Clay sculpture history

Clay sculpture is an ancient art form, which can be traced back to the Neolithic Age in 6000 BC. In China, clay sculpture is a traditional handicraft with a history of thousands of years. It was once the most popular folk art form in China, and was widely used in the fields of architecture, sculpture and ceramics. The history of clay sculpture can be divided into the following periods:

Ancient clay sculpture

China ancient clay sculpture art first appeared in Shang Dynasty. Clay sculptures in Shang Dynasty were mainly used for sacrificial activities, such as offering sacrifices to ancestors and gods. These clay sculptures have different shapes, some are people, some are animals, and some are utensils. These clay sculptures have strong characteristics of the times and artistic style, and are an important part of China clay sculpture art.

Medieval clay sculpture

In the Middle Ages, clay sculpture art was further developed. The Tang Dynasty is the golden age of clay sculpture art in China, and the clay sculpture works in the Tang Dynasty have superb skills and exquisite craftsmanship. Among them, Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang and Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang are the most famous. These clay sculptures are not only the representative works of China clay sculpture art, but also the treasures in the world cultural heritage.

Modern clay sculpture

Modern clay sculpture art is developed on the basis of traditional clay sculpture art in China. At the beginning of the 20th century, with the modernization of China, clay sculpture art gradually lost its market and position. However, in some places, clay sculpture art still maintains its tradition, such as Sichuan and Yunnan. The clay sculpture works in these places have strong national characteristics and local customs, and are an important part of China's clay sculpture art.

Modern clay sculpture

With the development of science and technology and the change of people's aesthetic concept, clay sculpture art is constantly innovating and developing. Modern clay sculpture works not only have the characteristics of traditional clay sculpture, but also incorporate the elements of modern art, with diverse forms and unique styles. Modern clay sculpture works are not only works of art, but also decorations, which are widely used in architecture, home, gifts and other fields.

The making process of clay sculpture

The production process of clay sculpture needs to go through the following steps:

Preparatory work/about to start work

First of all, you need to prepare the necessary tools and materials, including mud, water, knives, molds, brushes and so on. The choice of soil is very important. Generally, clay with certain viscosity and plasticity is selected.

systems modelling

Knead the soil into a ball and press it into the desired shape by hand. You can also use a mold to put the soil into the mold and press it into the required shape. In the process of modeling, we need to pay attention to proportion and details to make the work more realistic.

incise

After the clay sculpture is completed, it needs to be carved. Carve details and lines on the clay surface with a knife and brush. This process requires great care and patience to avoid damaging the clay structure.

air-dry

After the clay sculpture is made, it needs to be dried for a period of time to make the soil fully dry. Drying time depends on the size and thickness of clay sculpture, which usually takes several days to several weeks.

colour

Clay sculptures can be colored after drying. Colour the clay surface with pigments and brushes. The process of coloring needs to pay attention to color matching and layering to make the work more vivid.