Assignment: You will create a series of small figurines for this project (think of a small family of animals). These will be glazed, but I will be showing some sgraffito surface treatments to add interest to the clay body. Steps: • Research photos of your chosen animal(s) or people. Keep in mind whether you are choosing to create realistic or more cartoonish likeness of your "figure" • The body of your figure will determine how much clay you need and you can use any of the techniques we've learned so far in class (coil, pinch pot, handbuilding, slab, etc.) • You will likely be slipping and scoring on details of your figure faces/ears/tails/ears, hair, etc. • Don't shy away from texturizing your figure with some of our texturizing tools or by carving into the body (dry point)
Assignment: You can start by looking at several different types of luminaries and deciding whether you want something more modern, more traditional, or more whimsical. Either starting with a wedged hunk of clay and digging out the interior to make your walls, or rolling out slab and building from a base (think hard slab box or textured vase) you will then let your piece set to leather hard before cutting from the walls to create the shapes for the light to shine through. You may also add a texture before you carve if you want a more cohesive piece. Steps: • Look on your ipad for inspiration images of luminary candle holders • Think of how you will be creating the base for the carving (is it slab work or removal technique) • If you are adding a blanket texture do this before building • Create your base piece and let set up to leather hard (DO NOT LET DRY) • Once piece is leather hard, begin cutting into the clay walls to create the design that the light will shine through, be careful not to break or crack the walls • Be sure to wrap these well while you are working on them (it will take 2-4 classes to complete) • Check with me before you let these dry, they may need to dry slowly to avoid cracking and breaking
Quarter I - creamer & sugar set - sconce - open coil pot - mug - textured vase Quarter II - headbowl - trivet - decorative tray w/legs - favorite food - iconic shape bowl - pet planter - narrative plate Steps: Documenting your Artwork (may need to be done at home if you have taken your pieces home)
 Digital Portfolio (to be completed during the exam period)
Optional: You may include music, or voice over of you describing the artwork (this will count for extra credit) Grading Criteria:
Assignment: You can start with a rectangle, square, or circle shape. This will be one thick "slice" of clay to start, and then we will be carving away clay to create the image. There will be three or more levels to clay, foreground, middle ground, and background. The background will be the deepest carve, the foreground will not be carved at all (but may be marked). Once these are bisque fired you will be painting them, not glazing them, to make the image more realistic. Steps: • Look on your phone for favorite photos from favorite places, think about how you will recreate the image that you choose so don't choose something with too many details (but no details is also difficult) • Copy your image onto a piece of scrap paper before you start with clay • Once you are happy with your thumbnail image you can cut a thick slice of clay in the shape you prefer • Start by copying (or tracing) the paper copy onto the clay before you start carving • Once you have an outline you can begin carving—keep in mind that we need to carve the background first (the deepest) the middle ground second (less deep), and the foreground will stay the same height as the original slice of clay • Be sure to wrap these well while you are working on them (it will take 4-6 classes to complete) • Check with me before you let these dry, they may need to dry slowly to avoid cracking
Assignment: You may create one major planter, or a series of very small figurine planters for this project (think of a small family of animals). These will be glazed so they can be actually used as planters, but you can choose to glaze with clear to keep the natural state of the clay body if you wish. Steps: • Research photos of your chosen animal(s). Keep in mind whether you are choosing to create realistic or more cartoonish likeness of your animal or pet • Create a pinch pot—the size of your clay will depend on how large you want your planter to be • The body of your pet will be the pinch pot and you will likely be slipping and scoring on faces/ears/tails/ears, etc. • Don't shy away from texturizing your pot either with some of our texturizing tools or by carving into the body (dry point) • Don't forget to poke a smallish hole in the bottom of the pot so the water can drain. Maybe the size of a hole punch.
