What's the difference between sculpting and forming?

Sculpting and forming are both functions of three-dimensional art that involve using crafting tools to manipulate a medium for the purpose of creating a tangible piece of work. However, the two artistic methods have some subtle differences. Forming typically describes giving a piece its general shape, sometimes with added detail. In disciplines like ceramics and pottery , giving a bowl or vase its three-dimensional shape is often the extent of the forming process. Techniques such as molding and casting often give you a blank form to add features after the cast material has set. Painting or etching provides the work with finer detail. Sculpting generally refers to using tools to work clay, wood, or stone. One sculptor might use carving and whittling implements to sculpt wood or soap, while another artist dives into metalworking to creatively construct statues of steel or iron. Some may add enamel to give color and shine to the piece. Rich in imagination and history, the art of mosaic making rides the line between sculpting and painting. Artists often paint mosaic pieces to give them the colors they desire and cut or grind edges and corners to properly fit them into their designated place. Whatever art form best lets you express your creativity, you'll find the tools and inspiration among the marvelous shops on Etsy.

What are some new sculpting technologies?

Designing shapes and sculptures for 3D printing is a growing trend in creative expression. It takes an artistic mind to create the patterns and virtual models that a 3D printer produces. The usefulness of three-dimensional printing extends beyond the shapes it can produce. Strides in 3D printer materials bring robotics creators a wider array of options for making cosmetic and functional parts.

Sculpting & Forming Supplies

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DIY Clay Trinket Dish Kit / Ages 6+ / Ring Dish / BOHO Style / Clay Kit / Party Craft / Special Little Keepsake / Bestseller / Mother's Day

(452)

Star Seller

$24.95

From shop GalleriGirlArtKits

FREE shipping
Etsy’s Pick
BHR-145 Big Pottery Hand Roller - Hibiscus Flowers

(9,420)

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$19.95

From shop MKMPotteryTools
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Metallic Gold Calligraphy Ink image | Calligraphy Kit | Handmade Calligraphy Ink | Modern Calligraphy Ink | Dip Pen Ink | Copperplate Ink

(752)

$10.50

From shop DesignKOUS
Etsy’s Pick
DIY Pottery Painting Kit, Succulent Planter kit, Virtual paint and sip, team building event craft, at home pottery painting, Date Night kits

(761)

$24.95

From shop CreativeArtKits
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HR-012 Pottery Hand Roller - Dots

(9,420)

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$15.95

From shop MKMPotteryTools
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Hand Written Letter Clay Roller, Text Clay Roller, Poem Clay Roller, Flower Clay Roller, Earring making tool , Clay tools

(4,767)

Sale Price $4.89
Original Price $8.90 (45% off)

From shop LiiCutters
Premium Ring Making Kit / All Tools, Materials & Tutorials to Carve your own Ring design! / Recycled Silver / Cast + Polished in London, UK

(48)

$71.50

From shop ANONOMAjewellery
Etsy’s Pick
DIY Papercraft Soccer shoes,Cleats shoe,Football shoes,3d shoe,Paper shoe,3d papercraft,Lowpoly shoe,Papercraft templates,Shoe favor box

(1,273)

Sale Price $4.19
Original Price $6.99 (40% off)

From shop PaperAmazeDigital

Digital Download
Geometric Lines Clay Roller, Three Lines Pattern Clay roller, Seamless Clay texture, Clay pattern roller, Earring making tool

(4,767)

Sale Price $4.89
Original Price $8.90 (45% off)

From shop LiiCutters
Indigo & Shibori Natural Dye Kit

(388)

$56.00

From shop GrahamKeegan

FREE shipping

Etsy’s Pick
BHR-126 Big Pottery Hand Roller - Supernova

(9,420)

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$19.95

From shop MKMPotteryTools
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Handleless Cup Plaster Mold for Slip Casting, Casting Mold, Ceramic Mold - DC014

(263)

Star Seller

$34.00

From shop DCERAMICDesign
Etsy’s Pick
Leaf Ceramic Mosaic Tiles.30-40 pcs.11 color for choose.Colorful Ceramics Mosaic .Glazed Ceramic Shaped Mosaic Tiles,Pieces for Mosaics

(1,399)

Sale Price $3.08
Original Price $3.84 (20% off)

From shop ShirleyWorld
BHR-123 Big Pottery Hand Roller - Geometric Daisies

(9,420)

Star Seller

$19.95

From shop MKMPotteryTools
Etsy’s Pick
Easter Cross Door Hanger | Scallop Cross Door Hanger | Unfinished Wood Laser Cutout | Ready To Paint | Sign Blank | Baltic Birch | 3/8"Holes

