Snowman and Self Portrait

Once you understand some of the basics of working with clay, you will feel very confident using this medium with young children.  It is very easy to work with, and an excellent tactile medium to help young children develop their fine motor skills and express themselves artistically.  The completed product serves as an wonderful story writing prompt as well.  Special thanks to our Artist in Residence, Patti Holowaychuk, for her outstanding tutelage. 

Important Basics To Know Before You Start Working With Clay

Technique For Adhering Pieces Together

• Air bubbles must be removed before firing clay work.  For thicker or larger pieces, pierce a hole through the centre.  In this case, through the bottom ball of the snowman directly through upper ball.  Do not pierce through the top of the upper ball.
• Sometimes small appendages will break off after the firing process.  If this happens, use an all purpose white glue to re-attach the appendage.

• Using the knitting needle (or similar object), score the pieces that are to be attached, at the point where they are going to attach.
• Using a wet toothbrush, not too wet, gently brush the scored areas.
• Join the two pieces at the prepared areas, and fuse them by blending the outer clay together, using your finger.  If the area is too tiny for your finger, us a small tool, such as the last inch of the knitting needle.

Materials

How To Make The Snowman

• buff colored clay (approximately the size of a large fist)
• old tooth brushes
• paint brushes
• pointed tool such as a knitting needle
• a small jar for water
• tempera paint
• spray on glaze
• two twigs

Alyssa B.

Alana N.

• Work the clay with your hands until it is soft and pliable.
• Roll 3 balls (small 1",  medium 2", large 3").
• Using the Technique for adhering two pieces together, fuse the three balls together to form a snowman.
• Using the knitting needle, gently make a hole from the bottom ball of the snowman to the top ball.  This will help to eliminate any air bubbles.
• Using two very tiny pieces of clay, make to balls for the eyes, and adhere them to the head.
• Using a very tiny piece of clay, make a cone shape for the nose.  Attach it using the same scoring, tooth brushing and blending techniques.
• For the hat, make a small ball.  Gently push your finger in the middle to make an impression.  Work the clay around the sides to build a brim.  Using the Adhering Technique, attach the hat to the head.
• Using one of the twigs as a guide, poke a hole in both sides of the medium ball.   These will be the armholes that will hold the twigs after the project has been dried and fired.

How to Make the Snow Base

How to Make the Person (Self-portrait)

• Make a rectangular base, approximately 4" x 6", and 1/4" to 1/2 thick

Connor B.

• For the body, make a ball approximately 1 1/2"
• For the head make a ball approximately 3/4"
• For the legs, roll 2 tube shapes approximately 1 1/2" long
• For the arms, roll 2 tube shapes approximately 1" long
• Other accessories can also shaped and added at the discretion of the artist
• Using the adhering technique, attach the parts

Putting It All Together

The Finishing Touches

• Once you have all of your pieces constructed, fuse them together using the adhering technique above.
• Now you are ready to fire your clay work in the kiln.

• Once your clay work has been fired, paint it with liquid tempera paints.
• When the paint is dry, spray your project with a spray on glaze.

Chelsea B.

Jorge D.

Dana D.

Meghan D.

Aaron E.

Monika G.

Katie F.

Xania G.

Madison K.

Steven K.

Braden O.

James P.

Amanda R.

Bryan P.

Emily R.

Christina S.

Nicholas V.

Kaila P.

Caitlynn S.

Pablo V.

This is so cool!

Look at mine!

Can I make another one!   Pleeeeease!  Just one more!

I like how it feels in my hands!

I never knew I could make something so nice!

I wish we could do this all the time!

Grade 1A - Mrs. Ewasiuk

Mary Hanley Catholic Elementary School