Flexible Schedule Class: Working With Clay

Clay comes from the earth: an ancient, organic, substance.  It smells cool and dark.   It is smooth and soft, yet also quite dense. Clay requires muscle.  There is an intuitive aspect to working with clay; through many encounters, we develop a sense of the fluidity and substance.  There are many sorts of clay, ranging from earthen clay to manufactured modeling clays like Plasticine, Sculpy, and other types of air-dry based clay.   Fired in a kiln, clay hardens to a lasting durability.  Modeling materials like Plasticine are designed to be air-dried.   

 For this series of classes, we will be using Air-Dry Clay for the convenience of the work drying hard in the air not needing to be processed in the kiln.

Children will create weekly a new works of art!  They will learn about and make coil and pinch pots, create clay sculptures using collected found materials.   They will learn how to make slab mugs and candle lanterns, create clay animal form sculptures.    They will have the opportunity to explore different techniques working with clay, using basic tools and experimenting with creating patterns and textures, and decorating with paints and or other items : sequins, jewels, other embellishments.  These classes are for the learner who would like to explore working with air-dry clay.



 Weekly materials needed for each project will be available upon registration as well as posted weekly in the classroom. Here below are our weekly projects- come join us- make a new friend and have some fun working with clay!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Expectations for this Flex Class--  ** There are no live meet-ups for this course. **

Each week, I will post a recorded class session  for everyone enrolled in this flex course to view when convenient. To ensure that this flexible schedule course is enriching and interactive for everyone, learners will interact  with one another and myself through  many different means- including classroom posts, video responses, pictures, and/ or classroom discussion-- pick your favorite one or all!    I ask that your child checks in with me via the classroom section to upload pictures of their work and to ask any questions.   I also would like each learner to view their classmates work when posted and make a comment about it.  Let's be positive and supporting here!  :)  

Some ideas to make comments about when posting to me  and others for the first time: Introducing yourself and where you are from!  And for  the future weeks... Please, tell everyone:  What  did you like about the week's project and class lesson?  What was something interesting that you discovered this week working with your clay project?   Do you have anything on your mind about the topic of the week you would like to talk about-  Or ask questions about?

Every week I  will provide a personalized feedback on learners work, as well as support and encouragement when needed during the course of this flex class.. I will also promote student interaction with each other by posting an interactive activity for the students to work on together each week, which will include trivia questions about some of the key concepts covered in this class.  As touched upon before, all learners will also be able to discuss and compliment each other’s weekly projects in our virtual classroom.

 Please upload your work and comments for each week's project by using the title of the lesson, so everyone knows which project your work is pertaining to- for example:   Week 1:  September 13: Coil Bowls

Each week, we will cover the weekly lesson topic and work on our own expressive projects relating to the topic.   I will occasionally post supplemental videos to watch, and  interactive  challenges for everyone in the classroom.  .  I provide a list of  suggested resources for your materials and supplies for this class; however, I am flexible to work with anything that you and your child would like to try!

 I will check in on Thursdays.  I will post the weekly recording and comment to all contributing posts from the children and am happy to answer any questions you might have as well along the way.


Here are our weekly projects and materials:

Week 1  January 7
Project:  Coil  Bowls
Materials: Air Dry Clay, slip, Pointy stick for making marks, little botanical bits ( fern pieces, flower petals, blades of grass, leaves, and/ or glitter, sequins  etc ) white glue, acrylic paint, small water-color size paint brushes, water cups to rinse paint colors from brush

Week Jan. 14
Project:  Wall Hangings
Materials:  Air Dry Clay, Slip, Pointy stick for making marks rolling pin, paper, botanical bits ( optional: leaves, ferns, flower with stems, weeds...and natural material that interests you, glitter, sequins), white glue,  paints, small paint brush

Week 3   Jan. 21
Project:  Clay Sculptures
Materials:  Air Dry Clay,  slip, pointy stick for mark making, twigs/ sticks, acrylic paint, paintbrushes, water cup to rinse color from brushes- any natural materials that interest you to use in your sculptures



Week 4    Jan. 28
Project:  Pinch Pots
Materials: Air Dry Clay, slip, little botanical bits ( always an option: fern pieces, flower petals, blades of grass, leaves, glitter,  etc ) white glue, acrylic paint, small water-color size paint brushes, water cups to rinse paint colors from brush


Week 5   Feb. 4
Project:  Studio Time- we will have the opportunity to decorate and emblishe all of our 3 projects during our studio time
Materials: Dried projects from previous weeks to work on, paints, and/or other embellishments, white or clear liquid glue or modge-podge



Week  6    Feb. 11
Project:  Clay Medallion Wall Hanging
Materials:  Air Dry Clay, pencil, paper-plates or cardboard, botanical bits ( leaves, ferns, flower with stems, weed. sequins etc...and natural material that interests you), white glue, little bit of water, ribbons/string,1 branch that will be used for hanging and supporting the medallions

Week 6:     Feb. 18
Project:  Slab Mugs
Materials: 2 rulers, large amount of air-dry clay, hand roller,, pointy stick , slip, surface to work on, * optional lace or mesh fabric

Week 7:    Feb. 25
Project:  Candle Lanterns
Materials: large amount of air-dry clay, working surface, pointy stick, slip

Week 8:    March 4
Project: Hanging Pots
Materials: large amount of air-dry clay, working surface, pointy stick, slip


Week 9:   March 11
Project- Studio Time- we will have the opportunity to paint and decorate our slab mgs, and candle lanterns and hanging pots
Materials: Dried projects from previous weeks to work on, paints, and/or other embellishments, white or clear liquid glue or modge-podge

Week 10:   March 18
Project: Table Bowl 
Materials: large amount of clay, pointy stick, slip, working surface


Week 11:    March 25
Project:  Wall Planters
Materials: air dry clay, pointy stick, slip, working surface



Week 12:   April 1
Project:  Studio Time- we will have the opportunity to paint and decorate our table bowls and wall planters 
Materials:  Dried projects from previous weeks to work on, paints, and/or other embellishments, white or clear liquid glue or modge-podge