Does your creativity need a boost? Go messing around with Clay Slip!

Le jeu de la barbotine is the same as enjoying messing around with clay slip. And another example that French is a much more elegant language than English, but that is a matter for another blog. In this blog I’m going to talk about creativity and having fun by messing around with clay slip.

Anyone who works with clay knows that it takes no effort at all to make a mess with it. And if that makes you as happy as me, then keep going…

But this time I wanted to talk about stimulating your creativity. Well, that can be done in all kinds of ways, but if you have clay, or more accurately clay slip, try the technique of Daniel de Montmollin. Yep, a famous namesake of mine from France.

All you need is a colored board in, for example, red or black and white clay slip.

Le jeu de la barbotine

Daniel de Montmollin is a French ceramist and brother in the Taizé community. In France he is one of the better known ceramists. I got to know him through his books on stoneware and wood ash glazes (also translated into English, but difficult to obtain).

I have no idea if Brother Daniel invented drawing in clay slip himself. In any case, he is the one who has written a book about it: “Le jeu de la barbotine: Un défi de la créativité“.

It is an inspiring book to read. But it’s even better to do it yourself. Great to work directly with your hands in the clay slip. Give a child a board full of clay slip and automatically the most beautiful figures, signs and traces will appear. Children immediately get to work without hesitation or a preconceived plan.

I challenge you to do the same!

Messing around with clay slip

Okay, what exactly are we going to do then?

Step 1: Make clay slip from clay powder. For white slip, use white kaolin (powder) and mix it with enough water to get a creamy sludge.
Step 2: Grab a smooth board with a different color than the clay slip you are using.
Step 3: Brush the surface of the board with the slip
Step 4: Make with both hands, feet or elbows traces in the clay slip!

Transient art

Do not think about it, just enjoy the contact with the clay. The sensation of sliding your fingers through the slippery sludge. The smoothness of the movement, the surprise of the effect. Use your hands, your arms and your whole body.

And when you’re done messing around with clay slip? Then you just start over. Art for the 21st century: transient art.