I fell in love with clay when I took my first college Ceramics class as a freshman. I enjoyed all of my art classes, but when it was time to choose an area of emphasis for my Art degree I didn’t hesitate…. Ceramics for the win!! I’m not alone in my fondness for clay. Kids of all ages LOVE working with clay!! And teachers can love it, too.... although it can be intimidating to … [Read more...]
Easy Sugar Skull Ceramic Planter
When I saw this awesome sugar skull ceramic planter at Trader Joes I knew I had to come up with a way for my students to make them! So here it is, just in time for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on November 1 & 2! All you'll need is clay, a popsicle stick, a fettling knife, and a dull pencil.... Make a sugar skull ceramic planter: If you want to plant … [Read more...]
Unwind with a Relaxing Ceramic “Feeling Sculpture”
This "Feeling Sculpture" may be the most relaxing clay project you’ll ever do. My students loved it so much, they asked to do it again the next week! Ages 5-85 can all have fun with this project that could double as therapy. Credit for this awesome project goes to my daughter’s high school Ceramics teacher, Mr. Emery. He challenged his students to form the clay with their eyes … [Read more...]
Say, “I Love You” with Clay
There’s something about ceramic projects that makes them such special keepsakes. Maybe it’s the permanence of the glazed and fired clay, able to last well beyond a generation. Maybe it’s the tactile nature of the medium itself and the way it reveals each impression left by the artist’s hands. Or, maybe it’s that there tend to be fewer of these projects than the more common 2D … [Read more...]
Colorful Clay Leaves
There seems to be a universal appeal when it comes to projects with leaves! Young or old, male or female.... who doesn't like leaves?? This project is quick and easy, hard to mess up, and offers a "wow factor" as the vein impressions make these ceramic leaves look incredibly realistic! So, go out and gather some leaves while you still can. Big ones (like these) are fun, but … [Read more...]
Art for the Differently-abled
I wasn’t looking for a new teaching position when I got the phone call last spring to “just let me show you our facility”. The call was from the director of the Stroke and Disability Learning Center at our local Community College, and I agreed to a tour. It wasn't the beautiful new facility that hooked me, but the Stroke Center’s motto: “Love Spoken Here”, printed on the … [Read more...]
