Fruit Bowls, Crazy Fish, and Clay Cupcakes [Our October 2017 Clay Projects]

Our October media focus was CLAY.  Since our studio doesn't have kiln, we've found a wonderful air dry clay that allows our students to BUILD in one week and paint the next!  We love the short dry time as well how easy the clay is to work with. 

We teach the artists how to shape the clay into pinch pots, coils, and slabs.  They carve using different tools pottery tools (and some household items!)  We also learn how important it is to join additional pieces of clay the proper way--by scoring it and applying slip.

 Kindergarten and 1st Grade artists looked at FRUIT to start their month.  They observed the properties of both the inside and the outside of the different fruits and then designed a bowl inspired by their favorite.

2nd/3rd Grade artists design and crafted faux cupcakes.  They used a pinch pot as their base for the bottom and a coil pot for the frosted top.  

Our 4th/5th Grade artists created crazy fish (and other sea life) by using a pinch pot for the base and adding different creative features.

And finally, our Middle School and High School artists created lanterns from carved slabs of clay.  We were even able to light them using a battery operated tea light.