Mount Vernon Teachers’ Workshop
December 7, 2014 12-2:30pm
@ Clay Art Center, Port Chester, NY
**Notes from today’s workshop can be accessed online at gabriellesia.com/news**
Have questions? Please feel free to email Gabby at gsia727@gmail.com.
Schedule a fieldtrip with your students! Contact Ariel Edwards at (914) 937-2047 x240.
Clay Techniques:
1. Pinch Pots
*Form a clay ball
*Insert thumb into center
*Use lobster claw hand to pinch all around thumbprint
*Watch out for thin spots (thick as a pancake, not thin as a potato chip)
2. Coils
*Find a non-stick surface to work on
*Form an easily manageable piece of clay into an elongated, semi-round shape
*Use shadow puppet bird hands to roll clay on table
*Measure using the width of a finger to establish uniformity of coils
3. Slab Shaping & Draping
*First establish how large your slab must ultimately be
*Gather necessary amount of clay
*Patty cake the clay until it is reasonably flat
*Use a roller and roll in one direction (back and forth will make clay stick to roller)
*Press clay into a non-vitreous mold (paper, plaster or bisque-fired clay work great!)
*Craft foam makes a great, non-absorbent template for precise shape cutting
4. Slip & Score/Scratch & Attach
*Use a fork, skewer, or other sharp tool to create clay Velcro on both pieces
*Dab a small amount of water OR slip onto both pieces
*Press pieces together and use wiggle test to ensure stability
*Add a thin coil to reinforce as necessary
5. Wax Resist/Sgraffito
*Create a design on paper, or lightly sketch one onto clay
*Using a clean, thin brush, apply wax onto clay surface
*Lightly scratch though the surface of to reveal naked clay design
*Remember, where there is wax, there will not be glaze!
*Clean brush immediately with dish detergent
What if you don’t have a kiln?
There is a wide array of non-ceramic clays on the market. Paper pulp, air-dry clay and
homemade clay are all wonderful alternatives, though they will not have the staying power of
ceramic clay. Ceramic clay is made of decomposed rock that lives deep beneath the topsoil we
see on the ground. There is truly no match for the real deal! Below is a recipe for homemade
clay that will air-dry, is inexpensive, and quite a lot of fun to make with younger students.
Gabby’s No-Fail Clay
1 cup cornstarch
2 cups baking soda
1 ¼ cups cold water
*Combine all in one pot
*Stir over low heat
*Continue until it resembles mashed potatoes
*Remove from stove
To store the clay, let it cool completely, then place in zip-lock bags. It will keep in the fridge for
up to 72 hours. If you’d like to add color to the clay, tempera/poster paint can be added drop by
drop during the mashed potato phase. If adding color after cooling, use acrylic craft paints.
Books!
Ceramics for Kids, Mary Ellis
The Sweet and Sour Animal Book, Langston Hughes
The Kids ‘N’ Clay Ceramics Book, Kevin Nierman
Southwestern Pottery- Anasazi to Zuni, Allan Hayes & John Blom
Internet!
Google
DickBlick.com
CeramicArtsDaily.com
MetMuseum.org
IncredibleArt.org
Clay Suppliers!
Ceramic Supply Inc. (Lodi, NJ): (800) 723-7264
Bailey Ceramic Supply (Kingston, NY): (800) 431-6067
West’s Ceramic Supply (Highland, NY): (845) 691-6060