I mentioned in the comments section of my last post - or maybe it was in an email to someone, that teaching my clay class is mutually beneficial to both my students and myself. I get to play and try new things that I might not do otherwise without some sort of exterior motivation. You missed our slab bowl project - maybe I’ll share a photo or two of our handiwork at a later date, but I am going to share this super cool project with you - clay insects!
I revised a lesson plan from the Amaco website (#10) that calls for making insects using polymer clay. We’re using a low fire earthenware clay and nichrome wire for the legs and antennas so that the legs can be fired in the kiln as an integral part of the sculpture. The insects are being fired right now, so that next week the kids can paint their sculptures with under-glazes. I test out all the projects beforehand to see if the kids will be able to do the project themselves.
I’m debating whether these slab ware tea cups will become our next project, though it might be too complicated for the kids who range in age from 2nd - 5th grades. Instead we might make these slab impressed tumblers instead:
I impressed both the tea cup and the tumblers with a lino-cut relief plate from my school days. Either way, I want to make some sort of drinking vessel so that we can have a party on the last day of clay class and make a toast to all the kids and their hard work using juice or some other kid friendly drink of course!
Meanwhile, I received an email from Tom and Jean Latka inviting me to their Holiday sale. I have long admired their public art installations and unfortunately can’t make it down to Pueblo this weekend, but maybe some of you can:
Saturday and Sunday
November 24th and 25th
between the hours of
10 am and 4 pm
at their Home and Studio
229 Midway Avenue
Pueblo, Colorado
Oh and to answer my own question, nothing is bothering me at the moment. I’m off for a quick jaunt around the park to help stave off the added pounds from all the food consumed yesterday,
~Cynthia
Tags: ceramic insects, kid's clay classes in Denver, latka studios, printmaking and clay, slab built ceramic cups
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I think striving and surviving the glazing is my ceramic nightmare and as much as I love rich somwhat irridescent, deep, yummy color… I am always happier in the bisque stage!Oh and burnishing is not only very time consuming??????but it also adds one more possibility to breakage to my piece which is less than positive to me!
Boy, it is cold here, today, isn’t it!? Our kitty girl thinks we’ve done this to her on purpose I think, as she went out with me to retrieve snow for CoCoRaHs measurements and came back inside and is meowing at me.
Anyway, I’m amazed that the kids get to accomplish so much. What fun! I can’t wait to see their bugs! Thanks for sharing it all and I have to get busy and exercise today also. I’m not going shopping, that’s for sure.
Me too, Judi - though I’m forcing myself to pay really close attention to glazing so that it’s not an after thought.
I’ve never really burnished, so it might be worth a try…maybe while I watch tv or something.
I’m freezing my toukas off, Mary! I finally broke down and bought a portable heater for my garage and that’s made it more bearable to be in my studio, but it’s still cold. Thank goodness we’re in for a warm up soon. The kids are doing a lot of work - I hope I don’t run out of lessons before the end of the year.
I braved Mile Hi Ceramics yesterday for some glaze ingredients and then Home Depot for some empty 5 gallon buckets - but no crowds there.
Oh the tumblers are such a nice idea for the kids. Much better than ashtrays like we made as kids.
Yeah I like the tumblers you made and I too think it would be too much fun for the kids! Love the bugs…wouldn’t they be so great as fridge magnets? I love bugs.
Glad to hear you are not a popcicle over there!
I think I might save the tumbler project for after the holidays now that I realized we only have 3 weeks left of class, Janet…eeek how did that happen?
Instead, we’re going to practice making pinch pots in preparation for making clay whistles with the kids next week.
The bugs would make cool fridge magnets, Heather - I can’t wait to see what they all look like glazed. I was just admiring the bugs that I pulled out of the kiln yesterday - they look great! It’s warmed up a tad, too…:D
Ohhh I love the bug that you made!
Thanks for sharing all of this with us!I swear every time I visit your blog. I can’t wait to try ceramics! *HUGS*
Wow! The beetle looks cool!
I warn you, Angela, clay is addicting!
Thanks Diana - I love the new avatar!
LOVING the bug!!!!!!!!