1. 4th Grade Art Project West Mercer Elementary Art Enrichment Program
Clay Leaves
Presentation modified and prepared by Alice Finch 2013
4th Grade Art Project
West Mercer Elementary Art Enrichment Program

2. Artist Examples

3. Today’s Project
Impress a leaf on a slab of clay to make a dimensional, textured leaf

4. Step 1 – Preparation Get out the air bubbles Choose a good leaf
More pronounced veins the better
Desk needs paper or canvas mat cover
You need:
Slice of clay- 1” thick
rolling pin
pair of sticks
Get out the air bubbles
Air bubbles can explode in the kiln
Stand up and drop the clay onto your desk a few times to dislodge air bubbles
Do not over-handle the clay or it dries it out

5. Step 2 – Uniform thickness
Place clay between the two sticks.
The sticks ensure a slab of even thickness.
The sticks should be spread apart to allow the clay to spread as it is flattened, but the sticks should be close enough together to allow the rolling pin to lie on both sticks.
Roll out the clay with the rolling pin.
Make sure the slab is large enough for your leaf before imprinting.

6. Step 3 – Leaf Imprint Choose a leaf to print onto the clay.
place the leaf vein side down onto the clay and roll over it with a rolling pin.
press hard enough to make a print but do not make the clay too thin.
If leaf particles remain in the clay, don’t worry as they will burn off in the kiln
You can use a tool to gently press on the veins to increase the depth of the impression

7. Step 4 – Cut out the leaf shape
Use a plastic or clay knife to cut around the leaf.
Be sure not to cut the stem too narrow (don’t cut it as thin as the actual stem).
As you cut out the leaf, you can turn the mat to make it easier.
Use a lightly damp sponge to smooth out the edges of the cut leaf.

8. Step 5 - Texture
Lay the clay leaf, vein side down, over a small dixie bowl to give it the slightly curled shape of a drying leaf.
Write your initials shallowly on the back side of the leaf and include the teacher’s room number.

9. Step 6 - Drying Leaves will dry for at least a week Fired in the kiln
You will glaze after they are fired

10. Step 7 - Glaze Shake the glaze well to distribute the speckles
Apply 2-3 coats of the specialty “speckled glazes” to give the leaves the mottled appearance of a fall leaf.
Glaze liquid does not look like the same color as the fired glaze
DO put glaze on edge of leaf-
Do NOT put glaze on the underside of the leaf (so it doesn’t adhere to the kiln during firing)
You can use several different colors of glaze on edge or top
Fire leaf for a second time