A Wing and a Prayer: Creating 300 Tiny Feathered Friends
Birds
If you’ve spent any time at Lumps of Clay Studios, you know my gnomes are never truly alone. But lately, I’ve felt they needed some specific company. I grew up surrounded by nature, and that love for the outdoors has followed me right into my studio practice.
Whenever the weather is decent, I like to take my studio breaks outside. It’s my time to stretch, soak in the sun, and watch the local bird traffic. There’s something so fascinating about watching them work together—and even when they’re hiding in the branches, I can usually hear/see who’s visiting.
The "Bird Nerd" Ambition: 30 Species, 10 of Each
I’ve set a goal that feels both exciting and a little bit wild: 30 different bird species, with 10 of each. That’s a total of 300 tiny birds, each sculpted from a single ounce of clay (or less!).
Why 10 of each?
The Learning Curve: Usually, the first two of a species are my "practice" birds. By bird number ten, I’ve really captured their spirit.
The "Flying South" Factor: I want to make sure that if a particular bird—like the Cardinal—is a favorite, I have enough to go around before I have to restock.
The Collector in Me: I have a little knick-knack shelf at home that is begging to be filled with one of every bird I’ve ever spotted.
Who’s in the Aviary So Far?
I’m officially approaching the halfway mark! The workbench is currently a crowded neighborhood of:
The Classics: Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Robins.
The Songsters: Chickadees, Goldfinches, and Bluebirds.
The Woodside Crew: Loons, Nuthatches, and Pileated Woodpeckers.
The Night Watch: I’ve even finished two different types of Owls!
Most of these are birds I see right in my neck of the woods, though I might sneak in a "tourist" like a penguin or a seagull just for the whimsy in me. They have that signature Lumps of Clay vibe—a little bit cartoony, a whole lot of personality, but still a recognizable likeness.
The "Future Jessica" Problem
I’ll be honest: the building is the easy part. Watching a lump of clay turn into a Nuthatch makes me incredibly happy.
The glazing, however? That is officially a problem for "Future Jessica." Tiny birds mean tiny details. Once they come out of the bisque fire, many of them look like identical little clay lumps. Keeping my Chickadees separate from my Finches before the color goes on is going to be a challenge! It’s a bit daunting, but I know that happy relief I’ll feel when the kiln finally opens and they’re ready to fly off to their new homes.
