Easy Projects

One of my favourite projects is making *animal* or *people* pots using Aztec, Mayan, or Toltec pots as the inspiration. Modelled and decorated with brushed-on coloured slips in the one lesson period. With the less able that allows them continuity of thought. The pots then just need a coat of clear glaze afterwards which the teacher can do without in effect altering the student's creation.

Steve Bath UK

In article , Mpchet writes

How about a decorated slab (maybe with impressed coils of different coloured clay - white earthenware and terracotta usually work well if you don't have time to wedge some colorant into the clay), and then put over a hump mould ( bowl with newspaper on it). Add legs while up side down, make sure the legs are level. check with light board on top.

Rolling slab around cylinder (can) and making bottom from another slab can make nice pencil holder, wine cooler etc. I have done it with kids as totem poles.

How about a coil pot. Quite often it is pleasing to work in rhythmical way. Does it have to be finished in one hour or can you wrap project up til next week?

An easy project is to roll out a slab and then lay it on an inflated balloon; then fold the excess over itself. When leather hard, attach three small feet to the bottom. I use balloons that have set around for a few days so they have lost a little air. If your balloons are too full, you may have problems with cracking, as the clay dries and shrinks, if the balloon is unable to be compressed as the slab dries. You can also use the same idea with paper lunch bags/sacks stuffed with newspapers. Steve in Tampa, Fl.

I took a class a couple of times that was designed for parent and child to take together. Some of the things we made were rattles, windchimes and coil pots.

The rattles were made from 2 pinch pot bowls put together and decorated on the outside. The rattle part was made by putting 3 little clay balls wrapped in newspaper first (to keep them from sticking inside the pinch pot bowls) before they were attached. The finished rattle then had a very small hole poked into it before firing it to keep it from blowing up in the kiln, I guess. Our rattles were raku fired, but they'd probably be just as good fired in a different way.

The windchimes were made from low fired clay (gave it a nice "ring") rolled into a slab. We then cut shapes and decorated with underglazes or stamps. You have to be sure to put a hole in each piece to attach the string. Use a stick or a piece made from another slab for the top of the windchime.

The coil pots were a fun project that we worked on in groups of parent and child, and I love having this piece since my son and I made it together.

Deb R.

in a recent class, we made balls out of slab, but made them fully enclosed. we left a very small opening, and blew into them to form a bubble of clay and sealed them as we were blowing into them. they were then formed into objects (animal heads, vegetables, etc). when done forming, poke a hole into it somewhere (eyeholes, etc). fire and glaze like normal.

regards, charlie cave creek, az

you can make your own fossils with a slab of clay and squash anything that'll burn out into it. try leaves, twigs, grass, ferns, string, rice, etc.

i got bored with coil pots but instead flattened the coils and cut them into little bricks. i'd then brick lay walls on a slab of clay and build my own little house. for the roof i used a stick across the peak and used a slab drapped over it. even is only half way finished they look neat & rustic. don't even bother glazing.

see ya

steve

steve graber