Unit 3
Slump Mold + Sgraffito
Plan:
1. Wedge clay and shape into ball.
2. Use thumb to make a hole in the center, almost to the bottom.
3. Press against the sides from the inside of the hole to widen the pot.
4. Once wide enough, use your other fingers to pinch the clay and widen the top of the hole.
5. Smooth out with hands or a rib.
6. Cut in half with a wirecutter to check that it is even.
Reflection: This turned out well. The clay was generally even. Considering this was my first pinch pot, I am proud of it. It did end up being too thick. If I were making this into an actual pot or bowl, I would spend more time thinning it out. Since I was just cutting it in half, I did not spend too much time on the thickness and focused more on making it even.
Relief
Plan:
1. Wedge clay and form into ball
2. Use thumb to make a hole reaching almost to the bottom.
3. Press outwards with thumb to widen the hole.
4. Pinch into shape with fingers to widen.
5. Flatten the rim with a knife.
6. Cut out small triangular dart from the side. Add texture with needle tool.
7. Once fired, glaze with Mayco glaze.
Reflection:
I am very happy with how this turned out. I struggled at first with getting the sides even, but they ended up being a similar thickness. There are some spots where the glaze is patchy, however. If I redid this piece, I would be careful to make sure the glaze was even all the way around.
Coil Building
Plan:
1. Wedge clay and form into two balls. Make two pinch pots by pressing outwards with thumbs until the pots are of even width.
2. Score and slip the rims of both pots and press together to form a hollow cylinder.
3. Smooth out the seams, making sure the pots are joined together.
4. Trace a circle on the top using a cylindrical mold. Cut out. Pinch one end into a spout shape.
5. Form a small strip for the handle, then score and slip onto the pot, drying with a hair dryer so it holds its shape.
6. Form a leaf, scoring and slipping the bottom onto the handle.
7. Roll a circle into a strip, then score and slip around the handle. Use a scoring tool to add texture to the vine.
8. Paint using underglaze. Fire, then clear glaze.
Reflection:
I ended up being very proud of this! I like how the underglaze came out and I am happy that the leave ended up holding its shape. The glaze ended up being a bit spotty in some places. If I redid this piece, I would glaze more carefully around the leaf and the rim of the pitcher. Still, it turned out well.
Slab with Darts
1. Wedge clay, then form a small ball for the head.
2. Form small triangles for the ears, then slip and score onto the head.
3. Form an oblong shape for the body, pulling out two nubs on the bottom for legs.
4. Slip and score two more nubs onto the body for front legs.
5. Hollow out body and head separately. Line up the holes, then slip and score the head onto the body. Smooth out the connection.
6. With the remaining clay, create a pinch pot by making a hole in a sphere and pressing out to widen.
7. Flatten out a small ledge and slip and score the cat figure on, making sure there is still a visible hole in the bottom.
8. Glaze and low-fire.
Reflection: I did not want to just make a figure, since I would not have a lot of use for it. I decided to make it into a candle for my mom's birthday. My plan is to fill it with wax at home. If I did it again, I would have used underglaze on the cat instead. I thought it would look fine without a face, but now I would have liked to give it eyes with underglaze. Still, I am happy with it overall.
Historically Inspired
1. Wedge clay, then flatten with the slab roller.
2. Place the flattened clay on a plate mold and wait to dry.
3. Paint underglaze piece, then remove clay from mold.
4. Dry and fire at cone 06
5. Clear glaze and low-fire
Reflection: