For Toddler Tuesday this month, we’re looking at clay animals by artist Ron Meyers.
Meyers lives in Athens, Georgia. He is a retired UGA art professor, but he still makes art at home.
Take a moment to look at these works of art by Meyers. Tell someone you are with about what you see. What kind of animals do you see? What would you like to drink out of the cup?
Ron Meyers (American, b. 1934), teapot with fish, ca. 2004. Wood-fired ceramic. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; Gift of the artist. GMOA 2013.233.
Ron Meyers (American, b. 1934), yunomi with rodent, ca. 1980. Gas-fired earthenware. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; Gift of the artist. GMOA 2013.221.
Now it is your turn to play with clay!
For this activity you will need:
- Play-doh or air-dry clay (available at craft stores or online)
- Various tools like a butter knife, fork, toothpick, small rolling pin, etc.
- Small objects like dried beans, leaves, sticks, etc.
- Sheet pan or cutting board
- Set up a play station on the sheet pan or cutting board with a ball of clay, a flat piece of clay, a couple of tools and a plate with two or three kinds of objects.
- Show your little artists how to press into the clay with an object or squeeze it to make a shape.
- Invite them to play with the clay however they want.
- Observe what they are doing and help as needed.
- When your little one is finished, clean up together. Save your clay so you can play with it again!