Clay Sunflower Yard Art

                                                                           

                       

Clay Sunflower Garden Art

(week #6 of a 6 week clay course for kids)

Since this was the final clay class before school let out for summer holiday, we decided to focus on creating pieces for our gardens using terracotta clay. We looked at images of sunflowers, made clay versions and then added whimsical facial expressions. The finished pieces could either be laid in the garden or put on a metal stake for display.

Supplies and Materials Needed for this Project

 Sketch paper and pencils for recording ideas

Low fire terracotta clay

Rolling pins

Modeling tools

Bamboo skewers or skinny dowel rods

• Roll out clay using wooden strips to ensure uniform thickness for base of flower
• Cut out a basic sunflower shape

•  Next, make petals for the flowers, either by cutting out shapes from the slab or hand forming. Use slip and score technique to securely attach all petals to the base. Add interest by overlapping the petals.

                                              

• Using the modeling tools, add texture to the petals

                                                      

                                                

• Once all the petals are in place, use a piece of clay to form a small ball, slightly flattening it on one side . This will be the center of the flower

                                                        

• Attach the ball to the flower's center (slip and score). Next, begin making facial features out of small bits of clay and adding them to the ball.

                                              

A student adds a smile to her sunflower

• Consider the expression on the flower's face and how shaping the clay can show that expression. Use a tool to add designs for seeds if desired

                                         

• Some students added insects to their flowers. Double check to ensure all bits are securely attached.

                                                        

• The final step is taking a bamboo skewer or small dowel rod and making a hole in the flower, if it is to be displayed on a stake in the garden. Hold the flower in one hand and gently push the skewer or rod into the bottom of the flower, rotating it as you go. Set aside to dry. NOTE: AFTER A FEW HOURS, TURN THE SKEWER OR ROD GENTLY IN THE FLOWER AND THEN REMOVE

•  The rod MUST BE REMOVED before the clay is completely dry or the clay will shrink and breakage will occur on trying to pull it out later

• Allow clay to dry completely and then fire.

                                                    

                                                      

Happy Sunflower

                                                                        

Giant Sunflower

                                                                                     

Sunflowers with details added

                                                                  

                                                  

sunflowers ready to dry

• We left some of our sunflowers the natural color, but if desired, they can be decorated with glazes or acrylic paints. 

                                                      

Glazed Sunflower Garden Art

                                                        

Pop Art Style Clay Pizza Sculpture

Olive and Mushroom slice, Donut covered pizza slice

Pop Art Style Clay Pizza Sculpture

(week #5 of a 6 week clay course)

For this week's class, we looked at some of Claes Oldenburg's food sculpture pieces as inspiration for making our Pop Art Style Pizza sculptures. I told this group to go wild with the toppings and put things on their pizzas they wouldn't normally expect to see. They had fun with this project and quite a lively discussion about what types of things they'd add to their sculptures.

Supplies and Materials Needed for this project

Sketch paper and pencils for idea generation

Low fire clay

Large paper circle, 16" in diameter, cut into 8 equal slices

Rolling pins 

Modeling tools

• Make quick sketches of pizza slices with favorite toppings
• Roll out the clay, using strips to ensure uniform thickness
• Cut out a 16" diameter circle from paper. Fold into 8 sections and cut into pieces to create patterns for pizza slices
• Put slice pattern onto slab, trace and cut pizza slice shape

• Add a snake shape for the crust. Slip and score to adhere securely.

 

Adding clay for the edge of the crust

Securing the crust 

Adding toppings to make a pizza face

• Next, use remaining slab bits to cut out pizza toppings such as vegetables, pepperonis, olives, etc.

  

  Cutting out toppings

   

   

   

  
  

  
  

                                                           

 

• Use a garlic press to make cheese. Securely attach all toppings

                                                        

                                                          

Mega cheese pizza

                                                                              

                                                                       

                                                                                 

• Allow clay to dry thoroughly and then fire.
• Glaze or decorate with acrylic paints and a gel gloss medium 
• Makes a nice display presentation to put the pizza slices arranged in a circle inside a clean pizza box.

                                                      

Decorated with acrylic paint and gloss medium

                                                         

Decorated using acrylic paint and gloss medium

Egyptian Style Clay Canopic Jars

Egyptian Style Clay Canopic Jars

(week #4 of a 6 week clay course)

For the 4th week of our clay course, we learned about how the Egyptians designed and built ceramic jars to hold the internal organs of people who were mummified. The jars were buried with the bodies. We decided to make our own version of these jars, choosing our favorite animals and using the jars to hold things like art supplies.

Supplies Needed:

sketch paper and pencils

low fire clay

rolling pins to make slabs

cutting tools

paper to make patterns

paper towel tubes with heavily taped bases

 

Rolling out the slab

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Make quick sketches of animals that would make good designs for the jars
• Roll out the clay. Use strips to ensure the clay is even
• Make a pattern using paper by wrapping some around the paper towel tubes (the tube ends covered in heavy masking tape to prevent their cutting through the clay). Make the pattern about 6 inches in height and wide enough to roll around the tube one time
• Trace the pattern onto the clay and add a little extra to the width so the clay will wrap all the way around the tube and have a little extra for joining at the seam.
•  Tape the pattern around the towel tube
• Wrap the clay slab rectangle around the tube and join the seams by slipping and scoring. Leave the tube INSIDE the clay for now. It will be removed later before drying.



