Make your own oven-baked clay with Camp Contemporary instructor Perla Contreras

Jordan Legacy mosaic by Jason Dussault, who inspired today's Camp-in-Place project. (Source: jasondussault.com)

Camp-in-Place #AtHomeArt projects from Camp Contemporary instructors and Youth and Family staff. Sponsored by SONIC Drive-In.

With its naturally pliable nature, clay can be a relaxing and therapeutic medium. Today's Camp-in-Place project is inspired by contemporary artist Jason Dussault, who uses mosaics as his own sort of therapy. For Dussault, mosaics bring back the magic, excitement and hopefulness that marked his youth. The artist says clay is a medium that compels us to understand our true fragility.

With the do-it-yourself, oven-baked clay recipe below, you can use household ingredients and found objects to make creative home décor or gifts. All you’ll need are items you most likely have in your pantry, home and yard. You can make coasters, small containers, picture frames, pendants, wall hangings and more - - the possibilities for this #AtHomeArt project are truly endless!

Now let's get started.

Household pantry items, including flour, salt, cooking oil and corn starch

Use household ingredients and found objects to make fun home décor or gifts.

Materials

2 ½ cup flour
1 ¼ cup water
1 cup salt
1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp corn starch
Parchment paper
Small stones, glass beads, shells or even coins for decoration. You can use anything that is small and won’t melt in the oven.
Acrylic clear spray (optional for added shine, but not food safe)
Acrylic paints (optional for color, but not food safe)

Keep rolled clay no more than half an inch thick for even baking.

Directions

Preheat oven to 250°.
Mix all dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
Add oil and water and mix well.
Knead the clay with your hands on a clean surface until it’s well mixed and not sticky. The clay should be easy to tear apart.
Roll out your clay with a rolling pin and cut to the desired shape. You can also flatten or shape it with your hands. The finished clay should be no more than half an inch thick for even baking.
Transfer your clay shapes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Be sure to do so before you add your mosaic pieces, or it will be difficult to peel up the clay without tearing.
Press your mosaic pieces into the clay. You want to press them deep enough so that the clay holds them. Try not to wiggle them around so that they don’t fall off once they’re baked.
Bake in the oven for 45-60 minutes. Smaller pieces will be done faster.
Remove baking sheet from oven and allow pieces to cool before taking them off the sheet.
Paint or spray with acrylic if desired!

Perla Contreras has lived in Oklahoma City most of her life and considers it her home. Perla is an Oklahoma City University graduate whose favorite art style is ceramics, but she also practices mixed-media sculpture. She currently teaches Art 1 and Ceramics at Putnam City West High School and recently started her own photography business, in which she enjoys bringing traditional artistic style into a digital format. She will be teaching Light Clay Creations during Camp Contemporary, June 22-26. Aside from teaching and photography, Perla is a wife and mother to a beautiful 2-year-old girl named Luna, who keeps her on her toes!

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Camp Contemporary Camp-in-Place arts education At Home Art ceramics