Pottery painting parties offer creative fun while exposing children to art.
A party that features making and painting pottery is a terrific way to expose children to art. Besides stimulating their imaginations, working with clay and paint helps refine motor skills, encourages creative problem solving and even offers some lessons in math and science as children mix colors, explore shapes and building dimensions and learn how the properties of clay change when it is painted, glazed and fired. Most importantly, pottery projects are fun, suitable for most age groups and provide a sense of accomplishment.
Pottery Studios
Many cities and towns have pottery studios that are equipped to host a child's pottery painting party. Holding the party at a studio eliminates the need to collect materials beforehand because the studio will provide the clay, paint, brushes, design tools and all other items required to complete the project. Studios are also prepared to glaze and fire the pieces in a kiln, resulting in a true ceramic work. However, the glazing and firing process can require that pieces be left at the studio for about a week and picked up later. Most studios also offer the option of choosing pre-made pieces that can be painted with non-fire paint and taken home the same day as the party.
Home Parties
Parties can also be held at home with little fuss. Painting pre-made pottery pieces is the easiest choice for a home party, although building from scratch can also be done using air drying or oven-baked clays suitable for use with acrylic, watercolor and tempera paints. These items can be purchased at most stores that sell arts and crafts materials. Even the air-drying clays can take 24 hours to harden, so sleepover parties may be the best option when the children will be molding their own clay. They can allow their masterpieces to harden overnight, then paint them the next day before going home. Spraying their pottery with clear acrylic paint will seal the pieces.
Themes and Projects
Because parties of this ilk foster creativity, the sky is the limit when choosing what the hands of young artists can render. If the party has a theme, children can make and paint a clay figurine or paint a pre-made clay figurine that reflects that theme, whether it's a jungle animal, a space alien, an item representing a favorite sport, seashells and starfish or characters from a treasured book or movie. Useable items such as cereal bowls, plates, pet bowls and cups and saucers (ideal for a tea party theme) are popular choices, as are banks, comical face masks, hand and footprint tiles, ornaments, vases, flower pots, garden stepping stones and birdhouses. Picture frames made to hold a group photo of the party crowd also serve as a nice memento of the event.
Awards
Add another level of fun to the party by rewarding children for their artistic achievements. The incentive of earning recognition also encourages children to give their best effort to the project. Pay tribute to pottery pieces with an award recognizing such things as most creative, colorful, original, imaginative and funny. To keep budding artists encouraged, be sure all party attendees are recognized for their work. Awards may be ribbons, certificates, candy or additional paint and clay that they can work with at home.
Related posts
Paint smocks are a good idea even if kids come in old clothes.Don't be afraid of hosting a painting-themed party for your budding artist. With proper preparation, a painting...
Any activity you're enjoying, your kids will, too; have fun with it.Most children love to paint and it's a great way to let them express themselves and have fun with friends and family at the same...
Whether a simple design or something intricate, kids love face painting.It doesn't really matter how old they are, most kids really enjoy having their faces painted. Anytime...
Face painting is a great activity for kids' birthday parties. Having her face painted will help a child to feel special and to engage in creative imaginary play. It may also help her to express wh...
Let's face paint.During kids birthday parties, one of the most fun and exciting activities that parents can come up with is a face painting session. This is because kids love being painted with th...
