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Activities / Blue Pottery / Blue Pottery Clay Dish

Blue Pottery Clay Dish

Blue-Pottery-Inspired Trinket Dish in Air-Dry Clay

Level
Beginner
Duration
1 - 2 hours (plus 2 days drying)
Budget
₹300 – ₹1,183
Age
8+
State
Rajasthan

Materials

  • White air-dry modelling clay
  • Acrylic paint set with white, cobalt blue and turquoise
  • Fine round brush, sizes 0 and 1
  • Water-based gloss sealer or varnish
  • Fine sandpaper, 220 to 400 grit
  • Rolling pin and two 8 mm sticks or rulers
  • Plastic knife, 10 cm jar lid and baking paper
  • Small shallow bowl and cling film
  • Flat brush, pencil, dust mask and paper towels

Steps

  1. Knead 150 g of white air-dry clay until it is soft and smooth
    This is an inspired-by project: Jaipur blue pottery is made from quartz powder, glass powder and gum, then glazed and fired, and you will imitate its blue and white look on air-dry clay. Take about 150 g of clay, roughly the size of a small orange, and knead it in your hands for 2 minutes. It should feel smooth with no cracks. If it feels dry, wet your fingers a little. Keep the rest of the clay sealed in a bag so it does not dry out.
  2. Roll the clay out to 8 mm thick between two sticks
    Lay two rulers or two 8 mm wooden sticks on the table, a hand's width apart. Put the clay between them on a sheet of baking paper and roll it flat with a rolling pin, running the pin over the sticks. The clay will come out an even 8 mm (about 1/3 in) thick. Common mistake: rolling thin, which makes a dish that cracks while drying.
  3. Cut a 10 cm circle and smooth the edge with a damp finger
    Press a 10 cm (4 in) jar lid or a cup upside down on the clay and cut around it with a plastic knife, holding the knife straight up and down. Lift away the extra clay. Dip your finger in water and rub the cut edge gently until it is round and smooth. A smooth edge is what makes the finished dish look neat and not homemade.
  4. Shape the dish by pressing the circle into a lined bowl
    Line a small shallow bowl, about 12 cm across, with a layer of cling film. Lift the clay circle and lay it in the bowl, pressing gently with your fingertips so the edges curve upward. Smooth the rim with a damp finger. The finished dish should hold a ring or a few earrings. Common mistake: pressing too hard in the middle, which makes the clay thin and weak.
    Tip: Use the cling film like a sling to lift the dish out of the bowl later.
  5. Dry the dish for 2 days, turning it over after 12 hours
    Leave the dish in the bowl for 12 hours, then lift it out by the cling film and turn it upside down on a clean plate. Leave it for a further 36 hours in a cool, airy place, away from a heater or sunny window, because fast drying makes cracks. The clay is dry when it feels light and no longer cool to the touch. Do not paint it until it is fully dry.
  6. Sand any rough spots lightly and wipe off the dust
    Wearing a dust mask, rub the dish gently with fine sandpaper, paying attention to the rim and any lumps. Use small circles and very light pressure, because air-dry clay is soft. Wipe the dust away with a slightly damp cloth and let it dry for 10 minutes. A smooth surface takes paint evenly, which gives the glazed look of blue pottery.
  7. Paint the dish white inside and out with two coats
    Paint the inside with white acrylic paint using a flat brush, covering the whole surface in thin strokes, and let it dry for 30 minutes. Paint the outside the same way. Give both sides a second coat. Blue pottery has a bright white ground, and the white also stops the clay from soaking up the blue. Common mistake: one thick coat, which dries with brush marks.
  8. Pencil a leaf ring and a flower, then paint the design in blue
    Lightly pencil a ring of 8 small leaves around the inside wall and a simple flower with five petals in the centre. With a size 0 brush, paint the outlines in cobalt blue, then fill the shapes. Add turquoise to the flower centre or some of the leaves for variety. Finish with a row of dots and a thin line along the rim, then let it dry for 2 hours. Common mistake: overloading the brush, which makes the lines blobby.
    Tip: Wipe the brush on a paper towel after loading it so the line stays thin.
  9. Seal the dish with two thin coats of gloss sealer
    Brush a thin coat of water-based gloss sealer over the inside and outside in even strokes. Let it dry for 1 hour, then add a second coat. The sealer gives the shine of a glaze. Let the dish cure for 24 hours before using it. It is not food safe, so use it for keys, rings and trinkets only, and wipe it clean rather than washing it.

Sustainability

Medium - air-dry clay and acrylic are not biodegradable; use up leftovers. Inspired-by exercise: real Jaipur blue pottery is a quartz-powder body glazed and kiln-fired, not clay

Safety

Not food-safe; keep for keys, rings and trinkets. Clay dust irritates skin and lungs when sanded, so wear a mask. Keep paint away from the mouth