Clay and water mix to make magic this summer during pottery camp at Arts of the Pamlico. This week, local artist Liz Reed has spent her mornings teaching local kids how to shape and manipulate clay, a subject near and dear to her own heart.

“Everyone was really involved in what they were doing,” Reed said. “They like getting their hands dirty, playing with clay and seeing what way they can move and mold and the different kind of things they make.”

During the course of the week, campers learn a variety of techniques, including how to make coils, slabs and pinch pots. Building on those basic techniques, the end results are little clay treasures kids can take home at the end of the week.

“We build upon those processes to make individual pieces like slab mugs, coil pots and pinch bowls,” Reed said. “To end the class we made pigs, coil turtles and slab mugs and pinch-pot garden gnomes.”

Reed, who has been doing pottery since high school, continued to pursue that passion in college at East Carolina University as one of her concentrations. It was there that she had her first experience teaching pottery during a STEAM to STEM camp at the university. Seeing the kids enjoying clay is a joyful experience, she said.

“I like being involved and teaching the kids new things,” Reed said.

While this week’s camp has come to a close, Reed will host another camp during the week of Aug. 5-9.