(158)

Star Seller

Sale Price $25.96
Original Price $32.45 (20% off)

From shop BlankOfAmerica
BHR-104 Big Pottery Hand Roller - Winter Woods

(9,420)

Star Seller

$19.95

From shop MKMPotteryTools
Etsy’s Pick
Shell Polymer Clay Roller, Marine Polymer Clay Roller, Summer Clay Roller, Fall Clay Roller, Earring making tool , Clay tools

(4,767)

Sale Price $4.89
Original Price $8.90 (45% off)

From shop LiiCutters
Vermilion Sumi ink | Calligraphy Ink | Calligraphy Kit | Handmade Calligraphy Ink | Modern Calligraphy Ink | Copperplate Calligraphy Ink

(752)

$9.00

From shop DesignKOUS
Etsy’s Pick
RL-029 Large Pottery Handle Roller - Mountain Reflections

(9,420)

Star Seller

$16.95

From shop MKMPotteryTools
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CNC Project - Nesting Heart Charcuterie Boards

(321)

$2.99

From shop LockhartCreate

Digital Download

Etsy’s Pick
ON SALE! Reclaimed Old Fence Wood Boards - 8 Fence Boards 20" Weathered Barn Wood Planks - Good Condition - Great For Rustic Crafting!

(619)

Star Seller

$37.50

From shop UnhungHarps

FREE shipping

Etsy’s Pick
DIY Ram Skull welded sculpture patterns/templates - DXF and PDF

(300)

$32.50

From shop DelisleDesign

Digital Download

Etsy’s Pick
Custom Length Adjustable Metal Handrail with Rustic Design - Make A Rail Grab Rail - Farmhouse Stair Decor

(20,108)

Star Seller

Sale Price $242.24
Original Price $284.99 (15% off)

From shop makertable

FREE shipping
Beading Knotting Tool for Bead Stringing and Jewelry Making Pearl Tool - BEAD-0004

(6,009)

$14.99

From shop JewelryTooling

FREE shipping

Etsy’s Pick
Seagulls Beach Decor see birds, wooden seagull wall decor, nursery decor, wall hanging, rustic wall decor, wood wall art

(594)

Sale Price $18.00
Original Price $24.00 (25% off)

From shop WoodenCraftSupply
Quatrefoil Unfinished Wood Laser Cutout | Ready To Paint | Sign Blank | Door Hanger | Baltic Birch | 3/8" Hanging Holes | Wall Decor

(158)

Star Seller

Sale Price $21.16
Original Price $26.45 (20% off)

From shop BlankOfAmerica
RL-035 Large Handle Roller - Layered Lines

(9,420)

Star Seller

$16.95

From shop MKMPotteryTools
Etsy’s Pick
Polymer clay texture roller clay stamp 3D printed embossing

(1,055)

$8.50

From shop LuxyMolds
Etsy’s Pick
Abstract Flower Clay Roller (small pattern), Botanical Clay Roller, Leaf Clay Roller, Flower Clay Roller, Earring making tool , Clay tools

(4,767)

Sale Price $4.89
Original Price $8.90 (45% off)

From shop LiiCutters
Cowboy boot cutter | western horse cutters | set of 2

(820)

$6.63

From shop TouchofGlassbySandra
Etsy’s Pick
Sunflowers | Texture Mat | Polymer Clay Cutter Tool

(7,765)

$14.00

From shop BloomMercantileCo
Etsy’s Pick
Irises Clay Art Kit, Super Soft Modeling Clay, Diy Art Project, Creative Craft Kit, Adult Craft Art Kit, Air Dry Clay, OKTO Modeling Clay

(61)

Sale Price $18.82
Original Price $28.95 (35% off)

From shop OktoClay

FREE shipping
DIY Pottery Kit, Air Dry Clay Kit, Home Gift, Home & Craft Gifts,Mother's Day Gift

(2,262)

Star Seller

Sale Price $26.70
Original Price $35.60 (25% off)

From shop MoraApproved

FREE shipping
Brushed Brass Texture Roller⎥Polymer Clay Tools⎥Hand Roller⎥Clay Texture Tool⎥Jewellery Tools⎥Floral Texture⎥Botanical Texture

(13,608)

Star Seller

$14.29

From shop VeeClayDesignShop
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Set of 5 Pliers With Organizer - Mini Purple for Jewelry Making - KIT-4600

(9,580)

Star Seller

$49.95

From shop JewelrySuppliesNW

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Couples Hand Casting Kit - Personalised DIY Keepsake Birthday, Wedding, Anniversary, Christmas Gift

