Shape a Draped Ghost for All Hallows Eve!

A draped, pinch-pot ghost.

       This simple clay project is made with four sculpture methods: rolling a slab, pinching a pot, scoring a surface and draping a pot. All four are required methods for primary school sculpture standards. 

       Make sure to leave a large enough opening in the ghost's back for a tiny battery operated light. You would need to make the same project with high-fire clay in order to safely burn a candle in the figure.

 Supply List:

• newspaper
• acrylic white paint
• small soft brush
• shallow dish of water
• air dry clay or paper clay
• acrylic varnish
• tiny lights or battery operated votive candle
• flower cookie cutter
• paper bowl
• plastic fork for scoring
• plastic butter knife for cutting into the clay

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Shape this Halloween ghost first by rolling a ball between the palms of your hands.
2. Now insert your thumb and position your five other fingers outside the surface of the ball.
3. Pinch and turn the ball clockwise. Soon the clay will open up to shape a small pinch pot. Set aside.
4. Roll out more clay and use a flower shaped cookie cutter to make the base of the ghostly figure. This base should be 1/2 inch thick or more.
5. Score the bottom of the pinch pot and drizzle a little water in these scores to help them attach to the flower base.
6. Now position your pinch pot over the flower shaped base. Pinch and pull the ghost's walls to fit the flower cut base. (see below)
7. Cut a mouth hole and two eye holes into the front of the ghost's head.
8. Cut a large hole into the backside of the ghost's body so that you may insert twinkle lights or a battery operated votive inside the ghostly figure after it dries.
9. Smooth the holes of the face and the rippled walls of the ghost's sheet with a bit of water on your finger tips.
10. Let the ghost dry.
11. Paint the ghost with white paint.
12. Varnish the draped ghost figure with clear acrylic.

Use a large flower shaped cookie cutter to press a base shape for your ghost.

Placing the ghost into a paper bowl allows the student to move the project around without damaging it.