Wrap clay slab around the tube and join seams

• Pinch out a small pancake and set the clay covered tube on it. Cut out a circle at the base. This will be the bottom of the jar. Trim excess and using slip and score, attach the bottom to the jar.

  

  • Push clay to end of tube and add a bottom for the jar, making it from a small pancake slab. Attach securely.

   

   

  • Trim the top of the tube so it is 1 to 1 1/2" above the top of the jar.
  • Using a ball of clay, shape an animal head, adding features like ears, horns, eyes, and textures to show feathers, fur, scales, etc.
  • Make an indent in the bottom of the animal head and attach it to the top of the jar, slipping and scoring the two seams.
  • Using a clay tool, cut a line around the jar to separate the head from the rest of the jar. The line could be wavy, zig zaggy or straight. 

Use modeling tools to add details

• Next, draw hieroglyphs to add your name down the front of the jar. Use the modeling tools to add textures like fur, scales, feathers, etc.    

  

  Adding ears

                          

Completed jars before firing

                                            
                                                          

jar made by a fourth grade student

                                                     

Completed canopic jars

                                                       

Paper towels added before drying

Some FINAL and VERY IMPORTANT steps.......

• When the jar is completed, remove the head and set aside. Have someone hold the jar at the base and then use two hands to GENTLY TWIST the paper towel tube UP AND OUT. Note:  The tube MUST be removed before the piece is set out to dry or the clay will shrink around the tube and not be removable without breaking the jar.
• Put a paper towel on the top of the open jar.
• Set the head in the proper position on top of the paper towel on top of the tube. Allow to dry.
• Before firing, separate head and body and toss out paper towel.
• After firing, glaze or decorate with acrylic paints and a gloss medium or modge podge type product.

Clay Lantern Houses

Clay Lantern Houses

(Week #3 of 6 week Clay Course)

For the third week of our clay class, we worked on creating Lantern Houses, using the the slab technique.

Materials Needed:

Sketch paper and pencils 
Low fire clay 
Soda cans, juice bottles or small jars
Paper, cut into strips 4" x the circumference of the jar or can
Masking tape
Clay tools
Rolling Pins and wooden strips
water in containers 
Clay mats

Process

• Spend a few minutes making quick sketches of ideas for Lantern Houses (fairy house style, modern, thatched roof, etc). 

 

• Wrap a paper strip (4" wide) around a container (jar, bottle or can) to determine the circumference (ours were about 11 to 12 " for a small jar). This will act as a template for the house.

• Using the paper strip as a size guide, roll out the clay between the wooden strips until the the template fits on the slab. When rolling, make sure clay is uniform in thickness, slightly less than 1/2".

• Lay the template on the slab. Trace with a tool and cut out, adding about a 1/4" onto the length.

• Next, wrap the cut slab piece around the paper-covered can. Slip and score the edges and join. Smooth the seam.

• Roll out another slab, this time in the shape of a pancake. This will be the floor of the lantern house. Set the lantern house in the middle of the clay pancake and trace around the bottom edge. Cut out the circle. Slip and score the TOP of this circle AND the BOTTOM edges of the lantern house. Join and smooth the seam.

• LEAVE THE CAN OR JAR IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.

 This will act as a support as you cut the windows and doors

• Using a tool, cut door and window shapes in the lantern. The edges will be jagged. This is OK as we will smooth it out in a few minutes.

• With extra clay, add decorations like shutters, vines, leaves, etc. Remember to slip and score these additions.

• Now for the roof....roll out one more slab. For a circular  or square roof, set the lantern on the slab and trace around the bottom, making the roof at least 1/2" wider all around than the base of the lantern. Cut out the shape and if desired, add a handle to the top (make a fat snake, slip and score both ends and attach to roof). Decorate roof with clay tools to create the look of tiles, thatch, etc.

• A few students wanted to make a pitched roof so they cut out shapes to form a stand-up roof and then added a handle to the top. NOTE: directions on removing can or jar are listed below. For those doing PITCHED roofs, the can will need to be removed first and the lantern will need to be filled with crumpled paper towels to give needed support to the roof as it dries.

• Almost finished....SLOWLY AND GENTLY (while holding the lantern at its base) twist the can, bottle or jar and lift to remove. Take out the paper strip that will be stuck to the inside walls.

• Smooth out all window and door edges. If making a pitched roof, remember to gently place crumpled paper towels inside the lantern to provide structural support for the roof. 

• FINAL STEP....Lay a paper towel over the lantern before placing the roof on top. This will allow both pieces to dry without sticking together. When completely dry, bisque fire and then glaze

We'll be adding photos of our glazed lanterns once completed. A nice touch would be to add small battery operated candles as a light source.