(54)

$65.00

From shop SRCastingKits
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Blossom flower stamp for scrapbooking, Wild flower stamp for art journal, Botanical stamp for fabric

(1,370)

Star Seller

$23.36

From shop SzczepanskaEwa
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Bookmark with Shelves Polymer Clay Cutter - VeeClayDesign Shop

(13,608)

Star Seller

$9.75

From shop VeeClayDesignShop
Etsy’s Pick
Craft Kit for Adults, Cardinal Bird Kit, Hand cut glass Mosaic Kit, DIY Kits for Adults, Crafts Kits for Adults DIY Mosaic Cardinal Kit

(975)

Star Seller

$55.95

From shop MosaicsattheFarm

FREE shipping

Etsy’s Pick
Flower Meadow Texture Mat Bundle⎥Polymer Clay Tools⎥Earring Making⎥Hand Roller⎥Clay Texture Tool⎥Jewellery Tools

(13,608)

Star Seller

$40.29

From shop VeeClayDesignShop

FREE shipping
Etsy’s Pick
Flower Bookmark Polymer Clay Cutter, Polymer Clay Cutter, Rectangle shape cutters, Sunflower Bookmark Clay Cutter

(4,767)

Sale Price $3.97
Original Price $7.23 (45% off)

From shop LiiCutters
Birds, big and small - chicken, robin, blackbird - pottery template pattern for slab building PDF, SVG, DXF

(361)

Star Seller

$3.89

From shop WackyWonderfulWorks

Digital Download

Etsy’s Pick
Vase Bead Polymer Clay Roller, Bead Roller Polymer clay, Garden Theme Polymer clay earrings, Earring making tools

(4,767)

Sale Price $5.20
Original Price $9.46 (45% off)

From shop LiiCutters
Sol Taino Clay Cutter, Puerto Rican Polymer Clay Cutter, Clay Tools, Crafting, Puerto Rico Sun Cutter

(2,310)

$8.00

From shop CremeBruClay
Etsy’s Pick
Flower Meadow #1 Texture Mat⎥Polymer Clay Tools⎥Earring Making⎥Hand Roller⎥Clay Texture Tool⎥Jewellery Tools

(13,608)

Star Seller

$22.09

From shop VeeClayDesignShop
Etsy’s Pick
Jack Halloween Clay Cutter, Clay Earring Making tool, Halloween Clay Cutter, Spooky Halloween Clay Cutter, Fall Polymer Cutter

(4,767)

Sale Price $2.14
Original Price $3.89 (45% off)

From shop LiiCutters
Mirrored Set Cutters 4pcs / Polymer Clay Tools / Jewellery Tools / Earring Making / Clay Tools

(13,608)

Star Seller

$18.19

From shop VeeClayDesignShop
Etsy’s Pick
DIY Kintsugi Kit, Kintsugi Repair Set, Home & Craft Gift, Mother's Day Gift

(2,262)

Star Seller

Sale Price $16.69
Original Price $22.25 (25% off)

From shop MoraApproved

FREE shipping

Sculpting & Forming Supplies

DIY Clay Trinket Dish Kit / Ages 6+ / Ring Dish / BOHO Style / Clay Kit / Party Craft / Special Little Keepsake / Bestseller / Mother's Day

BHR-145 Big Pottery Hand Roller - Hibiscus Flowers

Metallic Gold Calligraphy Ink image | Calligraphy Kit | Handmade Calligraphy Ink | Modern Calligraphy Ink | Dip Pen Ink | Copperplate Ink

DIY Pottery Painting Kit, Succulent Planter kit, Virtual paint and sip, team building event craft, at home pottery painting, Date Night kits

HR-012 Pottery Hand Roller - Dots

Hand Written Letter Clay Roller, Text Clay Roller, Poem Clay Roller, Flower Clay Roller, Earring making tool , Clay tools

Premium Ring Making Kit / All Tools, Materials & Tutorials to Carve your own Ring design! / Recycled Silver / Cast + Polished in London, UK

DIY Papercraft Soccer shoes,Cleats shoe,Football shoes,3d shoe,Paper shoe,3d papercraft,Lowpoly shoe,Papercraft templates,Shoe favor box

Geometric Lines Clay Roller, Three Lines Pattern Clay roller, Seamless Clay texture, Clay pattern roller, Earring making tool

Indigo & Shibori Natural Dye Kit

BHR-126 Big Pottery Hand Roller - Supernova

Handleless Cup Plaster Mold for Slip Casting, Casting Mold, Ceramic Mold - DC014

Leaf Ceramic Mosaic Tiles.30-40 pcs.11 color for choose.Colorful Ceramics Mosaic .Glazed Ceramic Shaped Mosaic Tiles,Pieces for Mosaics

