Family Day this month focuses on ceramics. Ceramics are hard objects that are often made from clay. Porcelain, stoneware and earthenware are all types of clay.
Ceramics are shaped, glazed and fired (put in an oven) at very hot temperatures. Once they are fired, they will not disintegrate in water and can last a long time. The oldest ceramic remains were found in a cave in China’s Hunan province. They are more than 15,000 years old!
A local potter, Ron Meyers, has ceramic works of art on view at the museum. When Meyers was young, he dreamed of becoming a cartoonist. When he was older, he studied ceramics and art education. In art school he learned the importance of how to “live through your art.” What do you think that means?
Meyers taught at the University of Georgia’s Lamar Dodd School of Art for 20 years. He is retired now and lives in Athens. He still throws pottery at home in his art studio and draws wild and untamed animals on it.
Now it is your turn to create something wild and untamed.
Ron Meyers (American, b. 1934), “Candlestick with Rabbit,” ca. 1975. Raku. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; Gift of the artist. GMOA 2013.226.
You’ll need the following supplies included in the art kit (or found at home *):
- air-dry clay
- a toothpick or plastic butter knife
- water*
- newspaper or kraft paper
To make your wild animal:
- Cover your work surface with newspaper or kraft paper for easy clean-up.
- Divide the clay into three pieces.
- Roll one piece into a long egg shape. This will be the body of your animal.
- Divide another piece of clay into smaller pieces to make the head and limbs. Attach these to the body by squishing them on. Add water if needed to make the clay sticky.
- Use the last piece of clay to add details like ears, tentacles, eyes, beaks, horns, etc.
- Use the toothpick or plastic knife to add more details and to smooth the different pieces of clay together.
- Let your wild animal dry for about 24 hours.
TIP: There are lots of great how-to videos online. Search for “how to make clay animals.”
We’d love your feedback! Please take a few minutes to complete a survey about this program.
Family Day art kits are sponsored by Lucy and Buddy Allen and the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art.