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.