Embedded Files
Today We Will:
Introduction to Clay
Preparing Your Shelf Concept
Thumbnail Sketch Ideas
Select and Refine our Plan
Intro To Clay (5m)
Clay play: Touch, explore, experiment, play with clay
Make a pinch pot while you watch
8m
Preparing Your Shelf Concept
You need to plan your design with intention and function in mind.
Know Your Attachment Plan
Decide how and where your shelf and coil will connect to your portrait slab.Consider Hanging Method
Think ahead about how your piece will hang on the wall. Be sure to leave space for a nail hole or add a built-in hanging system. This is part of your functional design.Sketch Your Final Vision
You should have a clear, labeled sketch of what your finished portrait shelf will look like, including:
• Shelf placement and shape
• Coil placement and shape
• Any decorative or symbolic elements
• Hanging solution
Optional: Indicate materials or textures you plan to include
Strong planning now will lead to a stronger, more successful final piece
Minimum Requirements:
1 Portrait Slab: Slightly larger than A4 size (this will hold your carved portrait - leave room for a nail notch)
1 Shelf Slab
1 Coil
Prepare Your Portrait for Transfer:
Prepare Your Portrait for Transfer:
Digitally: Use a drawing app or editing tool to trace bold lines around the important features of your face (eyes, nose, mouth, jawline, hair, etc.). Focus on outlines, features, and areas of contrast. Consider where you might want to add texture or pattern in your carving.
By Hand: Print your photo and use a colored pen or pencil to trace the key contour lines of your face. Focus on outlines, features, and areas of contrast. Consider where you might want to add texture or pattern in your carving.
Extend your design down to your shoulders. Avoid letting features "fade off" the bottom of the page. Anything left vague or open at the edge won’t transfer well onto the clay.
Consider how your portrait slab and shelf will connect. Think about where the slab will sit and how the two parts can visually and structurally work together.
Design your shelf with intention. Will it be simple or detailed? Carved or textured? Think about how the design, texture, or symbols on the shelf itself can support or enhance the meaning of your portrait.
Your goal is a piece that feels cohesive, thoughtful, and personal, from surface to structure.
Make sure your lines are clear, intentional, and easy to see, this is what you'll use for your sgraffito carving!
What to submit:
Multiple sketch concepts of how you will design your "celfie" (ceramic-self-shelf), considering multiple compositonal plans. Do not just give the same idea with small tweaks, think BIG compositional changes!
Consider This...
For ALL artworks you create these essential questions should be answered.
Concept & Intention
What is my central idea or concept in this piece?
How does this connect to my Line of Inquiry or my larger body of work?
Am I clearly communicating my intended message, or could viewers misinterpret it?
What symbols, metaphors, or cultural references am I using? Are they effective?
Research & Artist Influence
Which artists (historic or contemporary) can I connect to this work?
What specific techniques or approaches from these artists can I adapt or challenge?
How does my work respond to a global or cultural context?
Experimentation & Technique
Have I explored multiple media, methods, or approaches before deciding on this one?
Am I pushing my technical skills, or staying in my comfort zone?
What new material or technique could I test to add more depth or complexity?
How have I recorded my experimentation and process for the Process Portfolio?
Formal Qualities & Aesthetics
How are the elements and principles of design (line, color, texture, balance, contrast, rhythm, etc.) working in this piece?
Does the composition guide the viewer’s eye effectively?
Are the scale and proportions intentional and successful?
Reflection & Revision
What aspects of this work are successful so far, and why?
What areas feel unresolved or weaker. How can I refine them?
If I had unlimited time/materials, what would I change or add?
How could feedback from peers or teachers push this piece further?
Audience & Presentation
How might a viewer from another culture interpret this work?
If this were displayed in an exhibition, what would the title, placement, or lighting add?
Does the work stand alone, or does it need supporting text/context to be understood?
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