BHR-123 Big Pottery Hand Roller - Geometric Daisies

Easter Cross Door Hanger | Scallop Cross Door Hanger | Unfinished Wood Laser Cutout | Ready To Paint | Sign Blank | Baltic Birch | 3/8"Holes

BHR-104 Big Pottery Hand Roller - Winter Woods

Shell Polymer Clay Roller, Marine Polymer Clay Roller, Summer Clay Roller, Fall Clay Roller, Earring making tool , Clay tools

Vermilion Sumi ink | Calligraphy Ink | Calligraphy Kit | Handmade Calligraphy Ink | Modern Calligraphy Ink | Copperplate Calligraphy Ink

RL-029 Large Pottery Handle Roller - Mountain Reflections

CNC Project - Nesting Heart Charcuterie Boards

ON SALE! Reclaimed Old Fence Wood Boards - 8 Fence Boards 20" Weathered Barn Wood Planks - Good Condition - Great For Rustic Crafting!

DIY Ram Skull welded sculpture patterns/templates - DXF and PDF

Custom Length Adjustable Metal Handrail with Rustic Design - Make A Rail Grab Rail - Farmhouse Stair Decor

Beading Knotting Tool for Bead Stringing and Jewelry Making Pearl Tool - BEAD-0004

Seagulls Beach Decor see birds, wooden seagull wall decor, nursery decor, wall hanging, rustic wall decor, wood wall art

Quatrefoil Unfinished Wood Laser Cutout | Ready To Paint | Sign Blank | Door Hanger | Baltic Birch | 3/8" Hanging Holes | Wall Decor

RL-035 Large Handle Roller - Layered Lines

Polymer clay texture roller clay stamp 3D printed embossing

Abstract Flower Clay Roller (small pattern), Botanical Clay Roller, Leaf Clay Roller, Flower Clay Roller, Earring making tool , Clay tools

Cowboy boot cutter | western horse cutters | set of 2

Sunflowers | Texture Mat | Polymer Clay Cutter Tool

Irises Clay Art Kit, Super Soft Modeling Clay, Diy Art Project, Creative Craft Kit, Adult Craft Art Kit, Air Dry Clay, OKTO Modeling Clay

DIY Pottery Kit, Air Dry Clay Kit, Home Gift, Home & Craft Gifts,Mother's Day Gift

Brushed Brass Texture Roller⎥Polymer Clay Tools⎥Hand Roller⎥Clay Texture Tool⎥Jewellery Tools⎥Floral Texture⎥Botanical Texture

Set of 5 Pliers With Organizer - Mini Purple for Jewelry Making - KIT-4600

Couples Hand Casting Kit - Personalised DIY Keepsake Birthday, Wedding, Anniversary, Christmas Gift

Blossom flower stamp for scrapbooking, Wild flower stamp for art journal, Botanical stamp for fabric

Bookmark with Shelves Polymer Clay Cutter - VeeClayDesign Shop

Craft Kit for Adults, Cardinal Bird Kit, Hand cut glass Mosaic Kit, DIY Kits for Adults, Crafts Kits for Adults DIY Mosaic Cardinal Kit

Flower Meadow Texture Mat Bundle⎥Polymer Clay Tools⎥Earring Making⎥Hand Roller⎥Clay Texture Tool⎥Jewellery Tools

Flower Bookmark Polymer Clay Cutter, Polymer Clay Cutter, Rectangle shape cutters, Sunflower Bookmark Clay Cutter

Birds, big and small - chicken, robin, blackbird - pottery template pattern for slab building PDF, SVG, DXF

Vase Bead Polymer Clay Roller, Bead Roller Polymer clay, Garden Theme Polymer clay earrings, Earring making tools

Sol Taino Clay Cutter, Puerto Rican Polymer Clay Cutter, Clay Tools, Crafting, Puerto Rico Sun Cutter

Flower Meadow #1 Texture Mat⎥Polymer Clay Tools⎥Earring Making⎥Hand Roller⎥Clay Texture Tool⎥Jewellery Tools

Jack Halloween Clay Cutter, Clay Earring Making tool, Halloween Clay Cutter, Spooky Halloween Clay Cutter, Fall Polymer Cutter

Mirrored Set Cutters 4pcs / Polymer Clay Tools / Jewellery Tools / Earring Making / Clay Tools

DIY Kintsugi Kit, Kintsugi Repair Set, Home & Craft Gift, Mother's Day Gift

There's so much more for you to discover

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