Coil-Pot Creatures
Little hands have been busy in our after-school classes this term - shaping, pinching, and forming clay into delightful creations. From the very first pinch of clay to the final glaze firing, it’s been such a joy to watch these young makers bring their ideas to life.
We began with little hands eagerly diving into the clay, learning how to make basic coil pots and exploring simple sculpting techniques. There’s always something magical about those first sessions - full of curiosity, mess, and imagination.
Our main project for the term was to create a hollow creature from clay. Each child started by joining two coil pots into an oval form, then used additional coils, sculpted features, and scored joins to transform the shape into an original creature of their own design.
The level of creativity and invention they brought to this task was amazing - no two pieces were the same!
By the end of the making phase, our shelves were overflowing with wild and wonderful sculptures, all drying in preparation for the kiln.
The kiln was packed to the brim, and I crossed my fingers as the first firing began, hoping each piece would make it through the firing intact.
Once fired, the children were ready to paint and decorate their creatures. This stage brought a whole new layer of personality to their work, from carefully chosen colours to final design touches.
It’s lovely to see their ideas come to life with colour and detail - a final flourish before they’re ready for the glaze firing.
The finished pieces are a testament to the creativity, focus and fun that filled our sessions. Made by children aged 8 to 14, these hollow sculptures are imaginative, playful, and often unexpectedly functional. I couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve achieved.
