Art Clay cork clay is a composite material, made of fine cork particles and a harmless water-based organic binder. It looks and feels like thick biscuit mix, and can be shaped with modelling tools or a soft wet brush.

It has one main use: to create a mould on which to build a clay shape, particularly for a delicate or hollow piece that needs support until it's fired.

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This water-based clay comes as a block in a clear wrapper. Take as much as you need, and rewrap the remainder. Knead the piece until it feels soft and malleable.

You can use almost anything to shape the clay: a modelling knife, a rubber clay shaper, a scriber, a texture tool, a shaped cutter, or a damp brush. As you shape the clay, or add more, you can use a little water to smooth the surface or optimise the adhesion.

Whilst working, don't let any clay dry on your tools: keep your brush tips in water and dab them on lint-free cloth just before use. It's not worth saving scraps of cork clay.

During drying, the organic binder vaporises and the cork solidifies. The clay shrinks by about 2%, so make your piece that much larger.

When your piece is shaped, let it dry naturally for 24 hours or in a kiln programmed from cool to 150°C, then held for 10 minutes: although, with care, you can dry it with a hair drier or a hot air gun, on a central heating radiator, or in a kitchen oven.

After drying, it looks like cork. It's strong enough for you to be able to refine the shape using a knife, a scriber, a file, a drill, and abrasives. However, at this stage, thin pieces are weak enough to crumble. And remember, it is real cork: so you can't get a mirror-finish on it.

During firing, the cork burns away leaving harmless grey ash. As the cork burns, it may flare up briefly: so be prepared.