Hump/Slump Mold with Coils

Objectives:

The student will learn and utilize ceramic vocabulary
The student will learn about and create hand built clay coils
The student will learn about the hump/slump use of molds to create ceramic ware
The student will create a ceramic bowl or tray using either the slump or hump mold technique by stacking hand built decorative coils on the mold and then smoothing them together on one side.

Slump/Hump Mold Coil Vessel Rubric

Hump/Slump Mold w/ Coils Project Sheet

slumphumpmolddish-170308153240.pdf

Vocabulary:

Slump/Hump Mold - When clay is laid into/onto a mold to give it form while drying to leather hard state

Leather Hard - After leaving your clay out (about 24 hours) it will be stiff, around 50% moisture; good for cleaning up edges, carving and incising (sgraffito too)

Coil - long, snake like pieces of clay that are used to construct ceramic items, either structurally or decoratively

Basic Types of Coils to Try Out

Project Steps

Planning

Take a look at the examples on this project page (right below); you are welcome to search the internet as well.

Things to PLAN:

What other shape do you want?
Do you want a Bowl or a Plate/Tray?
Do you want your design to show on the outside (Slump Mold)
Or do you want your designs to show on the inside (Hump Mold)
What possible coil designs can you create?

Geometric, Organic, Symmetrical, asymmetrical?

Can you add feet, or a handle? Where?

Take out your sketchbook and plan out YOUR OWN DESIGN (don't just copy someone else's ideas) by sketching at least 3 design options you are interested in making. This can be 3 totally different ideas, or 3 different versions of an idea.

Tip: Any openings in your design makes it harder to construct...but still totally doable! You can always try something and then change your mind.

Take a photo of your work and turn it in to Google Classroom for a daily grade

Examples of Coil Vessels Made in a Slump/Hump Mold

Making Coils

4. Gather whatever hump/slump mold you which to use to create your bowl/tray before you pick up a piece of clay from the teacher.

If your mold it not foam, lay out plastic wrap/paper towel/newspaper between it and the clay so it does not stick.

5. While getting clay to work with, you will want to gather a surface to work on as well. Create coils by breaking off a piece of clay, squeezing it into a sausage-like form and then rolling it across the table with your hands.

Reminders: use your whole hand (from fingertip to bottom of your palm), stand up to roll them, and resist pushing down on the clay coil. Roll out to a thickness between your index finger and your pinkie finger.

Laying Out Your Design

6. You can now use your hand made coils to create decorative swirls/shapes etc. You may also use other forms, such as marbles of clay or small shapes cut from a slab.

Pro Tip: allow your decorative pieces to sit out for a while as you make more, this will help them dry a little and firm up so that they do not lose their shape when you put them together.

7. Stack your decorative forms along the walls of your mold.

8. Once you have finished all your pieces, you will want to fill any large holes (Picture 6 to the right), or your work will blend together when you go to smooth out the form.

9. You may smooth the forms together as you go or all at once at the end. (Pictures 7-9 to the right)

10. You may also add sculpted elements if you wish (remember to score and slip) or create handles, feet etc…. (Picture 10-11 to the right)

slumphumpmolddish-170308153240b.pdf

YouTube: Slump mold vessel made w/ coils- In depth version

YouTube: Coil Pot in a mold, Ceramic Arts Network

Finishing Up Your Work

11. Allow to firm up some (not all the way to leather hard but close) and clean up the smoothed side with a rubber rib and/or a damp (not wet) clay sponge.

12. Don't forget to add your name/initials and period to the bottom of your work!

13. Once done, your work can be taken off of the mold and allowed to dry in the kiln room.