancing your designs.

Basic Tools

Sheets of plastic or glass make terrific and portable work surfaces. Use mylar sheets, page dividers or plastic signs. Most artists start with the tools below; many are available at riogrande.com.

 

Specialty Tools

As your interest grows, you'll find yourself adding tools to your collection. In addition to your own discoveries, you might find these useful (many are available at riogrande.com):

• water dish with sponge
• paintbrush
• plastic rolling tube
• drinking straws
• rubber-tipped shaping
tool

• playing cards (spacers)
• needle
• knife
• ruler
• toothpicks
• nail brush

 

 

• magnifiers
• stiff flat brush
• rubber stamps
• texture plates
• plastic design templates
• patina solution
• small chisels
• files
• tweezers
• tissue blade
• emery boards
• potter's wheel

BASIC FORMING TECHNIQUES

BASIC FORMING TECHNIQUES

    • Rub a few drops of olive oil on your palms and tools before starting to keep them from sticking to the clay and to keep the clay moist.
    • To make sheets, use a roller and stir sticks or two equal stacks of playing cards on each side of the lump to make a uniform thickness (thicknesses of 3-6 cards are typical for jewelry items).
    • A knife, X-Acto® blade or playing card edge can be used to lift the pieces off the sheet.
    • To join parts, set them close together and apply a drop of water and slip with a pointed brush. Let the water penetrate for a few seconds, then firmly press the parts together and hold them in place for several seconds.
    • To achieve textures, press the BRONZclay™ against a rough surface or roll the surface over a sheet of BRONZclay. Even simple objects such as bottle caps create interesting trails, and leaves, bark and wood offer many possibilities.
    • One way to make a pendant bail is to roll out a slender rod and form it into a loop. Cut off the ends to make a solid attachment, moisten with water and press it into position.
    • To make rings, wrap enough wide tape around a dowel to create a form of the correct size (remember to allow roughly 20% for shrinkage). Cover the form with plastic wrap and create your ring. When it is finished (and preferably before the clay dries), slide the ring off.

    Note: If the BRONZclay™ becomes dry as you work, spray or brush on a little water (not too much!) and cover it with plastic wrap for a few minutes to allow it to rehydrate. If you add too much water, just set the clay aside, loosely wrapped, and allow it to dry out.q