Art Project: Picasso Abstract Clay Face

Spending quality family time together and playing isn’t all fun and games – it is also an important way that children learn. It’s a teaching tool: through play children develop key skills, along with learning to interact with others and improve language and social skills.

Fun art project creating a Picasso Style abstract clay face using air-dry clay.

Masterpiece Modified: Picasso Abstract Clay Face

Materials: Clay (Air-Dry Clay), water in a small container, clay tools (or plastic knives etc…..)

Art Skills: Clay techniques, how to make clay coils, learn how to manipulate objects and tools to construct a 3-dimensional design

Fine Motor Skills: Sensory and motor skills, eye, and hand coordination

Directions:

1. Construct two balls of clay the size of your fist.

2. Have the artist press each ball of clay flat using the palm of their hands. They can pound on the clay or use their fingertips to stretch it out. Whatever works for them.

3. Choose one of your pieces of clay. Take a clay tool or plastic knife and practice drawing triangle shapes in the clay. Have the artist cut out two triangle shapes.

4. Use more clay and construct a “tube” of clay. The artist will roll the clay back and forth using the palm of their hand. Use both hands to roll if needed. Keep rolling the clay until it becomes thin. Have the artist dip their finger in water. The artist will run their finger along the clay coil. This will create a sticky surface. Explain to the artist that this is like “glue” that will keep the clay pieces stuck together.

Another Family Fun Project- Art Bread, click into Youtube link to get the recipe.

5. Lay the piece on the round flat piece of clay (wet side down). Help the artist shape the piece to curve around to form a simple nose silhouette.

6. Have the artist dip their finger in water and run it along the bottom of two triangle pieces. Place the triangles together on the clay to create a diamond shape to create an eye on one side of the face. Artist will press down lightly to keep it in place.

7. Roll out a small sized ball of clay. Wet the bottom and have the artist press it down on top of the diamond shape and press it flat. This completes the eye.

8. Roll out two small coil shape pieces of clay. Artist will wet the pieces with water.

9. Lay one piece under the nose and the next piece under it with a curve to form a mouth.

10. Find a tool that will create an interesting pattern on the face. Have the artist press on the surface of one side of the face to create a pattern. Anything that will create holes or an interesting pattern.

11. Your artist can experiment with paint and decorating the face how they would like after it is dry.

Modifications and Tips

Have the artist practice using tools to draw curved, straight lines on clay. Practice cutting and pressing into a piece of clay before doing the project.

Artist can practice rolling, pounding, flattening clay before doing the project

Modify and simplify by having artist carve lines into create the face instead of rolling coils for the face.

If needed an artist can start with constructing a regular face without the coils. They can experiment with shapes and lines by just drawing on the clay to complete the project. Introduce the coil concepts and repeat the project multiple times with the artist to practice and build skills.

The artist can do half the steps. Cover the clay in an air tight container and come back later to finish.

Featured Artist:

Pablo Picasso was born on October 25, 1881 in Malaga, Spain.

Picasso helped develop a style of painting called “Cubism”. This style took apart objects and “analyzed” them in terms of their shapes. Many of his portraits reflect this style.

Cubism allowed the artist to show his/her model from many different viewpoints. In the paintings of earlier times, the artist showed his subject from one particular viewpoint. In cubist paintings, the artist may show the front and the side of a person’s face at the same time.

Lessons available in PDF printable download PSN_MM_Picasso_ Abstract Clay Face

Crayola Air Dry Clay

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