- Working with clay
- Learning to work with three-dimensional form
- Applying underglazes
three-dimensional, bisqueware, underglaze
RESOURCES
Click here to view additional information about working with clay in a printer-friendly format. Programs from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus performances are a good source for pictures of real-life clowns.
YOU WILL NEED
- 12- by 18-inch Masonite boards—one for each child—or canvas to cover the work surface
- Clay—one small grapefruit-sized ball for each child plus a few extra
- Tenpenny nails (Nails that are 3 inches long.)
- Small containers for water
- Opaque underglazes in a variety of colors (non-toxic)
- Clear glaze (non-toxic)
- Brushes for applying underglazes
- Plastic for gradually drying the clay projects
- Pictures of actual clowns, rather than other artists’ renditions, for discussion.
First Session
Preparation
- Check the clay several days ahead to be sure it is of good workable consistency. Plan to have the clay slightly wetter than usual for small hands to work with.
- Wedge the clay into small grapefruit-sized balls, planning one for each child plus a few extra.
- Cover work area with individual Masonite boards or canvas.
- Set out tenpenny nails, containers of water, and clay.
- Have available the pictures of clowns to discuss their characteristics with the children.
- Explain to the children that they will be using clay to make circus clowns. Warn them that this project will take several weeks to complete since the clay must be dried slowly and fired in the kiln several times.
- It is important to make sturdy pieces that will hold together while going through the firings. Demonstrate how to attach pieces of clay by using a tenpenny nail to scratch the surfaces to be joined, applying a small amount of slip or water, and pressing the two pieces together. Be sure the children understand that if they don’t scratch and slip their attachments, the pieces of clay might fall apart as they dry.
- The children should plan to make their clowns from one ball of clay by breaking off pieces as necessary. The clowns should be built upright and three-dimensional, or viewable from all sides.
- Show the children the examples of circus clowns. Talk about their over-sized shoes, baggy pants, bow ties, round red noses, silly hair, and often funny hats.
- Distribute the clay and have the children build their clowns.
Second Session
Preparation
- Set out bisque-fired clowns.
- Set out brushes and a variety of underglazes.
- Have available the pictures of clowns.
- Show the examples of the clowns again, this time pointing out the bright colors and patterns of their clothes. In this session, the children will be adding color to their clay clowns with underglazes, which is paint for clay.
- Explain that after clay has been fired for the first time in a kiln, it is referred to as bisqueware and is very fragile. It must be handled very carefully.
- Demonstrate how quickly the underglazes dry when applied to the bisqueware. The children will need to dip their brushes often to avoid scrubbing and to cover all areas. They should carefully dab into any cracks or rough areas on the clay surface.
- Show the children that they can apply designs directly on top of the dried underglazes. The last color painted is the one that will show.
- Before giving the children their clay pieces, remind them that bisqueware is fragile and must be handled carefully.
- Have the children paint their clowns with the underglaze, encouraging them to include patterns and bright colors.
NOTES
- When working with 3- and 4-year-old children, moisten the clay more than usual, since they do not have as much strength in their hands. I also don’t introduce the scratch and slip method to this age. Using very moist clay is usually enough to hold the pieces together if you dry the clay slowly.
- This is a good project for small children because the over-sized shoes and baggy pants make it easy to balance the clay figures in standing positions.
- Keep reminding the children how easily bisqueware can be broken.
- Opaque, rather than transparent, underglazes are best to use with young children. Mistakes are easily covered up and designs can be painted directly on top of the bottom color.
- Glaze is more complicated to work with than underglaze, so I apply the clear glaze for children between the ages of 3 and 6.
- The balloon in the work above was added by putting a small deep hole in the balloon and the clown's hand before drying the clay. Avoid getting underglaze or glaze in the holes. After the glaze firing, put white glue on each end of a piece of wire, stick it into the holes, and let dry.
- Do the clowns stand upright without support?
- Are they viewable from all sides?
- Discuss some of the characteristics of the clowns that make us laugh.
- The clay for my clown won’t stand up. It keeps falling over.
- I’m making my clown’s hair stick straight up!
- I was making green polka dots on my clown’s shirt and I dripped some on his shoes.
- Be sure to make the legs of your clown's pants thick and attach them to your big clown shoes.
- Clowns have funny hair. The sillier, the better. Sometimes they have crazy hats too.
- If you dripped underglaze where you don’t want it, just cover it up with the color you want. Remember that the last color of underglaze that you apply is the color that will show.
