Clay in Class

Lesson Plan: Empty Bowls & Colored Clays by Craig Hinshaw

Each year the Michigan Art Education Association sponsors an Empty Bowls luncheon at its annual conference. For many years I have taken fifth grade bowls to the conference. But one year the dates slipped up on me and I only had a week to get the bowls made, dried and fired – hence the following lesson which created beautiful bowls and only necessitated one firing.

I have always prided myself in taking quality student bowls in which every bowl, or almost every bowl have been selected by one of the over 500 art teachers all attendance. I tell students second best isn’t good enough when giving of your time and talents to help those less fortunate. The following single firing method fit the bill.

Before working with the fifth graders I rolled out slabs of a white clay and a terra cotta. This was before I got a slab roller and used a large rolling pin and canvas board. Once the bowls were dry I brushed on a clear glaze and fired them to cone 04.

Final Note: I always have the students address a postcard to themselves back at school which I stamp. These are taped to the students’ bowls so the art teacher who selects their bowl can write them a note. Once, a keynote speaker at the conference wrote a student and called them a heroe! That left a lasting impression on me and hopefully my students.

Materials:

• Terra cotta
• White clay
• Rolling pins or 1 ¼” wood curtain rods cut to 8” lengths
• Pin tools
• Bowls to function as a drape mold
• Clear glaze