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Objective
Objective
We will use the hand building ceramic technique of pinching to create two pinch pots that we then turn into one medium to small planter.
Hard Guidelines: You must use pinch pots to create your planter, you must wedge your clay, and you must follow the 10 Golden Rules of Ceramics.
Soft Guidelines: We will all plan out to create face planters, but if you have your heart set on creating a texture or pattern instead I will support you.
Copy of ArtistBios-StellaBaggottAtelierStella.pdfArtist Research
Artist Research
Established in 2012, Atelier Stella is an ever changing collection of unique ceramics designed and made by Stella Baggott in Brighton, England.
All pots are all hand built, sculpted from slabs and pinch pots to create unique pieces that I would love in my home. I'm influenced by Cornish, Italian and Swedish potters from the 50's and 60's, mixing the rustic use of patterns with the frivolity of character.
Student Examples
Student Examples
Step 1: Brainstorming for your design using Thumbnails
Step 1: Brainstorming for your design using Thumbnails
Create 6 Form or Body Thumbnail Sketches
Create 6 Form or Body Thumbnail Sketches
Create 6 facial Expression sketches
Create 6 facial Expression sketches
When creating your sketches, be sure to consider:
When creating your sketches, be sure to consider:
We are creating the from from two pinch pots stacked on top of one another
Keep your sketches light and quick so you can make changes
Say "Yes!" to the idea fish swimming around in your head, ask "What if?" through drawing. Stretch your possibilities
Simplicity is not bad, it is your friend
When creating your Facial Expression Sketches:
When creating your Facial Expression Sketches:
Don't be afraid to consider how you can exaggerate features
Does humor play a role?
Simple does not equal bad.
Do you want to start or finish with the emotional states in mind? I personally drew the faces first and then picked emotions I felt were appropriate.
Brainstorming Resources:
Brainstorming Resources:
Step 2: Finalize Your Planter Design
Step 2: Finalize Your Planter Design
This is my finalized design for my planter. I wanted to challenge myself, so mine is more intricate than may be appropriate for you. Your actual sculpture may differ from your design as you begin building.
This is my finalized design for my planter. I wanted to challenge myself, so mine is more intricate than may be appropriate for you. Your actual sculpture may differ from your design as you begin building.
You will use your brainstorming sketches to develop your plan for your planter.
You will use your brainstorming sketches to develop your plan for your planter.
Remember it's okay to keep it simple.
Remember it's okay to keep it simple.
Think about what kind of plants you may want to plant inside, how does that alter your design?
Think about what kind of plants you may want to plant inside, how does that alter your design?
Step 3: Pinch Your Pots
Step 3: Pinch Your Pots
Pinch Pot Resources
Pinch Pot Resources
Copy of 186HowToMakeAPinchPot.pdfHow to make a pinch pot
How to make a pinch pot
Copy of 186HowToAlterAPinchPot.pdfHow to Alter or make your pinch pot more longer than it is wide
How to Alter or make your pinch pot more longer than it is wide
Copy of 186PinchPotEvaluation.pdfClean Up During Clay
Clean Up During Clay
Step 4: Score and Slip Your Pinch Pots Together
Step 4: Score and Slip Your Pinch Pots Together
Scoring And Slipping
Scoring And Slipping
Copy of 88HowToJoinClay.pdfYou must always
You must always
score and slip
score and slip
Copy of 88The6StagesofClay.pdfClay Stages
Clay Stages
Step 5: Coiling and their Uses
Step 5: Coiling and their Uses
Coil Resources
Coil Resources
Copy of 185HowToRollACoil.pdfCoil Anchor Chart
Coil Anchor Chart
Copy of 88HowToJoinClay.pdfAlways Score and Slip
Always Score and Slip
Step 6: Sculpt your Additions
Step 6: Sculpt your Additions
Refer back to your design and sculpt any arms or facial features it would be helpful to add to your sculpture. Be sure to score and slip anything that you add to your sculpture, unless you want them to fall off.
Refer back to your design and sculpt any arms or facial features it would be helpful to add to your sculpture. Be sure to score and slip anything that you add to your sculpture, unless you want them to fall off.
This is also a good time to stamp any patterns into the clay while it's still in the plastic stage.
This is also a good time to stamp any patterns into the clay while it's still in the plastic stage.
When your clay is still plastic it's a good time to add texture or use clay stamps
When your clay is still plastic it's a good time to add texture or use clay stamps
Copy of 37MakingTextureInClay.pdfStamping and textures look amazing after glazing
Stamping and textures look amazing after glazing
Advanced:
Advanced:
How to sculpt an Eye with upper/ lower lids.
How to sculpt an Eye with upper/ lower lids.
Step 7: Carve out textures or details using Subtractive Sculpting
Step 7: Carve out textures or details using Subtractive Sculpting
Step 8: Refine, Smooth, Consider Details
Step 8: Refine, Smooth, Consider Details
Step 9: Leave your Sculpture Unwrapped so that it gets BONE DRY
Step 9: Leave your Sculpture Unwrapped so that it gets BONE DRY
After about a week, or until your work is no longer cold to the touch....
After about a week, or until your work is no longer cold to the touch....
Your work will be ready for it's Bisque Firing.
Your work will be ready for it's Bisque Firing.
Ms. Thomas will handle the firing process, don't ever touch the kilns.
Ms. Thomas will handle the firing process, don't ever touch the kilns.
Bone Dry vs. Stiff leather hard
Bone Dry vs. Stiff leather hard
The image to the left is of a work that is in-between stiff leather hard and bone dry. You can see how the areas around the eyes are starting to turn a much lighter gray as moisture slowly leaves the clay body. It's best if this process goes slowly to avoid your clay piece from cracking.
It can take a week for (or more if it's super humid) for clay to truly become bone dry. Once it's truly dry it will no longer be cold to the touch, and have turned a super light gray.
Bisqueware: 1st Firing Chemical Change
Bisqueware: 1st Firing Chemical Change
Notice how the clay is now a different color and will ting when you tap it.
Bisqueware
Bisqueware
Clay that has gone through the chemical process of 1 firing, and is now ready for glazing or surface painting.
Clay that has gone through the chemical process of 1 firing, and is now ready for glazing or surface painting.
Fun Facts:
Fun Facts:
The clay we are using is a stoneware clay. After the chemical change that happens during firing this clay body vitrifies or turns to glass. It's no longer porous so water will not seep through it. With earthenware clays, even after firing, they are still porous and require glazing to vitrify in order to be watertight.
The clay we are using is a stoneware clay. After the chemical change that happens during firing this clay body vitrifies or turns to glass. It's no longer porous so water will not seep through it. With earthenware clays, even after firing, they are still porous and require glazing to vitrify in order to be watertight.
Yeah Chemistry! It makes up our world!
Yeah Chemistry! It makes up our world!
Step 10: Glazing your planter
Step 10: Glazing your planter
Glazing Steps
Glazing Steps
Other things to consider:
Appropriate bush size for the area
Only take the glaze you need, you can always get more and we can share
Heat guns always stored on their butts
Don't layer different colors of glaze (unless you have tested it, which we don't have time for in this class unfortunately)
Notice: These colors will look very different after this work is fired a 2nd time.
Notice: These colors will look very different after this work is fired a 2nd time.
The colors will be bold and glossy. Make sure you look at the test tiles for an idea about what your work will look like, not the glaze it's self. Opening the kiln is always a little bit of a surprize.
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