Dorodango number three is my first in a series of three new pieces I’m producing with soil collected from various sites in southern California. This one, dedicated to my wife, was gathered from the back garden of her grandparent’s home in the San Fernando Valley. This was my first experience using soil with a very low clay content to create a dorodango. Notice how the resulting dorodango lacks the luster of my previous attempts. When inspected closely its surface reveals a sparkle that shinier dorodango lack which is still visually very interesting.

Clay is the smallest particle found in soil, ranging from 1 to 4 micrometers. These tiny particles have plasticity, which means they can change shape when in presence of water and retain that shape even when water leaves the system. A high clay content (or really good sifting of what clay is present) is very useful in dorodango as it allows for a much smoother finish. An upcoming post will contrast this dorodango with another I’ve created with a very high clay content.