Animals, Animals, Everywhere! All kinds of animals are found in Folk Art from every corner of the world.
Why do we see so many animals in folk art? Why do we love and need animals so much? Many animals have been domesticated by people for food, useful materials, workers, or companionship. We depend on these animals for our survival. Farmers raise all kinds of animals for food, supplies, and work like cows, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, and llamas. Travelers used horses, burros, oxen and even elephants to move themselves and their belongings from place to place. Dogs are the most beloved companion animal around the world and have been ‘man’s best friend’ for nearly 15,000 years. Wild animals also are admired for their good traits and strengths, like lion or tigers for strength, birds for freedom, ravens and dolphins for being clever, even an ant or bee for being a hard worker.
What animal do you want to make?
You'll need
- air dry clay
- pencil or wooden stick
- paint (tempera or acrylic)
- paint brush
- container with water & newspaper
Optional: make a landscape or a scene for your animal (paper and coloring materials)
Procedures
- Think of the animal you would like to make, it could be your favorite animal or pet.
- Take two sheets of newspaper and cover your working space (table). Have a small container with water available.
- Take a good size ball of clay and roll it into a ball or cylinder to make your animal's body. Roll a small ball for the head and 4 balls or cylinders for the legs (if your animal has legs).
- Attach the legs by scoring both parts with a pencil or stick, then moisten both parts and press them together. Repeat this step to attach any details or parts to the body.
- Smooth out any cracks or bumps from the clay by dipping a finger into water and smoothing the surface.
- Once your animal is completed, let it dry overnight.
- Paint your animal and let it dry.
Optional: create a landscape or a scene for your animal using paper and coloring materials (watercolors, colored pencils or markers). Where would your animal would like to live? Can you paint some friends for your animal?
- Piensa en el animal que te gustaría hacer, podría ser tu animal favorito o mascota.
- Toma dos hojas de periódico y cubre tu espacio de trabajo (mesa). Mantén un recipiente pequeño con agua disponible.
- Toma una bola de arcilla de buen tamaño y ruedala en una bola o cilindro para hacer el cuerpo de tu animal. Roda una pequeña bola para la cabeza y 4 bolas o cilindros para las patas (si tu animal tiene patas).
- Une las patas al cuerpo haciendo pequeños rasguidos en ambas partes con un lápiz o palito de madera, luego humedece ambas partes y presiona ambas partes juntas. Repite este paso para añadir cualquier detalle o parte al cuerpo.
- Para alisar grietas y superficie abultada sumerge un dedo en agua y frota la arcilla para suavizar la superficie.
- Una vez que tu animal esté terminado, déjalo secar durante la noche.
- Pinta a tu animal y déjalo secar.
Opcional: crea un paisaje o escena para tu animal usando papel y materiales para colorear (acuarelas, lápices de colores o marcadores). ¿Dónde le gustaría vivir a tu animal? ¿Puedes pintar algunos amigos para tu animal?
