Clay and Beneficial Glazing!

Clay is a therapeutic material in which also promote children development. Sholt and Gavron (2006) points out the three major therapeutic features of clay-work in their literature review and clinical experience as art therapists. 

(a) procedural expressions through the experience of touch, movement, and the three dimensional aspect of clay-work

(b) construction and deconstruction processes through clay-work

(c) the regression process ( In art therapy, children use clay to represent food and engaging in symbolic acts of nourishment, Sholt & Garvon, 2006)

So what are the benefits glazing bring to children in Art at The Center?

Glazing is a complicated step that require patience and intelligence. You have to put colors separately, for they are not like painting color mixing together. Moreover, you have to carefully paint two layers in order to see the bright and shiny color after firing.

Sometimes the colors look like just what they are. 

Sometimes it is hard to imagine what the glaze will be after firing. See the glazed artwork on the left. 

It's actually brown. 

I think the greatest advantage of glazing is to make clay-work a complete production. One thing is that children's ideas are able to take place in clay gradually. In addition, by engaging the process and expecting for the product being done, they definitely can't wait to create more artwork with clay! What a good circle of art making!


References:
Sholt, M., & Gavron, T. (2006). Therapeutic Qualities of Clay-Work in Art Therapy and Psychotherapy: A Review. Art Therapy: Journal Of The American Art Therapy Association, 23(2), 66-72.