Choosing Clay for your sculpt is very important. When you work you will find some type of clay’s are dry and become harden soon this won’t allow you to sculpt smoothly. Always choose clay which suits your need. Clay should smooth, soft, not too much mellow etc. before choosing clay it is important know more about nature and types of clay’s. For clay modeling some basic clay are as fallow:
a. Ceramic clay: Ceramic clays are water-based substances made from clay minerals mixed with other raw materials. They are baked at high temperatures, in a process known as firing.
b. Oil-based clay: Oil-based clays are made from various combinations of oils, waxes, and clay minerals. Because the oils do not evaporate as does water, oil-based clays remain malleable even when left for long periods in dry environments. Articles made from oil-based clays are not fired.
c. Polymer clay: Polymer clay is materials that will thermoset, that is, harden permanently when baked at a low temperature. Despite being called "clay", it generally contains no clay minerals. Polymer clay hardens by curing at temperatures created in a typical home oven generally at 129 to 135 °C (265 to 275 °F) for 15 minutes per 6 mm (1/4") of thickness and does not significantly shrink or change texture during the process.
Polymer clay is sold in craft, hobby and art stores, and is used by artists, hobbyists and children. Polymer clay is also popular in animation since it allows static forms to be firm and not be deformed by things like fingerprints and toolmarks while modifying the scene. Leading brands of polymer clay include Fimo, Kato Polyclay, Sculpey & Madello.
d. Paper clay: Paper clays are cellulose based substances which air dry firm. The finished sculpture is extremely lightweight. There are two major groups of paper clay/paperclay users: those using paperclay as an unfired body and those using paperclay in the ceramic studio to make sculptural and functional studio pottery. Commercial air drying clay does not shrink noticeably when drying. This type of clay cracks more easily.
