Ceramics: Anybody Can Do It
Ceramics is an art form that has been around for thousands of years. It started out as a necessary skill in order to make items with every day uses, and now it has turned into more of an art. Students all over the world can learn how to make different kinds of pottery and sculptures.
Some of you may be thinking: I could never make anything useful. Only my grandmother could love this pile of clay I tried to make into a bowl!
Well I am here to tell you 10 things a beginner could make with that pile of clay to be proud of.
- A bowl
It doesn’t matte what size it is. It can be decoration, hold your soup, some chips whatever you want!
2. A cup
Same as the bowl, fill it with whatever you want. Use it as a rinse cup to keep by your bathroom sink when you brush your teeth. Put hair ties or bobby pins in it.
3. A rattle
This one might have you confused. I was confused when I had to make one. All you have to do is attach two bowls and put little clay balls inside of it and you have a rattle. Or in my case, a rattle that looks strangely like a potato.
4. A vase
You can make an “abstract” vase that has no symmetry what so ever and still be able to call it art. Throw some real or fake flowers in it and it can be a vase no matter what it looks like.
5. A shrine dedicated to you
I know this one sounds weird but hear me out. This is a classic assignment that is given out by teachers everywhere. All you have to do is throw some slabs together and fill it with things that represents you. It’s easy and you don’t need a lot of experience to do it. Plus it can be whatever you want it to be so there’s no way you can go wrong.
6. A plate or tray
Nothing could be easier than this. You can get on the wheel and make this in just minutes or roll out a slab, cut the shape you want and you’re done!
7. Stamps
You are probably going to want to decorate your other pieces with something and if you don’t like to take the time to draw things out, then make your own stamp! All you need is a small lump of clay and a pencil to carve out the clay.
8. A tile decoration
Use the stamps you just made to imprint on tiles to make a mosaic piece
9. A marble
Seriously, just roll a piece of clay into a little ball and you’ve got yourself a marble. Doesn’t get much easier than that.
10. A mug
I know this sounds suspiciously like a cup, but hear me out. Mugs are far superior to plain old cups AND they have a handle. They’re easy to make. Just make a cup and attach a handle.
The best part of making all of these things is experimenting with glaze. I have found that my results are pretty hit and miss so it never really matters what colors I put on my pieces, they always turn out differently than I expect.
There you go: Ten ways for beginners to use clay and act like they have a clue about what they are doing. The good thing about art is that it can be whatever you want it to be. No one can tell you differently.