Monochromatic Coil Pots AND Tips for Using Self-Hardening Clay

Like its cool cousin the pinch pot, coil pots are one of those projects that the vast majority of us probably do. There are many creative ways to jazz these stinkers up. But if you're like me, kiln-less, with 300 pounds of self-hardening/air-dry clay sitting in the corner staring back at you, the options are a bit more limited than our kiln-blessed amigos.

Luckily, this year, my student teacher arrived at the PERFECT time, ready to take over teaching just when third grade was ready to start the coil pot monotony fun! Thanks, Miss Caruso! :-)

We decided that to make the pots are little more interesting, we'd limit students' color choices. Miss Caruso ultimately opted to make the painting process monochromatic, and as is the case with many projects, the presence of boundaries really fostered creativity! It was also a good review of the color mixing we had done earlier in the year (here and here).

If you're going to coil without a kiln, I have a few tips for ya:

• Consider giving your kids a practice day. I have found it VERY beneficial to use modeling clay to practice, taking the time to teach the physical making of the coils and subsequent construction of the pot. You can also use this class period to talk about the history of clay/coiling, why someone might coil as opposed to pinch their vessel, etc.
• I highly recommend using the slip and score technique. Otherwise, your coils are bound to come apart.
• I mix a small amount of white vinegar into my slip, which seems to build a better bond. Granted, it makes the art room stink even more than the usual Sharpie/paint/children after recess scent with which we're all so familiar, but a little stink isn't so bad.
• Have your kiddos build their pot atop a canvas or other textural base. Even the self-hardening stuff will stick to your smooth tables. If you don't have the dough to invest in canvas boards, or if you want to use what you have (and/or you're just cheap like me, bah haha), small pieces of rough wallpaper will do the trick! (I have stacks of wallpaper sample books and chop those pages up for each kiddo.)
• Just in case, have a hot glue gun and lots of glue sticks ready for when any poorly-made pots are dry and a-crackin'! The air-dry clay tends to undergo some major separation as it hardens.
• Paint your pots with acrylic paint. Or, if you prefer tempera, seal the pot with a layer of acrylic gloss medium when all the painting is done and dried.

Any air-dry gurus have anything to add?

And hey, if you're reading this and you, too, are fire-free and are thinking, "girlfriend, there are a thousand ways to skin the coil pot cat, I've got crazy creative ideas for you!" then please, enlighten me!

'Til then, enjoy the one-color wonders!

Aztec Suns with Model Magic

I had plans to do some simple, textured, clay medallions with my first graders this year. But when it came time to do them, I couldn't get excited. I think they were screaming "kindergarten" a little too loudly. So I did what any desperate modern-day art teacher in a pinch would do. I pinned.

Among other bits of inspiration (here, here, and here) I found a picture of clay suns that was a Flickr tease--just a picture. But a picture's worth 1,000 words (in a blog post), right? I decided that my first graders and I would make some Aztec Suns with Model Magic! Hooray!

The Aztecs lived from the 14th through the 16th centuries in Mexico. They believed that life had undergone several creations, and that they were living in the fifth and final creation, each of which was represented by a sun.

The Aztec Sun Stone - http://www.crystalinks.com/aztecalendar.html

On the first day, I showed the kids some images of the Aztec Sun Stone, discovered in the 1700s, weighing in at 48,000 pounds and stretching 12 feet in diameter! Holy huge carving, Batman!

The kids got down and not-so-dirty with white Model Magic, which they flattened into pancakes and subsequently decorated with both additive and subtractive techniques.

The suns dried out (use wax paper underneath) until our next class, when we got out the paints and went to town! Unsurprisingly, the neon and metallic temperas were everyone's favorite.

As we finished this project, the weather went from winter chill to borderline summer temps. I have no problem taking credit for inspiring the sun to come out to play! :-)

Psssst! You can see more suns over yonder.

Pinch pots, now with paint!

Our no-kiln pinch pots are progressing quite nicely! In case anyone else is a poor unfortunate soul without a kiln, and wonders if it's even worth doing clay projects without one, here are some of my second graders' painted pots in progress.

