Living in Italy, near Impruneta, famous for its terracotta since Etruscan times, I learned to use this stony clay usually used for urns, statues and bricks.  My sculptures are now modelled in a special semi-fireclay. The working of a sculpture takes about a month beginning with the basic form, the hollowing, to the final surface finish. When they are completely dry they are fired at the MITAL terracotta works where the sculptures are fired in the furnace for over a week.  My sculptures either have a semi fireclay base or they are mounted on antique wood, unusual stones and rocks and terracotta bricks..