Ceramics Hand-building Lessons

 

Submitted by: Vivian Moreira Komando, Ed. S, NBCT
Class: Ceramics Pottery and 3D AP
Unit: Clay / Hand building
Lesson: Elongated Pinch Pot Bottle

 

This lesson is published on the AP Central Website. Members may access it through the 3-D Studio course page. Teacher resources towards the bottom of the page. Registration is free (you do not need to be an AP teacher to register).

 

Ceramics Hand-building Lessons by Vivian Komando

Elongated Pinch Pot   |   Expressive Slab Bowls      Organic Coil Vessel

 

Procedures:

1. This lesson begins with a basic pinch pot

2. Clay can be added - pinched and extended.

 

Resources:

1. Class Text: The Big Book of Ceramics by Joaquim Chavarria

2. Examples of pinch pots

3. Potter Joyce Michaud

4. Pinch pots in Stoneware Clay and porcelain

5. Pinch pots by Kristen Doner

6. Ceramics Handbuilding: Coil and Pinch Pots - (DVD) Artist Mollie Favour explores basic hand-building technique, different types of clays, and simple tools. She demonstrates wedging and creates a pinch pot and a box with a lid made from two joined pinch pots. This DVD also features demonstrations of making coils, constructing a coil bowl and coil coffee cup, plus decorating and firing techniques.

---

 

Submitted by: Vivian Moreira Komando, Ed. S, NBCT
Class: Ceramics Pottery and 3D AP
Unit: Clay / Hand building (see more examples)
Lesson: Experimenting with Slab Building to Create a Bowl - Expressive Bowls

 

Objective:

The student will learn how to work with the draping, molding, and joining properties of clay to hand build a bowl that has expressive qualities. (click image for larger view)

 

Materials:

1. Low fire Earthenware Clay

2. Water

3. Clay Sponges

4. Inflatable beach ball

5. Glazes

Resources:

1. Class Text: The Big Book of Ceramics by Joaquim Chavarria

2. Examples of slab draped pots

3. Ceramics Hand-building: Slab Construction - (DVD) Artist Mollie Favour shows tools and clays as well as wedging, then proceeds to making slabs by throwing and rolling. She constructs a box with a lid, demonstrating how the pieces are joined utilizing scoring and Slip. Other pieces are created and decorated, including bowls that are draped over forms, a vase, and a wall mural.

Procedures:

The teacher will:

1. Use class text with students to review clay properties

2. Have examples of varied forms of clay pots / vessels that are constructed by draping the clay

3. Look at the "Impressions" work of potter Joyce Michaud with the class and analyze the expressive quality of the bowls.

4. Demonstrate how to roll slabs, how to tear the clay, and how to join slab pieces over an inflated beach ball to form a bowl.

5. Assist students as needed

6. Critique with students as work progresses

Criteria:

The student will:

1. Review clay properties in class text

2. Partake in class discussions

3. Watch demonstration on draping and joining slabs to form a bowl

4. Overlap and smooth the slabs to join as the bowl is formed

5. Consider options of jagged edges versus smooth edges to create expressive qualities

6. Release air from beach ball during the various stages of the clay drying process

7. Consider the final form of the bowl as the beach ball air is released and the clay is still moldable to create expressive qualities

8. Glaze the bisque fired bowl

9. Written critique of piece in art journal

10. Demonstrate mastery of draping and joining of slabs

11. Show evidence of craftsmanship

Evaluation:

Rubric based on the above criteria and problem solving to form bowl

 

---

 

Submitted by: Vivian Moreira Komando, Ed. S, NBCT
Class: Ceramics Pottery and 3D AP
Unit: Clay / Hand building
Lesson: Constructing a Coil Pot (see more examples)

 

Objective:

The student will learn how to use coil-building techniques to create a 12" (30 cm) coil pot that incorporates variety. (click image for larger view)

 

Materials:

1. Art journals

2. White Moist Talc Clay

3. Water

4. Clay Sponges

5. Clay Modeling Tools

6. Glazes

Resources:

1. Class Text: The Big Book of Ceramics by Joaquim Chavarria

2. The Origins of the Potter's Wheel by Victor Bryant http://www.ceramicstoday.com/articles/potters_wheel.htm

3. Ceramics Hand-building: Coil and Pinch Pots - (DVD) Artist Mollie Favour explores basic hand-building technique, different types of clays, and simple tools. She demonstrates wedging and creates a pinch pot and a box with a lid made from two joined pinch pots. This DVD also features demonstrations of making coils, constructing a coil bowl and coil coffee cup, plus decorating and firing techniques.

4. Examples of Coil pots

 

Procedures:

The teacher will:

1. Use class text with students and read / discuss the chapter on coil building.

2. Visit the web page on The Origins of the Potter's Wheel by Victor Bryant, discussing the differences and similarities / variations of slab building in the past and the present.

3. Demonstrate how to roll coils, how to shape coils, and how to join coils.

4. Have Crystal Ceramic Coil Building Poster displayed for review.

5. Have actual coil pots for students to see or digital images of coil pots created by other students.

6. Assist students as needed

7. Critique with students as work progresses

Criteria:

The student will:

1. Read coil building techniques in class text

2. Partake in class discussions

3. Watch demonstration on coil building

4. Draw 3 sketches in his/her art journal of coil pot designs

5. Student and teacher will critique coil designs

6. Select one design for the coil project

7. Use variety in the construction of the coil pot.

8. Smooth the inside of the vessel to join coils

9. Build the coil pot to a height of 12" (or more)

10. Measure the coil pot after each firing to see how much the clay shrinks from the start of the project to the final piece

11. Glaze the bisque fired pot

12. Written critique of piece in art journal

13. Demonstrate mastery of coil building

14. Show evidence of craftsmanship

Evaluation:

Rubric based on the above criteria