Method 1: Low Fire
Roll out two slabs of clay, about 1/4–1/2 inch thick. Use a rib to compress and smooth the surface.
Choose a hump mold or bowl to shape the fish body. Drape one slab over the mold, using plastic wrap or cornstarch to prevent sticking. Repeat for the second side.
Gently press the clay onto the mold using fingers or a damp sponge. Leave it on the mold until it’s firm enough (leather hard) to hold its shape. Carefully remove and begin aligning both sides.
Lightly sketch your fish or sea creature onto each slab. Make sure one side is the reverse of the other. When you’re satisfied, cut out both shapes.
Score the edges where the two sides will connect. Apply slip to both surfaces, then press them together. Cut a football-shaped opening at the bottom—this will act as the base. Ensure it’s wide enough for stability.
Once the fish stands upright, trim and clean up the edges with a tool or sponge.
Use hole cutters or a carving tool to create openings in the body for light to shine through. If your base is fully closed, make one of the openings large enough to insert a light source.
Use the score and slip method to attach fins, eyes, gills, or textured elements.
Allow form to fully dry and bisque fire to cone 04.
Method 2: Midrange
Begin by rolling out a slab of clay with a rolling pin that is long enough to wrap around a wine bottle. Compress the slab front and back with a plastic card or rib.
Loosely wrap an empty wine bottle with a piece of paper towel. Roll the wine bottle up in the slab of clay. Scratch and attach where the edges of the slab meet each other around the bottle. Cut off any excess slab from the base of the bottle and the side where the seams attach. Using the excess of the slab, or a smaller new slab, set the rolled up wine bottle on its end and sketch out a circle of clay from that new slab to scratch and attach as the enclosed base. The new slab “base” should be organic in form to mimic the ocean floor.
Roll a new slab and cut out organically shaped “ribbons” of clay that taper at one end to become the seaweed. Layer the seaweed shapes on the side of the bottle, scratching and attaching them with a toothpick and water as you go.
Slowly pull the wine bottle out from the rolled-up slab and remove the paper towel.
With the needle tool, cut out any of the excess pieces of the side of the luminary that aren’t seaweed.
Create little fish by rolling and partially smooshing a small ball of clay. Pinch one side to a point to form a teardrop shape. Cut two angled slices to form the separation of the top and bottom fins, and one slice straight in the back for the back fin. Pinch to shape the fins and add details with the toothpick. Scratch and attach to the main luminary.
Create other various corals to add to the base of the lum