Clay is an active material; it responds with every motion, every hesitation, every correction. Before using tools and techniques, the student must learn to listen to the material with their hands. They must become accustomed to the temperature, softness, and moisture of the clay to determine its behavior before any significant form has developed. In this way, touch becomes a source of progress.
Learning by touch, instead of merely by sight, develops a tactile awareness. If too much pressure is applied, the material will crack or sag. If too little is used, the material will resist the pressure. Learning to recognize these signs will help prevent later disappointment. With repeated practice, the student will learn to anticipate the behavior of the material. This trial-and-error process teaches the student to think ahead.
When working at a slower pace with clay, students learn the importance of preparation. The material must be adequately wedged, centered, and kept at the right moisture level or it will collapse or become off-balance later in the creative process. Repeating this process in the beginning will teach the student the importance of preparation for a strong end result. With time, this will become second nature.
The material will also teach the student to be flexible. The clay will never turn out exactly as envisioned; the student must learn to adjust and accommodate for this. Being able to revise a form at various stages of completion teaches problem solving by observation rather than preconception. This ability to adapt will carry over into other areas of life. Patience will become more valued than perfection.
Learning through touch helps the student to internalize information. The knowledge will sink to the students’ fingertips, where it will remain forever at their disposal. The hands will eventually learn to guide themselves with confidence due to the millions of mini-experiences with the material. In this way, the clay serves as both tool and instructor.