PICTURES: Kids go potty for clay play day
But these children could be ceramicists of the future after attending a pair of sold-out pottery lessons.
The sessions took place at the Rustington Museum in The Street, Rustington on Friday, August 19.
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Hide AdThe 30 children that attended were shown how to make clay sculptures using a variety of techniques and equipment by professional ceramicist Finola Maynard, who teaches pop-up classes around the country.
Finola, who is based in Eastbourne, said the children weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty when it came to making their creations, which involved tile-cutting, rolling coils of clay and ‘throwing pots at the wheel’.
She said: “They loved it. The thing with pottery throwing is that it’s really rare to do now. At school, ceramics are being cut out of the curriculum.
“It was such a lovely place to work; the people at the museum were lovely, as were the children, and there was a really nice atmosphere.”
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Hide AdWhile Finola said she couldn’t pick a favourite out of her pupil’s creations, one did catch her eye.
“A girl made a ceramic basket with a separate base and a handle; I was very impressed.”
Finola has taken the pieces back to her studio to dry, which she said will take a couple of weeks.
Then she will bake them in her kiln to harden them – a process called bisque firing – and then apply a coloured glaze and bake them again.
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Hide AdEach step will take around 12 hours, and then the children will be reunited with their finished artwork to keep as a memento.
Julie Covey, who works at the museum, said the event had been a big success.
“They made coasters, bowls, everything they could fire up in their imaginations. It was very educational, as well as lots of fun and mess!”
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