The Paper Clay alternative that dosen't Rot!Mixing fiber into clay gives the clay many new and exciting properties. You can allow the clay to dry out and then make attachments, adding bone dry to bone dry. You can build sculptures that would be impossible with plain clay.
The Fiber in Fiber clay gives the clay many new and exciting properties. You can allow the clay to dry out and then make attachments, adding bone dry to bone dry. You can build sculptures that would be impossible with plain clay.
Yes some you fire, some you don't. There are low fire and cone 6 versions.Click here to see more.
One way to work with Sheepdog Fiberclay is to make an armature and stand out of the clay, let it dry completly, then, add feet, arms, torsos, necks, heads, hairpieses, blouses and all... Then fire to cone 04, decorate with Concepts or Stroke n Coats and fire to cone 06.
Joanie Wolter fiber clay teacher
Joanie Wolters teaches a sculpting method where using an armature made of metal rebar or tent nails you make a base and let it dry completly. Then add on everything to make a sculpture.
You cannot fire clay with a metal armature as the clay will shrink and the metal will not. The dry sculpture is painted with acrylic paints treated with a hardening agent.
Because these fibers cling to, rather than absorb, water they better promote the movement of the water through the mix. Fibers such as cellulose or "paper fibers" are actually less desirable because the water they absorb does not move any further; only once the individual fiber has absorbed all the water it can hold does the remaining water move on through the mix. This may be why Nylon has proven to be an acceptable choice for fibered clay; it is slightly absorbent, but not exceptionally so. Another point about the cellulose fibers is that they swell when wet. This means as the fibers dry, they will shrink and leave voids in the clay, creating weakness and the potential for cracking. On the other hand, nylon fibers will promote crack resistance and strengthen the mix.
1. Sheepdog Fiber Clay Low Fire white
fire to cone 04
2. Magic Clay fiber clay. Fire to Cone 6.
White porcelaneous.
3. Taxidermy Clay (no fire, sticks to armatures)