Creating Clay Figures
air dry clay, 2016
Tools and Materials:
Air-dry clay, paper plates for bases, clay tools (tongue depressors, old pencils, bottle caps, modeling/styling tool, etc) liquitex gloss medium, paint, paintbrushes, containers, black sharpies
Introduction:
To begin this lesson, students will view artwork by American Indian, Nancy Adams, Michael & Sumati Colpitts, and L. A. Greene. Students will critique the artwork and discuss the unique characteristics of each one.
Review:
We will be making a sculpture of a figure. You may select to make a person or an animal. For either one there are some things you need to know about clay sculpture. The figure should either be doing something or be in some kind of relaxed pose. Clay is easy to model but it is difficult for a clay structure to support itself. Think about poses that form masses that can easily support themselves—for instance, a person reading a book, or resting on their elbows, or lying down.
Process:
Week 1
Air-dry clay, paper plates for bases, clay tools (tongue depressors, old pencils, bottle caps, modeling/styling tool, etc) liquitex gloss medium, paint, paintbrushes, containers, black sharpies
Introduction:
To begin this lesson, students will view artwork by American Indian, Nancy Adams, Michael & Sumati Colpitts, and L. A. Greene. Students will critique the artwork and discuss the unique characteristics of each one.
Review:
- What makes a person creative?
- They think of new ideas
- They approach things in ways that are original to them
- They are inventive and resourceful
- They look at new possibilities to solving problems as they work on projects
- How can you develop your creativity?
- Do not worry what other people think about your work
- Do not be afraid—of rejection, of being different, of not doing it right, or of getting a bad grade
- Examine different ways of doing things
- If you don’t have what you need, think about what else you can use
- Try doing things a new way
- Take time to think about it; pray about it
- Talk about your ideas with someone else; get a second opinion
- Practice and look at things you are interested in, study them
- Why is it important to develop and use creativity?
- Creativity helps you express your thoughts and ideas
- It helps develop new ways of thinking and new ways to solve problems
- It helps build self-confidence
We will be making a sculpture of a figure. You may select to make a person or an animal. For either one there are some things you need to know about clay sculpture. The figure should either be doing something or be in some kind of relaxed pose. Clay is easy to model but it is difficult for a clay structure to support itself. Think about poses that form masses that can easily support themselves—for instance, a person reading a book, or resting on their elbows, or lying down.
Process:
Week 1
- Review basic clay instructions
- Distribute clay, and a paper plate with name on the paper plate
- Construct clay figure
- Use a small amount of slip (water + clay) to smooth out any cracks that may have been created while sculpting
- When finished, dip clay piece in the mixture of 1/2 water and 1/2 liquitex gloss medium. Place it on the shelf to dry
- Students will write their name on an Exit card and answer the following question: If you had more time what would you add to your artwork?
- Paint sculpture with tempera paint
- Put on drying shelf
- Students will write their name on an Exit card and answer the following question: What title would you give your sculpture?
- Formative: Assessment is done through teacher observation of student’s participation during group discussions, during sculpting, and during informal interviews. Learners should be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of what creativity means and if they consider themselves creative.
- Summative: Individual artwork will be reviewed for thinking of new ideas, for approaching something in a way that is original to them, and for looking at new possibilities to solve problems that occur as they work.
