Animal Pinch Pot

Create a clay animal friend that also doubles as a bowl to keep small treasures in!

Your Instructor: Liz

Difficulty: Medium

Length of Activity: 30 Minutes + 24-hour dry time

Parental Warning: Oven use

Supplies:

• Air-dry or oven-bake clay (about 3 oz or the size of an egg) 
• Watercolor paint & brush 
• Small cup of water
• Paper plate or wax paper (to protect work surface

Follow Along Below

Written Instructions (Printable PDF)

1. Start with a piece of clay about the size of an egg (roughly 3 oz clay) Roll clay into a ball
2. Use thumb to poke a hole into the center of the ball
3. With thumb still in the center of the ball, pinch the clay into a bowl shape by squeezing clay between thumb and forefinger ¾ of the way around the ball. You will leave extra clay on one end to create the face
4. Begin creating the face by pressing and squeezing the clay into your desired shape on the end with the extra clay
5. For ears, pinch extra clay upward. For a tail, squeeze the back side into your desired shape. Feet can be pressed out of the bottom of the pot if desired
6. Smooth out the wrinkles and lumps in the clay with your fingers a. Young children often understand this best by telling them to stroke or pet their animal in one direction from front to back
7. When your animal is the shape that you want it, use watercolor paints with only a LITTLE water to color your pinch pot
   1. Too much water will make the clay go soggy
8. Allow your animal pinch pot to dry for 24 hours (may need a little longer if clay is very thick) in a warm safe place, but out of direct sunlight