Ceramic works are created by shaping clay (phyllosilicate mineral soil and water), which is then fired at & nbsp; very high temperatures in special pottery kilns to acquire the necessary structural strength. Ceramic works may bear decoration, coloring, glazing or other surface treatments  to give them the desired result. In modern sculpture, many works are initially done in clay and then remolded in another, more durable material.

Plaster & nbsp;used in artistic creations is a white powder derived from partially dehydrated mineral calcium. Plaster is mixed with water and produces a malleable mass, which can be worked by hand or fitted into a mold (usually cast from the shape a clay item). When the plaster dries, the resulting work is a copy of the original work, and can be either be a standalone project, worked further, or copied to another material such as bronze. 

Many metals are used in sculpture, with bronze (copper alloy) and iron being the most common. Metal is processed by casting, forging, carving, or welding, and its surface can be treated to have an artificial patina (a treatment that offers protection and coloring). Metal sculptures usually include a protective surface material to offer great resilience to wear factors. Modern sculpture commonly uses stainless metal or alloys, which offer increased resistance to wear.  

Stone carving is one of the more traditional sculptural methods, and is used on marble and other types of stone, such as limestone and granite. It is done with stonecutter tools and besides skill it requires muscle strength. The physical characteristics of the stone can often  affect the shape the project, for example whether it will showcase carved details or not. 

Wood sculpture is a very old and common technique, which is performed with tools used for woodcarving or woodcutting. A work can consist of one or more types of wood, the physical characteristics of which determine the characteristics of the project, such as size, volume, surface treatment and final appearance. 

A special category of sculptural works are those that are molded in specially treated papier-mâché, and then usually colored. Some works are also created from cardboard, newsprint, or even packaging materials, after they are appropriately treated with adhesives or paints 

The advances in the technology of material manufacture offer artists the opportunity to experiment with a variety of new mediums, especially polymers usually manufactured for other applications. These new materials are formed into molds, such as plastic and polyester, which are then used to express a variety of artistic creations.

Fabrication

Contemporary artists are increasingly fabricating multi-media works, as in the creation of a work of art through the combination of multiple existing objects, without the any intervening shaping or carving. These constructions may include kinetic elements, sound and light, and can involve anything from video projections to live performance art.