Spark your interest in clay by learning what clay is and where it comes from, learning to use natural clay as an art medium, learning to use a pottery wheel, and learning to design art with alternatives to natural clay, including polymer clay.

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Exploring 4-H

Exploring 4-H Visual Arts Clay Spark Activity: Clay Coils

Using clay as a medium for art has lots of fun possibilities. You can use your own creativity to incorporate elements of art and principles of design into your artwork.

Creating clay coils is a simple technique with many possible outcomes. You can practice this technique with natural clay or with a homemade clay made from ingredients in your kitchen (things like flour, salt, and/ or cornstarch).

Begin with a small piece of clay. Roll it out on a solid surface so that it is the shape of a snake or sausage. Continue to roll with your entire hand - rolling evenly from your wrist to your fingertips - opening your hand wide as the coil gets longer. It takes some practice to get an evenly shaped coil. Once you’ve mastered a coil that is long and even (like a straw), use the coil to create different types of coil shapes:

  • Spirals (rolled like a cinnamon roll)
  • Arches (like a rainbow)
  • Donuts
  • Folds (like a ribbon candy)
  • Twists
  • Braids


How can you combine the different coil shapes to create a piece of clay artwork with a variety of elements of art and principles of design?
 

4-H Project Levels and Goals
Beginner
  • Learn about ceramic tools for molding, cleaning, and painting
  • Learn to create artwork from clay using pinch, coil, and strip methods
  • Learn purpose / procedures for firing Identify types of glazes and glazing
Intermediate
  • Learn the purpose of the three main types of clay - earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain
  • Learn about underglazing and overglazing
  • Learn terms related to pottery / clay artwork
Advanced
  • Create art with a type of clay that you have not used in prior years
  • Learn to use a potter’s wheel
  • Learn hand-forming with a template Use carving and sgraffito techniques
Put Your Project Into Action

 Show Your Skills

  • Report about a favorite clay artist’s work
  • Examples of design elements or art principles using clay as a medium
  • Portfolio of work you have created using clay
  • Photo or digital display of famous art pieces made from clay

Service and Leadership

  • Teach younger members how to create an art piece using clay
  • Make and donate clay artwork to a local nursing home
  • Create clay artwork and donate it to a fundraising event or auction in support of a local cause
  • Volunteer at a local art event or art show
  • Invite an artist to teach a workshop at a 4-H club meeting
  • Volunteer to serve on a local Art Council

Entrepreneurship

  • Create and sell your artwork online or at local shows
  • Design and sell clay ornaments featuring a school mascot or club / organization emblem (with copyright or trademark permission)
  • Teach art classes featuring clay

Technology Connection

  • Digital ceramics
  • Ceramic 3D printing
  • Digital fabrication

Connecting with a Mentor

  • School art teacher
  • Community college art instructor/students
  • Local art museum staff or volunteers/docents
  • Network with artists at community craft/art shows

Events

  • Local and state 4-H workshops or shows
  • Classes offered through local community colleges, park districts, or museums
  • Local, state, and national art competitions
  • Community craft / art shows

Project Manuals & Exhibit Requirements

  • Getting Started in Art (Beginner)     
  • Level 1: Sketchbook Crossroads

Purchase manuals on the Shop Illinois 4-H Store. 

View exhibit requirements and scoresheets on the Illinois State Fair page.

Careers
student and ceramic teacher glaze a ceramic bowl
  • Potter
  • Art Teacher
  • Art Museum Director
  • Industrial Designer
  • Art Therapist
  • Dental Ceramist
     
Start a Conversation

Who are the most fascinating clay artists that you’ve learned about? What are the most interesting clay pieces that famous artists have created? What is a new clay technique that you would like to learn?

Credits

University of Wyoming Extension 4-H project sheet

New Mexico State University 4-H project sheet

4-H Spark Sheets are a collaborative effort of 4-H staff, volunteers, alumni, and teens from across Illinois. A big thanks to the many contributors and reviewers!

Resources
Getting Started in Art (Beginner)
Level 1: Sketchbook Crossroads