Paper clay is clay mixed with a proportion of fine paper pulp. The fibres make it lighter and much stronger when dry, so it is easier to join, repair and build thin or large forms, and the paper burns away in the firing.
What Is Paper Clay?
The paper fibres act like a network of tiny wicks and reinforcing threads. They let water move through the clay so it dries more evenly, and they hold the clay together when it is bone dry, which ordinary clay doesn’t do well. Sculptors value it for big, ambitious hand-built work.
One of its best features is that dry paper clay can be joined to wet or dry paper clay with slip, and cracks in dry pieces can often be repaired. That makes it forgiving for slab building and sculpture, and popular in schools.
The downsides are smell and storage. Wet paper clay can go mouldy and sour if kept for long periods, so it is usually made in small batches or bought fresh. When it fires, the burning paper produces smoke, so the kiln needs good ventilation during the bisque.
After firing, paper clay behaves much like the clay it was made from, though it can be slightly more porous and a little weaker.
This pottery glossary entry from Le Studio Art Space is general educational content. Always follow the clay, glaze and kiln makers’ data for your own materials and equipment.