How Do You Make A Clay Pot?
A coil pot has its historical roots in ancient times. Long before the invention of the spinning wheel, our ancestors needed vessels to carry water and store food. Coil pots use clay and a simple method of creation to fulfill this need. ‘ • Take the clay out of the box and warm it by kneading it with your hands. You’ll want to minimize the addition of air pockets and bubbles. Try to be aware when you are folding over the clay that you are creating air pockets. A great trick to eliminate air pockets is to keep the clay in a round shape, and keep throwing the clay back and forth between your hands. You can also throw the clay on a hard surface (like a table) multiple times. • Once the clay is warm and pliable, roll it into a long “snake.” the diameter of the “snake” will determine the thickness of your pot’s walls. A good size for a first pot would be about 1/4 to 1/2 inch. The “snake” should be about 12-24″ long, and of uniform thickness. • Beginning with one end of your clay “snake.” cr
Summer can bring a lot of spare time for children. Art projects are a fun way to keep them entertained and engaged in a constructive way. Roll up your sleeves and be willing to get messy when you make a clay pot. It’s an activity the whole family can enjoy. Place a palm-sized portion of clay on the table. Roll it into a ball with the palm of your hand. Push your thumb into the center of the ball to make a hole. This is the hole you use to form the clay pot. Press against the inner wall of the hole with your thumb to increase its size. Keep your fingers on the outside of the clay ball to form the pot’s shape. Turn the clay ball as you shape it. Try to maintain equal thickness on the clay pot’s wall. Work with the clay until you are satisfied with the pot’s shape. Dry the clay pot according to the clay’s packaged instructions. Paint the clay pot using a paintbrush and acrylic paints. Apply an acrylic finish when the paint is completely dry.
