Molding minds in Mansfield

The Wellesley native said he started the art show "to inspire the creative process" for residents in town.

"I think it's important to get people to step away from their computers, televisions and smart phones and do something different," Palladini said, while on his set modeled after Gepetto's workshop in "Pinocchio."

Now on its 16th episode, "Creations in Clay" is geared toward beginners of all ages.

Though certain subjects, such as the head of a dragon, look complicated to construct, Palladini said sculpting is easy if he breaks it down step-by-step.

"I find it easiest to roll the clay into different sized balls according to what part of the statue you're making," he said.

For instance, a dragon's head is made up of two large pieces for the dragon's upper and lower jaw, a medium ball of clay for its tongue and many smaller ones shaped into cones to make rows of teeth.

"It's about keeping it simple," he said.

Palladini said he uses an "additive" technique where the artist adds part to a work of art, as opposed to chipping away pieces, as a sculptor would when working with a block of marble.

He said he prefers to use low-cost materials such as Super Sculpey clay, which costs about $15 or less, and household items such as aluminum foil to add texture or a toothpick to draw lines in the clay.

In his personal studio, Palladini uses dental tools to create more advanced pieces.

"After the clay sculpture is finished, I suggested firing it in a conventional oven at 275 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes," Palladini said.

The host came up with these methods on his own, after years of pursuing the hobby since first experimenting with clay in middle school.

"I first became interested in sculpting in my seventh-grade art class. The teacher saw that I had a knack for it and let me spend the rest of the year working with clay," Palladini said.

An auditor by trade, Palladini is self-taught artist. He stopped making artwork while studying finance at Northeastern, but took up the hobby again after graduating in 1986.

He's been making sculptures ever since.

He first approached Jack O'Neill, the executive director of Mansfield Cable Access, about his show idea in the spring and, in April, started filming it once a week.

So far, Palladini has gotten a positive response from viewers in town and plans on tackling more advanced pieces in the near future.

For now, he encourages viewers to send in pictures of their work to enter a drawing to win Super Sculpey clay. Send submissions to [email protected]. 

EMILY O'DONNELL covers Mansfield for The Sun Chronicle. She can be reached at 508-236-0340, at [email protected], or on Twitter @SCMansfield.