Clay Sculpture at Summer Camp

If I could've cherry-picked my dream job for the summer I would have chosen precisely what I am doing. I am the Sculptor Instructor for the SPPS TeenVenture Summer Camps. I am teaching various clay art techniques to a bunch of junior high kids! 

For the first camp in the series, the Creative Arts Camp, the kids have been assigned to build houses. They are using slab-building techniques to make 3D structures that will house anyone or anything they choose. From a mushroom shaped gnome home to a castle fit for a king, I am impressed by the creativity and dexterity they are exhibiting.

While the houses are preparing to be fired, we are moving on to our next sculpting project, forming the inhabitants of the homes. Their challenge is to pinch, coil and sculpt these figures small enough so that they will fit inside their homes. I am so excited to see all the little peoples, animals, princesses and fairies that are sure to emerge like magic from their hands!

Next week they will glaze and paint their treasures and finally display them for the end-of-camp showcase. We are having such a great time. Yay for summer jobs as awesome as mine! (Coming up next: Making hand-built bowls as a fundraising project that will benefit local food shelves as part of the Leadership Camp.)