Do you know how landscape sculptures are made?

1. Preparation and processing of clay involves removing impurities directly from the underground clay. It is manually pounded and refined using wooden mallets and sticks. If conditions permit, a clay pounding machine can be used for processing. If the clay is too wet, it should be placed in a ventilated indoor area to dry to a suitable humidity level. If the clay is too dry, it should be crushed and placed in a container, then soaked with an appropriate amount of water before being pounded and refined. Finally, the clay should be made to achieve a moderate hardness and not stick to the hands. The processed clay blocks should be placed in a jar or other container, covered with a wet cloth or plastic cloth to maintain a certain humidity level, and stored for later use.

II. Building the Internal Skeleton The commonly used materials for building the skeleton include wood, planks, wire, steel bars, and iron nails. The skeleton of clay sculpture, like the human skeleton, plays a role in supporting and connecting. It is the basic condition of clay sculpture and cannot be ignored. When building the skeleton, it is important to note: a. The skeleton should be sturdy to ensure the stability of the clay sculpture, so that it does not tilt or collapse after being coated with clay; b. After stacking the clay, it should be made to neither fall off nor expose the skeleton; c. It should reflect the general shape of the sculpture; d. The built skeleton should be simple, easy to change, and easy to dismantle during mold making.

Third, after preparing the large-shaped clay and the framework for the large clay pile, you can start applying the clay. First, spray water on the framework once to ensure a firm bond between the clay blocks and the framework, making them less likely to fall off.

When applying the clay, stack the clay blocks one by one onto the framework, press them down firmly with your hands, and then compact them. After that, add more clay layer by layer, and use a wooden mallet or a clay patting board to press and secure the clay.

When tackling a large task, one should focus on the big picture and start from the overall perspective, avoiding the pitfall of being overly cautious and getting bogged down in the details.

Landscape sculpture is a three-dimensional entity. Every addition of clay requires careful consideration of the relationships between various perspectives. It is necessary to frequently rotate the sculpture table and constantly observe and compare. The clay should not be piled up all at once, but only to form the rough shape.

4. Deep shaping: Once the overall shape and proportions are accurate, the stage of deep shaping can begin.

As we delve deeper into the details and specifics, the volume of the clay sculpture gradually becomes more defined. When working on individual parts, it's essential to constantly compare them with the whole, ensuring that the parts align with the overall composition.

In the process of in-depth shaping, it is necessary to constantly adjust and grasp the relationship between the whole and the part, handle the relationship between the part and the detail, and also repeatedly deliberate, always adhering to the principle of "whole-part-whole". As long as the overall grasp is accurate, the parts can be done correctly, and when the parts are done accurately, they also enrich and improve the whole.

Often, when deeply sculpting a part, one becomes so focused that they spend too long shaping one aspect while forgetting to rotate the sculpture table. The more meticulous the work, the easier it is for the volume to become flattened. Therefore, it is important to always maintain an overall observation and shaping.

In addition, attention should be paid to the symmetry relationship. A center line can be drawn on the clay sculpture for inspection, comparison, and correction.

In the deepening stage of adjustment and unification, it is inevitable that some local details may become overly prominent, the major transitions in form may be weakened, and there may be a lack of coherence or rigid handling between forms. During the adjustment and unification stage, it is necessary to adjust it to the overall major relationships.

During the production process of landscape sculptures, it is also important to regularly spray water on the clay sculptures, especially in summer when moisture is more prone to evaporate. Regular watering is necessary to maintain a suitable level of dryness and wetness for shaping the form. In winter, when the temperature is relatively low, if the clay sculpture is not properly kept warm and subsequently experiences freezing, it can become loose and cracked. Therefore, working on clay sculptures in a warm studio can prevent them from becoming loose and cracked. After work is completed, the clay sculpture should be wrapped in plastic cloth to prevent it from drying out and cracking, and to prevent moisture from evaporating easily. Then, shaping can continue.