modeling clay
Pliable art medium
Modeling clay is a soft, pliable material used to sculpt shapes by hand.
Unlike ceramic clay, most modeling clay doesn't harden permanently—it stays workable or can be rebaked.
Children use it for crafts; artists use it for maquettes and prototypes: She roughed out the sculpture in modeling clay before committing to bronze.
Malleable children's craft material
- Play-DohBranded children's sculpting compound
- funAmusement or pleasure
- childrenYoung human beings
- toysObjects for amusement
colorful · messy · hands-on · squishing · rolling · cutting · molds · shapes
Yielding to touch
- pliableCapable of bending easily
- squishySoft and easily compressed
- kneadableAble to be worked
- malleableCapable of being shaped
flexible · smooth · firm · sticky · elastic · doughy · workable · moldable
Preliminary sculptural study
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
- figurineSmall ornamental sculpture
- bustFailure or sculpture
- reliefEasing of distress
form · casting · armature · artist · studio · fine-art · representation · abstract
playdough
Malleable children's craft material
toys · colorful · messy · hands-on · squishing · rolling · cutting · molds · shapes · extruder
soft
Yielding to touch
malleable · flexible · smooth · firm · sticky · elastic · doughy · workable · moldable · supple
maquette
Preliminary sculptural study
relief · form · casting · armature · artist · studio · fine-art · representation · abstract · realistic
sculpting
Shaping material into forms
- handbuildingShaping clay manually
- coilingLooping around repeatedly
- pinchingSqueezing tightly between fingers
shaping · molding · figurines · ornaments · beads · miniatures · armature · wire · tools · drying
learning
Gaining knowledge gradually
- classroomEducational instruction space
- projectsOrganized efforts toward goals
- lessonsUnits of teaching
anatomy · dioramas · science · geography · maps · volcanoes · cells · fossils · demonstration · therapeutic
- clay & ceramicsterracotta, porcelain, stoneware, earthenware, kaolin
- toysteddy bear, doll, dolls, stuffed animal, puzzles
- craft suppliesscissors, paper, tape, glue, paint
- sculpture materialsstone, wood, metal, bronze, marble
- gooey stuffslime, goo, goop, ooze, paste
- squishy thingsmarshmallow, stress ball, sponge, slime, Play-Doh