Clay 4 Kids

As parents, we know how much kids need art - and how much they love working with clay! We have our own ceramics studio and create a variety of work, including lots of animals! During this pandemic, we want to offer our local families an at-home art-making activity with clay. It’s easier than you think!

We have tiles, glazes, brushes, and clay! You can glaze your own 4x4 tile or start with a pound of clay for a small fee. To help you understand the process, we’ve compiled some resources for you to better understand how to create your own ceramic art.

This is a porch pick-up / porch drop-off project with no human contact. We’re located near West Middle School. To place an order or schedule a pick up, please email LuckyBunnyArts@gmail.com (Payments accepted: CASH, Venmo, Zelle.)

- Kelly Lyons and John Lucassian, RCS parents (RHS and West)

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Important Information For Your Project

Watching these videos will help you ensure that your piece stays together when it goes in the kiln. The total watch time for all three videos is just seven minutes. We highly recommend you watch all three videos.

• Introduction to making clay animals: Make sure you watch to the end to see how to attach pieces together (this is REALLY important!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1ff0L8HdPw
• Scratch and attach: This very short video highlights how to put two pieces of clay together: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FmELXN0W_M
• Why it’s so important to attach pieces properly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONYkkGbtAoA

Tools You Already Have

• Table covering: In order of recommendations, try 1) a scrap piece of unfinished wood/plywood, 2) a vinyl tablecloth (it wipes down really easily), or 3) newspaper (open it up and use several sheets (4-5). Depending on the age, you may want to tape newspaper to the table so it doesn’t move.
• Clay tools: Consider plastic forks, chopsticks, and wooden pencils. Stamps can be used to create decoration and patterns. Everything in the picture (bunny, turtle, ladybug, and bunny were created with just a pencil as a tool.)
• Bowl for water: Consider a small plastic container that you’d normally recycle. CAUTION: Debris from clay should not be put down the drain. Clay is a natural material and your water bowl can be dumped in the yard. You don’t need very much!

Guidelines For Clay Creations

Please keep these guidelines in mind to ensure successful firing.

• Nothing thinner than your pinky finger. Thin pieces can break off easily.
• Solid clay pieces must be smaller than a golf ball (if round) or hotdog (if wormlike). You can make hollow pieces, like a cup. The walls of a cup should be about as thick as your pinky finger. If your work is larger or thicker than the guidelines, there is a greater risk of exploding in the kiln.
• Scratch and attach all pieces. There is a risk that items can explode in the kiln if they have pieces that are poorly attached, so this is very important!
• NO glaze on the bottom of your work. Every point on your work that touches when you set it down needs to be glaze free. If you accidentally get glaze on the bottom, it can be wiped off with a sponge or paper towel. We will check your pieces to ensure they are able to be fired. REMEMBER: Three coats of each color for best results.

About The Ceramic Process

• Bisque Firing: Once you create your piece, schedule a drop-off and we will bisque fire it in the kiln. This is the first kiln firing for a ceramic piece. It’s at a lower temperature, so the artwork will accept glaze. More info here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwUiuKSGtuA (This shows pots, mugs, and bowls, but you’re welcome to make anything!)
• Glaze Firing: Once your piece has been bisque fired, you’ll paint glaze onto your piece. We recommend THREE coats of each color to ensure best results. Then artwork is fired to a higher temperature in the kiln during the glaze firing. More info here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbtf-jt7XjY

Firing Schedule

• Artwork will be fired and available for pick up within 5 to 10 days of receipt.

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Paint A Tile - $10

• One blank white 4x4 tile including kiln firing
• 4 glazes (½ oz each of four colors, you choose)
• 1 flat and 1 round paint brush

Make It With Clay - $20

Makes 3-5 small pieces. Image shows four pieces from one pound of clay (pencil for scale.)

• 1 lb white mid-fire clay including bisque and glaze firing
• 4 glazes (½ oz each of four colors, you choose)
• 1 flat and 1 round paint brush
• (Glazes and brushes provided after first firing.)

Extras

• 4 extra glazes (½ oz of each), you choose colors - $5
• Delivery of purchased project kits (Saturday morning porch delivery) - $5

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Glaze Colors - Select four (4).

Glaze colors will fire similar to image (depending on screen graphics). Color of glaze in cup will not be as vivid as the final color after firing. REMEMBER: Use THREE coats of each color for best results.

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To place an order or schedule a pick up, please email LuckyBunnyArts@gmail.com (Payments accepted: CASH, Venmo, Zelle.)