Ceramics Surface Design
Overview: Students will create vessels that emphasize the surface decoration as the primary focus of the design, in contrast with form. They will learn multiple surface design techniques, including Mishima (inlaid slip), sgraffito, paper stenciling, image transfers, slip trailing, water etching, wax resist glazing etc. They will first utilize these techniques on test tiles, then after experimenting, students will create a vessel using their favorite techniques.
Original class population: Ceramics 1+2, mixed class. grades 9-12
Materials:
II. Objectives / Expected Learner Outcomes
Artist Examples
Original class population: Ceramics 1+2, mixed class. grades 9-12
Materials:
- basic clay studio materials (clay, underglazes, glazes, kiln, basic clay tools)
- paper
- scissors/exacto knife
- slip trailing bottle
- shellac
- wax resist
II. Objectives / Expected Learner Outcomes
- Students will use surface design techniques:
- Mishima, sgraffito, paper stenciling, image transfers on clay, slip trailing, wax resist / water etching, stamping (with underglazes, for texture, for Mishima)
- Students have experience with slab construction, coil building, pinch pots, and possible wheel throwing
- Students have experience with clay drying stages: identifying wet, leather hard and bone dry and knowing how clay behaves differently at these stages
- 8 90 minutes sessions (flexible and subject to change). Roughly 3 sessions to build, 3 to decorate. Excludes overlap from other projects.
Artist Examples
Daily Breakdown
Lesson 1: Test Tiles
Students will create test tile from slabs or throwing them on a wheel
Lesson 2: Surface Design Technique Demos
Students will talk about all of the surface design options and vote as a class on the top 4 they want to learn. The teacher will demonstrate 2 techniques per class for the students to practice on test tiles
Lesson 3: Glazing Test Tiles
Generally, the techniques we are covering will require students to use clear glaze. We will clear glaze the tiles, practicing both dipping and painting on glazes and talk about glazing craftsmanship.
*fire test tiles*
Lesson 4: Mid-point Critique
Students will discuss their fired test tiles, looking for technical accomplishments and things to work on. Common things to look for: carving techniques too shallow or deep, glaze too thick or thin.
Students will work to sketch their final vessel design.
Lesson 5: Ceramic Vessels with Surface as a Focus of Design
Students will create vessels of their choice (cups, bowls, vases, jars, pitchers). Requirements are flexible, but it must be able to hold or contain something and be more complex than a cylinder. Size requirement will be dependent on complexity of design. This portion of the unit will be the longest and involve regular critiques that encourage students to help one another with technical and design problems as they arise. Students may request more teacher demos on any technique during this stage of the project.
Lesson 6: Final Critique
Topics to cover in critique include:
- What is the first thing you notice about this piece?
- What did the artist do well?
- What could the artist improve on?
- Is this piece functional? What is its function? Who uses it? For what? Where does it live?
- Is it heavier than you expected? Lighter? Is it comfortable to hold?
Lesson 1: Test Tiles
Students will create test tile from slabs or throwing them on a wheel
Lesson 2: Surface Design Technique Demos
Students will talk about all of the surface design options and vote as a class on the top 4 they want to learn. The teacher will demonstrate 2 techniques per class for the students to practice on test tiles
Lesson 3: Glazing Test Tiles
Generally, the techniques we are covering will require students to use clear glaze. We will clear glaze the tiles, practicing both dipping and painting on glazes and talk about glazing craftsmanship.
*fire test tiles*
Lesson 4: Mid-point Critique
Students will discuss their fired test tiles, looking for technical accomplishments and things to work on. Common things to look for: carving techniques too shallow or deep, glaze too thick or thin.
Students will work to sketch their final vessel design.
Lesson 5: Ceramic Vessels with Surface as a Focus of Design
Students will create vessels of their choice (cups, bowls, vases, jars, pitchers). Requirements are flexible, but it must be able to hold or contain something and be more complex than a cylinder. Size requirement will be dependent on complexity of design. This portion of the unit will be the longest and involve regular critiques that encourage students to help one another with technical and design problems as they arise. Students may request more teacher demos on any technique during this stage of the project.
Lesson 6: Final Critique
Topics to cover in critique include:
- What is the first thing you notice about this piece?
- What did the artist do well?
- What could the artist improve on?
- Is this piece functional? What is its function? Who uses it? For what? Where does it live?
- Is it heavier than you expected? Lighter? Is it comfortable to hold?