Congo Camp 2010

Painted Pottery by our Congo Campers.

Clay Exploration continued making their pottery pretty today by painting. 

Each camper was returned some of the pottery that hardened in the kiln over the past few days and finally started to paint some of it.

They all had a preference on how they wanted to design their pottery.  One of the campers elected to do a minimalist style and have only a few spots of paint.

Another one created an elaborate pattern and focused on that pattern throughout the painting.  The campers all had fun painting their pottery and we are excited for them to be able to take it home!

A plate of Sculpey to be used by the Clay Explorers.

Although the name may sound like a cartoon character, Sculpey is actually a clay based sculpting material. 

In Clay Exploration, the campers created various detailed projects which were slightly easier to make with this special modable clay.

The difference, the campers and counselors explained, between Sculpey and Clay is that sculpey can be easily baked in an oven and blended together much easier than clay.

All of the Clay campers loved making the various detailed pieces that represented their likes and interests. 

Some of the glazed piggy banks made by our campers.

In Clay Exploration, the campers were making animal bowls and were getting back the piggy banks they glazed on Friday.

The animal bowls were made from clay cutouts out of various animals.  One camper selected pigs and pressed them together to form his bowl.  The many bowls were looking greating by the time they were finished.

Our Clay Explorers also had the chance to get their Piggy Banks back.  On Friday, they finished glazing these and then left them to go into the Kiln over the weekend.  They looked excellent when they came out and we are happy to see our campers have somewhere to keep their loose change!

A few of the fossils being made.

Our Clay Exploration campers started their morning by molding fossils out of clay.  They were able to mold the clay into smaller parts and then imprint a fossil outline onto that clay mold.

Each clay fossil looked excellent as the campers made molds of fishes, bones, and other such items. 

The clay explorers are anxious to paint their various dried clay items that were finally removed from the kiln today.  They will be both painting and glazing these various things and we are excited to see the patterns and designs they use.

The Clay Explorers have been having much fun this week doing various clay activities and we know they are excited already for next week to begin!

A Clay Exploration camper painting her piggy bank.

Clay Exploration campers started off their morning by painting clay piggy banks.  They didn't make these piggy banks but they did glaze them.

Each camper selected the color they wanted to use and began the glazing of their piggy bank.

The piggy banks will look excellent once they are finished, and, even better, once there is money on the inside of them!

Campers smoothing and coiling the plates.

The Clay Exploration campers started off their morning by making mice-in-the-tub sculptures.  Once these were done, though, they continued their day by making clay coil plates.

To make these, each camper had to roll clay and then coil these rolls. Each coil was then pressed and smoothed into others.

All of the coils were then amassed into a beautiful plate.  Every plate was then smoothed and designed to reflect the campers' personalities. 

The clay plates--among other sculptures--are all drying in the kiln before they are glazed for use. 

Clay Explorers learning the proper technique on the wheel.

Our Clay Exploration campers started off their morning with their hands deep in clay!  There were two activities going on and each of the campers were excited to be participating in both.

The first activity was making clay designs.  These designs ended up being various forms.  Some of the campers selected animal shapes while others did texturized letters.

As many of the campers did clay designs, there were a few who started off on the pottery wheel.  The end results varied from dishes to bowls to cups.  Each camper controlled the wheel quite well and their constructions were all excellent. 

We hope they each have fun spinning the wheel and creating new pottery!

Clay pots made by the Clay Explorers.

After finishing all of these, the campers then decorated clay tiles.  The tiles all had unique patterns and brilliant colors.  We are looking forward to seeing these after they have dried.