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
Entries (RSS)