About the Artist Wanying Liang: https://shop.wanyingliang.com/pages/about-the-artist
Watch the full video on the Liang Ceramic Studio YouTube Channel: You won't believe what I recycled for the clay
In a ceramic studio, no clay is ever truly wasted—as long as it hasn't been fired yet. Whether an experimental sculpture doesn't quite work out or you simply have leftover trimmings, bone-dry greenware can be completely reclaimed and turned back into perfectly workable clay.
This is a core practice in my studio that saves money, honors the material, and keeps the studio zero-waste. Here is the step-by-step process I use to recycle large, bone-dry pieces.
1. Smash the large clay sculpture into small pieces
The first step is breaking the bone-dry clay down. If you are recycling a large piece or thick sculpture walls, use a mallet or hammer to carefully smash the sculpture into smaller pieces. The smaller the pieces, the faster they will break down in the water.
2. Put them in a large plastic bin
Gather all of the broken pieces and heavy chunks and transfer them into a heavy-duty, watertight plastic storage bin.
3. Pour water to soak the dry clay for a whole day
Because the clay is completely bone dry, it is incredibly thirsty. Pour enough water into the bin to completely submerge the clay chunks. As the water rushes into the porous clay, it will rapidly break the chunks apart in a process called "slaking." Leave it to soak undisturbed for a whole day until it breaks down into a thick, watery slurry.
4. Collect the clay from the plastic bin onto the plaster base
Right now, the clay is far too wet to use. Using a scoop, transfer the wet slurry out of the plastic bin and spread it onto thick plaster bats (or plaster slabs).
Plaster is highly porous and acts like a giant sponge. It will slowly pull the excess water out of the clay slurry. (Note: Always use dedicated plaster bats for different clay bodies to avoid cross-contamination!)
5. After a while, until the clay is drier, wedge the clay into manageable sizes
Leave the clay on the plaster until it pulls away cleanly and is dry enough to hold its shape. Once it reaches this stage, move it to your table and wedge (knead) it vigorously. This pushes out trapped air bubbles and creates a uniform consistency.
As you wedge, separate the large mass of clay into smaller, manageable sizes that are easy to grab when you are ready to throw on the wheel or start a new sculpture.
6. Collect the recycled clay into plastic bags or the damp box
Finally, gather your freshly wedged chunks and store them. You can wrap them tightly in heavy plastic bags, or place them directly into your plaster damp box. This ensures they maintain that perfect, workable moisture level until you are ready to create your next piece!
See the step by step tutorial on making this damp box here .