Making a Clay Dish

Prepare Your Clay

Roll a chunk of clay about the size of your hand into a nice, smooth ball. Then, place it on your work surface and flatten it gently. Carefully roll out the clay until it is an oval and about ¹⁄₄ inch thick. Stop every now and then to carefully peel your clay off the work surface and flip it over. This will ensure that it does not get stuck.

Decorate

Push small decorative objects like sequins or beads into the middle of your oval. Try to keep your decorations about a ¹⁄₂ inch from the sides to make sure there is enough room to make the walls.

Make Walls

Carefully fold up the sides of your oval to make the walls. You will need to fold over the clay at the corners so that the edge is continuous. Then, smooth out the walls and any cracks with your fingers. If you would like to, you can carve in a design with a pointed tool. When your dish looks the way you want, leave it out to dry for 2-3 days.

Paint (Optional)

Use tempera or acrylic paint to add color to your dish after it is dry. This is an optional step. You can also just leave it its natural color.

Seal (Optional)

If you want to make your dish waterproof, you will need to seal it. With the help of your Learning Coach, seal your dish following the instructions on the sealant’s container. Otherwise, just use your dish as a decoration in your room!