Clay has been used so widely for so long for many reasons. First, it's plentiful. Clay particles can be found in riverbeds around the world. They are fine particles that drifted to the bottom of a river and stuck against other particles of dirt like it. Clay is malleable when wet, can be shaped into any form, and dries hard. Most important, if the clay is dried or "fired" with high heat, it won't become mushy again. This means that a clay pot, ornament or figurine won't wash away, even if it endures a long downpour.
Pottery is any cup, plate, bowl, pot, vase or pitcher made out of clay. People have been firing clay for this purpose since 6000 B.C. In the beginning, such pottery was simple, but as time went on, the craft of shaping clay into bowls and vases blossomed. Pottery can be very simple or extremely elaborate in shape and how it's painted.
A good potter can make vases quickly and easily, and each vase will look like an exact replica of the others. In ancient Rome, Greece and the Ming Dynasty, pottery could be intricate, with added textures, figures, designs and shapes crafted into each piece. Elaborate pictures or designs were sometimes painted on the outside and inside of pottery.
Clay sculpture also has a long history. Some sculptures are religious, in the form of a god or goddess, and some are erected in honor of someone or something. Other sculptures are created simply to beautify, and many are regarded as art.
People use clay for sculpture for the same reasons they chose to make pottery out of it: It is malleable and durable, can be fixed easily, doesn't need a mold and is less expensive than other materials.
Clay sculpture can be used in the initial steps of sculpting with a different material, such as bronze. Often, a small version of the sculpture is made out of clay, and then a bigger sculpture of metal is based on the small one. Clay is not as strong as bronze. Whereas a large sculpture would hold up, a clay sculpture of the same size and shape might not.
Today there are multiple classes, online message boards, workshops, summer camps, exhibitions and events devoted to clay art. Some clay artists have websites listing their information, exhibition or event dates, and maybe an online catalog.
Clay art that is made today is much different from that of ancient China or Rome. Plates, cups, bowls, salt shakers, platters and other such objects are often intricately designed and painted. Some sculptors have taken a modern and architectural route, while others work in more traditional formats.
Clay is a versatile medium with endless potential. The best way to learn about clay is first-hand. Try a local shop or museum, or take an art class. Maybe even resurrect your Play-Doh days while spending time babysitting or with your kids. Clay art, like all art, is about creativity and the imagination.