Bat Mobile

I teach a ceramic workshop in the after school program at school This time of the year, my kinder kids always enjoy making Halloween decorations. I came up with this idea to make a wind chime with Halloweenie pieces and placing several bats around the top. I explained to the children that a mobile is art that moves, therefore, naming the project a Bat Mobile.

Step 1: Supplies

*I have access to a kiln and the directions are for ceramics, this project can be made from air dry clay as well.

Clay

Rolling pin

cutting tool

cookie cutters

underglaze

glaze

brushes

string

Step 2: Creating the Hanger

roll the clay large enough to cut a 4"X15" slab

turn the slab into a cylinder cool more clay to cut several cookie cutter bats

score the bats and use slip (wet extra clay and work into a buttery texture to make slip) rub it on the scored clay shapes and gently press onto the cylinder

put two holes in the top area of the cylinder and 4 holes spaced evenly around the bottom.

Step 3: Hanging Shapes

roll clay and cut extra cookie cutter shapes to hang from the cylinder be sure to put holes in the pieces and remember if one piece is going to hang from another make two holes.

Step 4: Paint and Glaze

paint the pieces then glaze and fire

If using air dry clay the pieces can be painted with any paint and sprayed with a polyurethane fixtive to protect them as well as creating a shine.

Step 5: Assemble

using the string tie the pieces together to create the Bat Mobile. I left tiny ends of string sticking out because I thought it looked a bit like spider webs!