Observing Hands in 2 and 3 Dimensions

After 8th graders observed their hands through drawing (blind contour, continuous line, wrong hand), we practiced observing hands in three dimensions. The students followed along with a video clip from Ceramic Arts Daily where an artist made a 1:1 sculpture of her hand starting with a slab, adding, subtracting, and shaping.Awesome hand sculpting video: http://ceramicartsdaily.org/bookstore/figure-sculpting-in-clay-with-melisa-cadell/

Some students kept their hands flat while others posed them and/or added a base.

The students could glaze their projects in any color they chose.

I honestly can't remember what color we were trying to make here, but I love the effect of the 3 glazes combined on the hand above. I think it was gray, fuchsia, and petal pink.

In case you were wondering, 2 days to sculpt, 1 day to glaze.

Not 8th graders in this photo, but here are some high school students observing their hands with the same drawing techniques.

Mud Ponies

Last school year we spent some time learning about Native American cultures for our district's Cultural Heritage studies. I came across the book "The Mud Pony" by Caron Lee Cohen and thought it would be a great starting point for a clay project. I didn't have my clay order in yet so I filed the idea away until spring. 

Here's a description of the story from Publishers Weekly:

"From the Skidi branch of the Pawnee Indians of the Plains comes this tale of a boy who achieves greatness in his tribe with the guidance of a pony he made out of mud. Too poor to own a pony like the other boys, he fashions a small mud pony and goes to see it every day. It is during one of these visits that the rest of the tribe moves west in search of buffalo, and the boy is left behind. Not only does the mud pony become a living, breathing horse, but she takes him to his tribe; later, she helps him become the chief of his tribe by giving him great power in battles. "I am here, your Mother Earth. You are not alone!" are the words he hears when the mud pony has once again gone back to the earth. Cohen retells this story with grace; Begay, a Native American artist, provides evocative paintings that derive strength and impact from the suggestion of action rather than fully detailed scenes. Ages 5-8."

I made a really awesome illustration (haha) to show the steps I demonstrated for sculpting a clay horse. I hope that it makes sense!

 This was a little tricky for a lot of the 2nd graders, who tend to either pinch too much and make legs too skinny to support the weight of the rest of the animal, or legs that are too short making the animal hard to identify. I think it would be easier for older students.

Since we are using choice based art, I didn't require that the students make a horse, just that they sculpt the clay. In my next blog post, I'll share some of the other sculpture projects.

Clay Roundup

I like to save clay for the last project of the year- we only do it once a year so students are excited and engaged, despite the approaching end of the school year. This year, however, clay projects were completed closer to spring break since I didn't know if baby #2 would let me finish the school year. (He was actually 3 days late but I ended up taking off a week early for my sanity.) I want to just post a quick rundown of each of my K-3rd grade clay lessons. 

*Click on the links next to the grade level headings to see a longer post with more information from a previous year.

3rd grade- The Pot That Juan Built

Students learn about Juan Quezada through this awesome book then make slab and coil pots. As long as they learn and use the techniques, they can make whatever they want. This year I didn't limit any color choices. The main body of the air dry clay projects were painted with tempera cakes and I gave black liquid tempera for details.

 2nd grade- Transportation

Last year I planned "transportation" as the theme for the 2nd grade lesson because it ties into their social studies curriculum. The students really enjoyed it so we tried it again this year. I demonstrated using pinch pots, coils, and attachments to make a few basic forms and the students made anything fitting the theme.

Wish I had noticed I messed up the photo. I loved the rider on this horse.

 1st Grade- Pinch Pot Creatures

One year the students made pinch pot turtles, then I added ladybugs, then I figured as long as they showed they learned how to make a pinch pot and attach things, the subject didn't really matter. Most students stuck to the animals I demonstrated- turtle, ladybug, fish- but some branched out and tried different ideas. There was even a beaver but I didn't get a photo of it. I know that the first time I saw the turtle idea, I was on Deep Space Sparkle but I've seen the other creatures too many different places to site an inspiration source.

Giraffe!

 Kindergarten- Knee Bowls, Choice, Adapted Ball Bowl

Most of my Kindergarten students made knee bowls- a slab of clay formed into a bowl by pressing over their covered knee. The students used tools to make designs and/or textures in the surface then painted in the next class period. This year I had several students who had made knee bowls with me in PreK and already knew the process and skills. Some of the students chose to try out the "adapted" ball bowl project I picked up at a workshop, and some made whatever they chose out of clay.

 Several Kindergarten girls sitting together made snowpeople family portrait sculptures. Below is one of my favorites, a self portrait riding a horse.

Next year if we get a district-wide agreement on what skills need to be mastered in clay at each grade level, I'm thinking about free choice as long as they demonstrate the skill.

Check out the related post, Loving Lumpy Pots!