Clay Gnome with Mushroom. Brielle R. 2013.
All our clay projects this year are made from Sedona Red Clay. They are fired in the kiln but remain fragile. They will break easily. Sometimes a project will separate in the kiln or even explode. If a student’s project has had pieces separate in firing, I do my best to find the pieces to see if they can be FUSed back together in the final kiln firing.
Pack the Project Carefully for the Trip Home
Please wrap the projects carefully in paper and place in a paper bag to ensure they make the trip home safely. Avoid carrying the project inside backpacks or canvas bags.
the students are often so excited to get their clay back, they don’t take time to carefully paint their clay in class. Some touch-up may be needed at home. This is a great opportunity for your child to share their artistic process with you at home. Ask them questions about the steps they took to make their clay. Reflection is a very important step in the artistic process. Ask your child to describe, analyze and reflect on their work.
BREAKAGE
If a sculpture breaks, it is best to paint both sides of the cracked piece with Acrylic paint first.
It can also make a great “glue”.
Acrylic Paints
Acrylic paints can be purchased from your local arts and crafts supply stores. They are available in a variety of colors.
Begin by painting one single color for the whole piece. Once the base color has dried, smaller details can be added.
Tempera Paints or Felt Markers
Any water-based paint or marker can be used on the project. Watercolor, Tempera, etc. Permanent markers like sharpies are great for adding small details. The advantage of water based paints is they are easier to clean up, but they do require more handling because of the extra step.
The final step is to add a clear coat spray, applied by an adult in a place with good ventilation. I would recommend sealing the clay project with low-odor Krylon® Spray-on Gloss Sealer or similar product, available at most craft and hardware stores.
Adding to or Repairing a Project
Use a hot-glue gun to add things like yarn or string hair, metal wire, pipe cleaners or other items. Sometimes a project may break while being handled. Repairs can usually be made with the use of a glue gun. You can get a glue gun and plenty of glue for less than $10.
