Radical Paper Clay
with Graham Hay
Break new ground in your art, push the boundaries of paper clay and elevate your artistic practice
Who This Course is For
This online paper clay masterclass, taught by internationally recognised artist Graham Hay, is ideal for artists, sculptors, ceramicists, and creative practitioners who want to explore paper clay as a medium for contemporary sculpture. The course is suitable for both emerging artists and experienced makers looking to expand their material knowledge and conceptual approach.
Participants will be guided through the full creative process, from idea development and experimentation to material exploration, technical skill-building, and the completion of finished sculptural works. Alongside practical techniques, the course offers insight into developing a distinctive artistic voice, refining working processes, and sustaining a professional contemporary art practice rooted in personal vision.
Why Paper Clay Techniques Matter
“An international clay revolution has been quietly building for the past two decades, as ceramic artists around the world begin to recognise the remarkable advantages of working with paper clay. Paper clay overcomes many of the limitations of traditional clay and opens new freedoms in the studio. The paper fibres make it stronger when dry, help it dry faster with less cracking, and can cut drying times from days to hours - all while allowing the radical joining of wet to dry, dry to dry, and even fired to unfired clay. And the most exciting part is that the potential of paper clay is still unfolding, with new ways of using it emerging all the time.”
Graham Hay
What You’ll Learn & Course Structure
-
Start your journey with an introduction to the course and to Graham Hay, the internationally recognised pioneer of paper clay. Learn about the advantages of paper clay as a material, what materials and tools you’ll need, and the key health and safety practices to keep in mind. You’ll also gain access to a suppliers list to make sourcing easier, discover leading paper clay artists, and explore the history of this innovative medium.
-
In this section, you’ll discover the full potential of paper clay through both traditional and radical techniques. Learn how to make paper clay, then explore pinch pots, slabs, coils, moulds, and slip casting. You’ll also experiment with additives to expand creative possibilities and master drying methods that minimise cracks. Learn about radical joining techniques that allow wet-to-dry, dry-to-dry and fired to unfired connections, along with practical problem-solving tips for common challenges. You’ll gain insights into post-fire assembly.
-
In this section, Graham will guide you step by step through the creation of a complete paper clay sculpture. Bringing together all the techniques you’ve explored, Graham will demonstrate how they come together in a single, expressive artwork. As you watch the process unfold, you’ll have the opportunity to follow along and create your own piece, applying each technique in real time. This hands-on project is designed to deepen your understanding, strengthen your confidence, and help you see how paper clay can be pushed beyond traditional boundaries into truly radical sculptural forms. By the end, you’ll not only have a finished work of your own but also the knowledge to apply these methods independently in future creations.
-
Learn everything you need to know about what it means to be a professional practicing artist. Through case studies of Graham’s major international projects, you’ll see how ideas are developed and translated into practice. You’ll reflect on authenticity and finding your unique voice, and learn tools for research, visual inquiry, documentation, and categorisation to strengthen your creative process. Essential practical considerations such as insurance, copyright, and shipping your artworks are covered, alongside financial aspects, and strategies for building community, collaborations, and audiences through exhibitions and networking.
Artist Bio - Meet Graham Hay
Graham Hay is internationally recognised for his pioneering innovations in both paper clay and compressed paper sculpture. With a career spanning decades, he has exhibited in 181 exhibitions across 16 countries, including appearances at seven international biennales in Australia, Holland, Argentina, Romania, and Venice, Italy. His work is represented in public collections in eight countries, and he has been the recipient of 23 grants and awards.
Hay is also a prolific writer and thinker in the field of contemporary ceramics. He has contributed articles to art publications in nine countries, features in 22 books, and has published over 40 articles exploring the intersections of paper clay, art, and technology.
A graduate of the Dunedin College of Education and the Western Australian, Edith Cowan, and Curtin universities (the latter two majoring in ceramics and sculpture), Graham was admitted to the International Academy of Ceramics in 2019. He is based at Farmer Street Studio in Perth, Western Australia.
Graham Hay has taught more than 300 paper clay workshops in 14 countries and led paper clay symposiums and conferences in Hungary, the US, and Norway. His artistic themes often reflect the complex relationship between the individual and the collective, exploring repetition, identity, ritual interactions, cultural systems, and technology. His sculptural motifs, from spirals and coils to koru, cornucopia, and circles, emerge through the shaping of thousands of multiples, deconstructing binary or polarised thinking within the sociology of art.
Graham Hay – Paper Clay Sculpture & Contemporary Ceramics Portfolio
Advantages of Paper Clay - Free Lesson with Graham Hay
Radical Paper Clay FAQ
-
Radical paper clay is an experimental ceramics technique that combines clay with paper fibres to create lighter, stronger, and more flexible sculptural forms. In this workshop, Graham Hay teaches how to push structural limits and explore sculptural freedom beyond traditional ceramic methods.
-
Yes. The workshop is designed for both beginners and experienced ceramic artists. Graham covers foundational paper clay preparation before progressing into advanced sculptural applications.
-
You will learn:
How to mix and prepare paper clay
Structural techniques for large or fragile forms
Surface experimentation methods
Drying and firing strategies
How to reduce cracking and improve strength
Contemporary sculptural approaches
-
Paper clay contains cellulose fibres, which:
Increase tensile strength
Allow joining of dry-to-wet clay
Reduce cracking
Enable lighter sculptural structures
-
Standard clay body (earthenware, stoneware, or porcelain)
Paper pulp or cellulose fibre
Basic ceramic tools
Kiln access for firing
A full materials list is provided inside the course.
-
Yes. Final ceramic works require firing. However, many forming and structural techniques can be practised before firing. If you do not own a kiln, many local ceramic studios, community art centres, and shared workshop spaces offer kiln rental or firing services for independent artists.
-
No. The focus is on sculptural and experimental ceramic practice rather than functional pottery. This workshop is designed for artists interested in pushing material boundaries, exploring form, and developing a contemporary sculptural language. If you would like to understand the direction and aesthetic of this approach, we invite you to view: Graham Hay – Paper Clay Sculpture & Contemporary Ceramics Portfolio, to see examples of his experimental ceramic work.
-
Graham Hay is an established Australian ceramic artist known for experimental material exploration and contemporary sculptural practice.
Begin your journey to master radical paper clay techniques and develop your art practice!