Working with clay is a way to encourage and develop fine motor skills and messy art exploration. Squishing, pressing, molding, and rolling clay can produce great finished ceramic art pieces. These activities are appropriate for beginning or intermediate ceramics students.
Clay Tiles
Clay tiles are a simple and basic ceramics project. Roll flat on a smooth and clean surface a small amount of clay, around the size of an apple, using a rolling pin. Roll the clay until it is around 1 inch thick and even on all sides. Use a square template made out of cardboard to shape the clay for making a tile. Cut around the edges of the square and lift clay off work surface. Place the tile onto a flat moveable surface such as a tray or plate.
Find items to use as drawing tools such as pencils, sticks, or knives. Draw a design onto the tile. Items such as leaves or textured fabric can also be pressed into clay tiles. When finished, allow the clay to dry. After the clay has been bisque fired, glaze-paint tiles with bright colors and details to correlate with designs or drawings. When tiles are finished being painted, they are ready to be fired.
Pinch Pots
Pinch pots are a good first three-dimensional project to attempt when learning about clay. Start by selecting a small amount of clay, around the size of an apple. Roll the clay into a ball using the flat part of the palm, pushing against the clay and rolling against a flat surface. Using the thumbs while holding clay in palms of hands, press into the center of the clay. Take the forefinger and press against the outside of the clay while the thumb presses along the inside. Move the fingers around the ball of clay while pinching. Continue pressing around the clay, working from bottom of the ball of clay to the top until a small bowl is formed.
Attach a base to the finished bowl by rolling out a thin coil of clay and pressing it into the bottom of the clay in a circle shape. Use fingers to smooth into the base of the clay pinch pot. Allow pinch pots to dry and then fire according to type of clay used.
Rolled Snakes
Rolling clay is another way to create interesting shape from clay and develop fine motor skills. Use a small amount of clay roll against a flat dry surface, moving your hand forward and back. Move the clay from fingertips to base of palm as it lengthens. When the roll is too long for one hand, use both hands to create a long roll around 1-inch thick.
Take the roll and wind it around itself to create a snake form. Create a head for the snake by pinching one end of the roll and then create eyes and a mouth. Rolling a small amount of clay can make a long tongue. Add interesting detail to the snake using tools to make lines and dots on the snake. Allow to dry and then bisque fire. Paint with colorful glazes and then glaze-fire.
Coil Pots
Creating a coil vessel involves rolling clay into long lengths and adhering them together to create a vessel. Start by making a flat base of clay around 4 inches in diameter. Roll the clay out to a thickness of 1 inch and then cut into a circle. Transport to a tray or plate that can be rotated, or turned.
Using small amounts of clay, begin rolling into thin coils a thickness of 1 inch. Try to keep coils the same width throughout the length. Affix the coil to the base by scoring, or cutting lightly into the clay with a knife, and then adding slip, or a small amount of water. Gently press the clay to the base with fingers. Roll another coil and using the score and slip method, attach clay coil. Continue rolling coils and attaching until desired shape is accomplished. Use hands to smooth both the inside and outside of vessel. Let coil pot dry and fire according to type of clay used. Glaze and then fire again for a finished ceramics piece.
Slab Box
To create a basic square slab vessel, start by creating a template for the walls, or sides of the vessel. Use heavy tag board and create a 4-inch by 4-inch square. On a large flay dry surface, roll lengths of clay until around 1-inch thick. Put the square template on clay and cut four wall pieces by cutting around the outside with a knife. Create a base for the vessel with the flat clay using the square template. Transport base onto a plate or tray.
Create a rolled length of clay to use in making the box. Cut small slits into the outside edges of the base with a knife and apply a small amount of water, which will help to adhere the coil to the base. Press the rolled length of clay to the perimeter of the base and then press one of the four walls into the rolled clay. Position a standing object, such as a bottle, against the clay wall while you continue working. Add the rest of the walls to the base using additional rolls of clay. When all walls have been added, smooth the outside of the clay with the fingers. Allow the clay box to dry and then bisque-fire.