On the first day of painting, I encourage the kiddos to stick to a limited color palette, focusing on the initial layers or background of their design. Some of them totally get it!

Some of them do not. Oh, sweet darling children...

One huge benefit of using air-dry clay and regular paint (as opposed to glaze) is the huge variety of colors, designs, and creativity that the kids demonstrate. I give them a second day to paint any designs and details:

I think this is two pickles holding hands... Dillsburg, baby!

With the groups I have this year, they've been using regular tempera paint to color the drab gray of the clay. I'd consider using acrylic, as the plasticity of the paint may give unfired air-dry clay more stability, but again, with the groups I have this year, I wasn't touching non-washable paint with a ten-foot pole paint brush.

We do add a layer of acrylic gloss medium at the end to show some shine (and I think it may hold 'em together better, too).

Not too shabby. To my fellow kiln-less friends, consider a visit to The Art of Ed to read up on some of your air-drying clay options (here and here). But if you do have a kiln and want to get creative, go over to my girl Jen's blog, where she's making everyone hungry and envious with her precious cupcakes!

AND, exciting news! Recently I won a giveaway from the Art of Education--I was so excited that my husband thought I had won a large cash prize (sorry, honey)--and soon will be receiving a sample of colored air-drying clay! I can't wait to try it out with some of my kiddos, and you bet your bottom I'll share my thoughts.

Pinch Pot Palooza

My second graders are very excited. And I am equally messy. Because it's time for clay!

Our elementary art curriculum is extremely forgiving. There are very few specifics. For instance, though each grade level is charged with completing a clay project, the project is up to each individual art teachers--all two of us.

Like my colleague and the art teacher who came before me, I introduce basic clay modeling and imprinting in first grade before moving onto the basic pinch pot in second grade. But that's about it. Basic pinch pots. Without a kiln. UGH.

I spend a day introducing and practicing the pinch pot technique with the kiddos. We use modeling clay to rehearse pinching like crabs!

God bless yard sales. I think that crab hat was a whoppin' 25 cents.

 

When the kiddos think they've got it down, I slice their pots to check for uneven walls. They LOVE this because it involves destruction (haha), and I love it because it's a great visual.

 

Sometimes it feels like a waste of a day, although I've tried to squeeze everything into one 45-minute period in the past and that didn't work out so well for me (or for the pots).

On day two, I pull out my endless supply of air-dry clay... I KNOW, I KNOW, AIR DRY CLAY IS THE WORST. But alas, I am without a kiln and have not yet committed to hauling several hundred clay projects from my buildings to the middle or high school kilns. So, we deal.

I'm always excited to see how the students get creative with the basic pinch pot premise. Sometimes they get fancy...

"This is a pot within a pot."

YES! I'm praying that bird's head survives the air-dry process.

... and sometimes not.

Basic as it may be, I'm a fan of the pinch pot. Where do you stand on the ol' PP? Do you jazz yours up? Does your fanciness come in during the painting/glazing phase? Any suggestions on how to kick these up a notch without the love of a kiln? Let's talk.

Happy Election Day from your friends the African Amulets

Happy Election Day, USA! I hope all you American art teachers get out and vote today. The Connells were out at the polls this morning. Interestingly, it was not I, the mid-name-change Bachman-Connell, who had trouble registering, but Mr. Connell! Ha! I was listed under my maiden name, while he was nowhere to be found in the books. Luckily, our nextdoor neighbor was the big wig in charge and took care of business for us neighborhood newbies.

Anyway, here are some completed African Amulets for you to enjoy as you wait for the results to trickle in tonight!

To achieve the effect you see, kiddos painted their amulet with either black or brown tempera paint. While the paint was still wet, tiny sponges were used to dab and wipe away the desired amount of paint, leaving a stained look. I love the way the brown paint gives a wooden look, while the black looks more stone-like. The kids can't wait to take 'em home.

Paint on...

Paint off...

This amulet reflects its maker's personality, ha!

I forgot to mention earlier--we jam to African music while we do these! It makes it so much more fun! There are some expressive dancers in fourth grade, hehe.