March 2025

5 Fun and Easy Clay Projects for Beginners

clay animalWelcome! Here on this blog, we talk a lot about art, crafts, trash to treasure, art Masters, art mediums and more. If you would like to check out any or all of our previous blog posts, you can do that here. In the mean time, let’s talk about clay.

Working with clay is one of those magical things that makes you feel like a kid again, no matter how old you are. There’s something so satisfying about taking a lump of clay and turning it into something beautiful—or at least something that makes you smile. If you’re just getting started, the key is to keep it simple and let yourself play. Here are five easy clay projects that are perfect for beginners and can be done right at your kitchen table.clay pinch pot

Start with a little pinch pot. This is one of the oldest forms of pottery and honestly one of the most forgiving. You just roll a ball of clay, stick your thumb in the center, and gently pinch the sides to make a little bowl. They’re great for holding jewelry, loose change, or even a tiny succulent. Want to jazz it up? Press in textures using lace, leaves, or stamps, or paint it once it’s dry for a personal touch.

Try making a set of simple beads. Roll small pieces of clay into spheres, ovals, or funky shapes, and use a toothpick or skewer to poke aclay beads hole through the center. Once they dry or bake (depending on your clay), you can string them into a necklace, bracelet, or even a keychain. It’s a great way to get used to handling clay and working on small details without feeling overwhelmed.

Create a mini animal sculpture—nothing fancy, just something cute like a chubby cat, sleepy dog, or even a tiny turtle. Focus on the basic shapes first, like round bodies and simple ears. A little toothpick or clay tool can help you add in eyes or texture. These make fun desk clay animalbuddies or little gifts, and they’re a great way to practice shaping and proportion.

Make a clay dish using a cookie cutter. Roll out the clay like you’re making sugar cookies, press a large cookie cutter into it—think hearts, stars, or moons—and gently lift the shape. Place it over a bowl or upside-down cup to dry so it forms a slight curve. These make sweet catch-all dishes or decor pieces and are super satisfying to decorate with paints or metallic accents.clay leaf bowl

Try your hand at a decorative plaque. Roll out a slab of clay and cut it into a rectangle or oval, then carve in a word, name, or simple design using a pencil or stylus. You can even press a doily or fabric into the surface for some texture. Once it’s dry, add color with acrylics or watercolor, seal it, and hang it up. These make great handmade signs or gifts and feel more advanced than they really are.decorative clay platter

The best part of working with clay is that there’s really no wrong way to do it. You’re learning as you go, and every piece is its own little adventure. Start small, enjoy the mess, and don’t worry about perfection—your creativity is what makes each piece special. If you try any of these, I’d love to hear how it goes or see pictures of your creations. Happy making!

If you are a visual learner, you might watch our companion YouTube video about this exact same topic.

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The Art of Sticking With an Art Challenge

Starting an art challenge feels a lot like falling in love. The excitement is real, the inspiration is endless, and you’re ready to create something amazing every single day. But then, somewhere along the way, life gets busy, enthusiasm starts to fizzle, and what once felt like a fun adventure starts feeling like a chore. Sound familiar?Artist's struggles

Keeping your energy up for a long-term art challenge isn’t always easy, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. We even talked about some of the blocks to working on your art here. If you’re in the middle of one—or thinking about starting—here are a few tricks to keep the enthusiasm alive.

First, make it easy on yourself. In the beginning, it’s tempting to go all out with big, detailed pieces, but that’s a surefire way to burn out. Instead, give yourself permission to scale down. Quick sketches, simple color studies, or even doodles still count. The goal is to keep showing up, not to create a masterpiece every time.

Next, switch things up. If you’re tired of painting, try digital. If you’ve been doing nothing but graphite, throw in some ink or watercolor. A change in medium can spark fresh excitement and help break up the monotony.Artist at work

Another trick? Plan rewards. Maybe after a week of consistent work, you treat yourself to a new brush, a fancy sketchbook, or even just a guilt-free day of scrolling through Pinterest for inspiration. Having something to look forward to can make all the difference.

