Top Tips for working with Clay (and how to come up with ideas!)

Here is our idea board from the second class! I'm a huge fan of guiding kids through the process of coming up with their own ideas for clay projects. In a Pinterest-fed world, it's good to practice thinking on our own. They always come up with some clever ideas!

And no, Parents, it might not look Pinterest-worthy, but I guarantee something better: Your kid will have a bigger investment and pride in their art project when they come up with the idea and learn how to execute it. AND they'll have the confidence in themselves becausue they'll have a solid understanding of how to construct ANYTHING they want to make in the future.

Now, sometimes kids will pick something that's incredibly easy. Like.... a snake (which is just a coil....) or a stack of pancakes (which is just a bunch of slabs). I know what you're trying there, friends. ;-) I let them know that's too easy and we need to think of ways to make it more complex. So I throw out some ideas to make those "easy picks" more complicated and interesting. They usually have an even better idea of their own after that conversation, and sometimes it doesn't involve that "easy pick" at all!

There are many ways to brainstorm. Some people like to write words, some people like to sketch, and some people like doing both.

When you're brainstorming, just remember, "There are no wrong answers!" It's JUST a list of ideas. Later on, you can think through how you would create that idea. You also consider if you have enough time, enough clay, etc.

So here are two of my favorite ways to start my brainstorming for clay project ideas:

Venn Diagram: On the left we have ideas for "decorative" things like sculptures. These basically serve the purpose of just being an enjoyable things to see on your shelf or wall. On the right are useful things like kitchenware and household items (a long-standing human tradition). And then there's an area in between where the two overlap. Consider them function-but-fun.

20 Questions: "Animal, Mineral, Vegetable?" In other words, what things can think of that fall into different categories? Jot them down in a list or with sketches! (You could also make one of those "mind map" things.)

• Animals/people: your own pet; your favorite animal; categories like sea creatures, birds, reptiles, dogs, cats.....then name species like "dolphins, humpback whales, sea turtles, seals, narwhals....

• Non-living things: characters, a replica of something like planes or a dessert, pottery for your kitchen....From there, get more specific. For example, if you're leaning towards "kitchen items," think about what kind of things would you find useful around the house? rice bowl, ramen bowl, mug, key tray, bookends, salt bowl..... (For me, it's a butter dish! My dog has broken 3 by stretching to the back of the counter! She is a butter magician!! Also, what is it with dogs and butter?!)

• Vegetable: plants, flowers, trees....From there, get specific. What kind? orchids, roses, lilies, tulips....Will these be purely decoration or will they serve some other purpose as well?

Here are our works in progress from the first day! I took these out to check on them and spray them so they wouldn't dry too quickly, and thought I'd take a moment for a photo op together.

We're got: A teacup set (teapot planned for next time), tomato pot with lid, a useful tray with shells and coral pressed into it that matches her creations from last summer(!!), a round pot with lid, a cute froggy-in-progress on a mushroom, a cube-box in progress, and a mug with a handle.

So fun! I can see some big improvements in skills from kids who with me last summer. Yay! I can't wait to see how these turn out!