HAND-BUILD A MINE CRAFT STYLE REPTILE OUT OF CLAY
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The Ceramics Studio led a super engaging one-hour workshop during a birthday party for seventeen 5 to 11 year-olds. The workshop allowed the party goers to choose between one of three Mine Craft characters. Below is the step-by-step tutorial for the reptile.
HERE ARE THE STEP-BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW YOU TOO CAN BUILD YOUR OWN MINECRAFT REPTILE OUT OF CLAY
Supplies needed:
- Clay
- 1/2” wire mesh material (called “hardware cloth”) used for screens or animal cages
- basic clay tools or a kitchen knife
- rolling pin or slab roller
Step 1:
Roll out your clay in a 1/2 inch thicknessStep 2:
Push the wire mesh material into the top side of your slab to imprint the slab with the square grid pattern.Step 3:
Cut your pieces out like this:Step 4:
Start by forming the body that’s a box shape.Assemble the pieces together by scoring each side (creating a raked-like surface), and applying slip. (a watered down clay substance the thickness of frosting)
Step 5:
Press the pieces snugly into position.Step 6: Score and slip the legs and feet and press firmly into position.
Use something to balance the figure while attaching the legs and feet on the other side.
Step 6:
Draw in the extra lines on the head and jaw, and cut out the eye. Then score, slip and press pieces into place using something for support.Minecraft-dino-theceramicsstudio10
Figure 10 Image shows reptile head upside down and temporarily supported by a wood stick while pressing pieces into place.
Final shown here (before firing) the piece can later be glazed.