It also helps to share your progress. Whether it’s posting online, checking in with a friend, or even just flipping back through your own sketchbook, seeing how far you’ve come can be incredibly motivating. Plus, getting a little encouragement from others never hurts!

Lastly, if the art challenge starts feeling like a burden, remember why you started. Was it to improve your skills? To build a habit? To reconnect with creativity? Focusing on the original goal can help shift your mindset from I have to do this back to I get to do this.someone painting something

At the end of the day, an art challenge is meant to be just that—a challenge. But it should also be fun, inspiring, and rewarding. So take a breath, shake off the pressure, and get back to creating. You’ve got this!

Be sure to watch our video about this topic. You can watch it here.

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The Masters Can Bring Magic into Your Art

The Masters offer you the opportunity to see their vision and the beauty they were able to create. Have you ever stared at a Van Gogh or a Rembrandt and think, How did they do that? The way the light dances, the movement, the emotion—it’s mesmerizing. But then the doubt creeps in: If I try to paint like them, am I just copying? Is it even possible to capture that essence without losing my own artistic voice?Van Gogh Sunflowers

The short answer? Absolutely. And you should. The longer answer? There’s an art to it (pun totally intended), and it’s about inspiration, not imitation. We have talked before here about imposter syndrome and the fear that we are not artists, not good enough, etc. Using the Masters in your work does not mean that you are copying or not good enough to use them.

Understand, Don’t Mimic

Think of studying the Masters like learning a new language. You wouldn’t just memorize sentences—you’d learn how the language works so you can speak it in your own way. Instead of copying brushstrokes, compositions, or colors exactly, ask yourself:Rembrandt

  • What draws me to this artist? Is it their bold color choices, their dramatic lighting, their unique brushwork?
  • What emotions do they make me feel? And how do they achieve that feeling?
  • What techniques are they using that I can adapt to my own style?

Steal From the Masters Like an Artist (The Right Way)Steal Like An Artist

Austin Kleon’s famous book Steal Like an Artist  (affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4iyhrTQ) breaks it down: great artists don’t copy—they collect, transform, and remix.

Instead of copying a painting, take pieces of inspiration from multiple sources:
🎨 Love Monet’s dreamy, atmospheric quality? Experiment with softer edges and layered color.
🎭 Admire the dramatic lighting of Caravaggio? Play with contrast in your own way.
🌀 Obsessed with Van Gogh’s movement? Try exaggerating rhythm in your brushstrokes, but with your own subject matter.

Remixing vs. Replicating

Think of your art like a playlist. You wouldn’t copy a song note for note—you’d mix influences to create a sound that feels like you.

One way to do this is by blending old techniques with new concepts. Imagine taking the glow of a Rembrandt portrait but applying it to a futuristic sci-fi setting. Or borrowing the delicate, sketch-like quality of a Da Vinci study but using it for street scenes instead of Renaissance figures.

Make It Your Own

This is where it gets fun. Once you’ve absorbed an artist’s energy, start pushing it in new directions:

1️⃣ Swap Subjects – Take the structure of a famous painting but apply it to a totally different theme. What if Vermeer’s soft indoor lighting was used in a neon cityscape?
2️⃣ Change Mediums – Try translating oil painting techniques into digital art or pen sketches.
3️⃣ Mash Up Styles – Combine impressionist color palettes with bold, graphic shapes. Imagine what Klimt would do with a graffiti wall!

The Best Artists Learn From The Masters, Then Let Go

Picasso didn’t wake up one day painting in cubes. He mastered classical realism first, then shattered it into something new. Studying the Masters is about building your toolbox, but what you build with those tools? That’s all you.

So go ahead—learn from them, take what inspires you, then make it yours. That’s not copying. That’s art.

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