SchoolArts - May/June 2010

Calm, Cool, and Comfortable in Clay

My fourth-grade stu- dents had just finished a drawing unit that focused on the human figure. Projects included charcoal gesture drawings and chalk manikin drawings in chiaroscuro. I wanted to integrate a new medium for students to continue their study of the human figure. Since students are always excited to work with clay, making clay figures seemed like the next best step in our study of the human figure.

Also available on each table was a
bowl of slip—a solution of clay, vin-
egar, and water used to join pieces of
clay. I demonstrated the scoring tech-
nique of making small scratches into
the surface, followed
by the application of
slip and the joining
of the pieces. Now
students were ready
to work.

Since students are always
excited to work with
clay, making clay figures
seemed like the next best
step in our study of the
human figure.

Xanthippi Cynthia Stylianou

Finishing Because of the small size of the figures and the difficulty of glazing and stilting them in the kiln, I chose not to glaze them. When the figures had been dried and fired, students sprayed them with a matte acrylic finish. Most any spray can be used, from a colored, high gloss glitter to a stone-textured spray paint.

Preparation

On each table, I placed a wooden manikin that students would be able to manipulate to visualize the stance they wanted their figures to have.

Just Hanging
Around

Each student was given a square slab of red clay. Students had fun imagining their figures holding their pets, reading their favorite books, playing a sport, or just hanging around. I discussed keeping the figure simple, without much detail, focusing more on the position and proportions. Small details and scoring were added with old pencils or opened paper clips.

Xanthippi Cynthia Stylianou taught this lesson at Rowland Hall St. Mark’s Lower School in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is now teaching at the World Journalism Preparatory School in New York City. Xan522@ aol.com Students use different media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas, experiences, and stories.