Your CLAYTIVITY projects will be a hard, off white ceramic after they have been fired and will look awesome after they have been painted. Here are a few painting tips!
There is so much to learn through painting a project. Painting a 3 dimensional piece of artwork give students the opportunity to practice their paintbrush skills, and to really focus on colour and mixing palettes to get the desired hue and tone.
But a good painting experience is not just about the artwork itself. The experience is just as important, if not more than the results! Sometimes the best atmosphere is created when students are all engaged in a focused art activity together.
Allow plenty of time for painting projects. It takes a lot of focus and concentration which may be best limited to half an hour at a time so plan to complete in possibly two or three sessions. Complete the base or background one session then come back later to paint other areas.
Don’t worry if mistakes happen or colour spreads out into wrong area. Just Allow the paint to completely dry then paint over.
Before you begin
Often new ideas form or change once the work is in progress and that’s OK but it’s a good idea to have a plan before you begin. Think about how you will divide your project up into different areas, what order you will paint them and which colours you will use on each area. Any markings or lines you did when you made the project will help.
Tools and Materials
Don’t forget to cover surfaces e.g. with newspaper for easy cleanup before you begin.
Paints
You can use almost any kind of paint but for best results and a plastic finish to the surface, use Acrylics. Also try using Glitter paints or metallic acrylic paints for special effects. Eg Metallic paints applied with a toothpick is an effective way to add detail such as gold trimmings, necklaces, earrings etc on figures. If the paint gets a little too thick or globby, wet the paintbrush in the water pot first to thin it out a little and make it easier to spread. Wipe any excess paint or water on the brush on some newspaper or the side of the palette.
Paint brushes etc
Provide a selection of paint brushes from fine to wide tipped. Marker pens may also be used e.g. for adding lines, dots and other details after the project has been painted. Toothpicks and round pin heads are also great for adding dots, eg buttons, patterns, texture, pupils of eyes. Join the dots to form lines.
Water Pots and palettes
Give each student a palette and a little water for adjusting the thickness of the paint and cleaning paint brushes. Large yogurt pot lids make excellent inexpensive palettes, and can be used over and over again. Simply wash or peel off the paint after it has dried.
Techniques
Palettes
Squeeze a small amount of two to three colours onto a palette or just one or two colours at a time. Let the artist choose! Two or three colours can be mixed to make any number of new variations. For example, try mixing blue and yellow, or green with yellow and blue to make different greens, or any colour with tiny amounts of black or white to make different shades.
Paint brushes
Show students how to use a paintbrush just the right size for each area, clean their brushes after each colour application and remove excess water by wiping on newspaper. For best results, encourage everyone to empty and refill water pots frequently.
Painting
Paint the largest area first, often this is the base or background and smallest areas last, finishing with fine detail once all areas are covered and. Allow the paint to completely dry before changing colours and wash the paint brush well in clean water.
Encourage students to paint every bit of their project using a fine brush to get into tiny nooks and crannies. Pay attention to detail!
Have fun painting your projects!
