Sconce

The sconce is a great early project for handbuilding, This requires rolling out slab and creating a cone-like shape (think ice cream cone). A sconce is decorative and should have one small hole on the wide end of the opening to hang on the wall and hold dried flowers or the like. The end does not need to be pinched closed and it is often nice to see the folding over of the cone or even bending of the edges like you see on the left. 

Assignment:

You will create one decorative wall sconce. These will be glazed so they can be actually used as decorative item on the wall, but you can choose to glaze with clear to keep the natural state of the clay body if you wish.

Steps:

• Research photos of wall sconces to see some options. Keep in mind that we are creating a cone shaped sconce, not a wall sconce that goes over a light source. 
• Start with a tennis ball size ball of clay and roll out to 1/4" thick.
• If you want a texture choose a texture mat or stamp before folding or carve into the slab (dry point)
• Let the clay set up a little bit before folding over a cone shape (or making your own freehand cone).
• Once folded decide if you want to cut off your excess clay or fold it over and pinch the edges like the photo below
• Don't forget to poke a small hole in the wide part of the opening of the cone (one where you can hang the sconce on a nail). Maybe the size of a hole punch.