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Above left is the picture of a real hedgehog and to the right is what you will make.
Cute huh?
To make the hedgehog, you will use the pinch pot method with just a few tools.
I will try and guide you through the making of this little creature and you will be quite surprised at how well you do.
Here is what you will need:
Clay
Pin tool
Slip
Get settled so you are comfortable, here we go!!
Form two equal sized balls of clay, about 1/2 pound each.
Hold a ball in left hand and push right thumb into the middle of the ball leaving about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch thickness at the bottom.
Slowly and evenly pinch the clay, starting at the bottom rotating the ball, moving toward the top edge.
Leave about 1/4 inch thickness at the edge.
Once both pinch pots have been created, score with a pin tool the edges of both pots.
Apply a heavy coat of slip to one pot and join the two pots.
They might not fit exactly, so just slide the your thumb from one pot over the seam onto the other.
Once the seam is completely sealed, air is trapped ike a balloon and the object can be changed to create desired shape by gently rolling and pressing.
To form a head, make another much smaller pinch pot and attach it to the body form using the slip and score method described above.
Be sure and make a hole between the head and the body, otherwise it could blow up when fired.
Add legs and feet, always remembering to slip and score everything.
To form spines, roll small pieces of clay into approximately 1/2 inch long coils.
Fold in half and press folded end onto clay body, smearing and smoothing as you go.
The pictures above show the progression as you make and put the legs and spines on your little hedgehog.
Cut a hole on the bottom to allow air to escape while drying and during firing.
Dry very slowly by lightly covering the finished work.
High firing, Cone 6 or higher, is recommended to insure the spines are not too fragile in the finished product.
If you don't have a kiln to fire your hedgehog in, you can go to any pottery or ceramic shop and for a small charge they will fire it for you.
Once it is fired, you can paint whatever color you want, either natural or comical.
Now, that wasn't so hard was it?
| In one American Indian language, the word for friend means "one who carries my sorrows on his back." |