Assignment: Your assignment is to recreate your favorite food in clay. You must find at least 3 inspiration photos to give you a starting point. These food pieces can be created by building with hard slab or just hand building; Just remember that your pieces need to be hollowed out (no thicker than 1" sides) or they may crack or blow up in the kiln. One they go through the bisque firing you will be painting your food with acrylic paint (no need to match glazes) and then sealing them with clear spray. Steps:
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Assignment: The assignment is to create a open form coil pot with even thicknesses on the coils. We usually base this off of the paper towel roll size but you can eventually start to allow it to make it's own shape (as long as that shape is not the leaning tower of pizza). Steps: • grab a small tennis ball size of clay, make sure to wedge the clay (about 100 times) before you start to make your coil pot • use a paper towel roll as the template for the size of the coil vase and base of the piece. • start with a piece of slab (can be hand made) that is the size of the bottom of the paper towel roll, this is your base. • then make a small carrot size piece of clay to start rolling out your coil snake, roll from the palm of your hand through to your spread out fingertips to make the best rounded coil. Watch when your coil becomes flat and pay extra attention to those areas. • coil thickness is up to you but make sure it is even from middle to the ends • score the sides of the base and one side of your coil, add slip and start building one single layer at a time (DO NOT coil around from the bottom and build many layers without stopping, this will result in a lop sided piece) • score and slip between each layer of coil, and have fun with your coils, different shapes and sizes are more fun Objective: To create a tall coil vase by rolling coils and building layer by layer.
Assignment: The assignment is to create a mug with a handle. Rolling your slab to an even thickness is important, and also securing the seam, bottom, and handle using slip. You have the option to make a taller or shorter mug, add a textured foot on the bottom, or leave it flat. Steps: • start making a small container of slip for the construction of your mug • grab a softball size of clay, make sure to wedge the clay (about 100 times) before you start to make your mug • you will be rolling out a large piece of slab for the body of the mug, And later one small textured strip for the handle. • once rolled out, cut your slab in a long rectangle, use your worksheet to make sure you are cutting the proper size rectangle of clay for the body of the mug. Create a texture in the slab before you start construction of the mug • Fold your textured slab into a mug shape and score and slip the ends to make a perfect hidden seam (this seam is where your handle will attach so it does not have to be perfect) • Cut small triangles in the corner of the clay to fold inward for the bottom of the mug, score and slip to attach the bottom piece of clay to the mug • roll another piece of slab for the handle, this can be thicker or thinner (1/2" - 1") and should have a coordinating texture • score and slip the top and bottom parts of the handle, reinforce with some newspaper so it doesn't fall. Objective: To create a mug from slab, and to reinforce seams and attach handles using slip.
Assignment: The assignment is to create a textured vase with even thicknesses around that stands about 6"-8" tall. The textured rim and base should be about 1" each and can match or should compliment the texture you have chosen to put on the body of the vase. Steps: • You will be making a large piece of slab for the body of the vase, 2 small 1" strips of slab for the top and bottom textured edges, and a small circle of slab for the bottom of the vase • grab a larger softball size of clay, make sure to wedge the clay (about 100 times) before you start to make your vase • consider what the final height of the vase will be and roll out your piece of slab giving enough width to stand at least 6" tall. • once rolled out, cut your slab in a long rectangle, long enough to wrap around one of the paper towel rolls we have to help create the long thin body of the vase. • make a small circle of slab to attach to the bottom of the vase • once rolled around the paper towel roll, take your excess class and roll out another piece of slab, big enough to make two 1" strips for the top and bottom. Be sure not to make extremely thick or extremely thin strips of clay because they will be difficult to attach. Objective: To get comfortable with rolling out and working with slab. From rolling out slab to scoring and attaching different pieces of clay.  The bottle shape—or vase—is one of the most common shapes we see in ceramics. Over the years the shape has changed and morphed from something useful (a vessel to hold water and/or other liquids) to something decorative (a vase to hold flowers or decorative items). For this project we are going to be pulling a bottle shape from one piece of clay, starting like a pinch pot and pulling upward to form the lip of the vase. Assignment: The assignment is to create a pinch vase with even thicknesses on the sides that will hold water and looks like a vase. You have the option to make a pot that flares out or in, or is smoothed or has original texture of your finger marks. Steps: • grab a small tennis ball size of clay, make sure to wedge the clay (about 100 times) before you start to make your pinch pot • consider what the size will be and start pinching from the bottom, working your way around the ball • do not create one side and then try to match the other side, remember that ceramics is working 3 dimensionally in the round, so work around the clay • be sure not to make extremely thick or extremely thin because it will crack when drying or during the bisque fire Objective: To create a form by pinching and pulling clay from one large piece of clay without the use of tools.    |
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