Beginning Ceramics A
Pinch Critter Pots
Directions: This pinch project will have attachments (head, ears, tail, legs, etc.) It is extremely important to carefully wrap the attached small details of your unfinished clay project with moist paper towels. The entire project is wrapped with plastic at the end of each class to keep out air and to keep the clay moist.
1. Roll clay into a ball. Make a hole in the middle with your thumb.
2. Pinch around and around to make a bowl shape for the
body. Remember the thickness should be
¼ inch thick.
3.
Now make a critter! Make your critter by attaching little balls of clay
for the head and eyes. Roll out
small coils to create legs and tails. Remember: No part
of the critter can be thicker than 1 inch.
4. Cut out flat slabs of clay. Trim
and pinch them into the shapes of wings or ears.
5. To create hair, you can use a clay gun (small extruder).
6. To attach small pieces to the body (bowl shape), rub their edges gently
with your fingers and a moist sponge.
Getting your fingers wet will also work to attach the
pieces.
7. Use a pin tool (needle tool) to carve texture. Add details like teeth,
toenails, and nostrils by using the
modeling tool.
8. Cover your piece with plastic when you have completed it so that the project
dries out slowly and does not
crack.
9. Remember to carve your initials and your class period on the bottom of
your critter.
Contact Ms. Bennett at
(415) 334-0525, voice mail 312
or
e-mail:
gbennett@mercyhs.org