CLAY RATTLES & THE 4 CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES YOU NEED TO KNOW
pinch, slab, coil & drape
Requirements:
Reading: Caddo-influenced design work READING STEP 1
Planning: Complete brainstorming sheet before beginning with clay that shows variations in texture, pattern and composition.
Execute: 3 percussive rattles with design cohesion & variation
+1 drape (or other demonstrated method) bowl with foot CREATION STAGE STEP 3
Reading: Caddo-influenced design work READING STEP 1
Planning: Complete brainstorming sheet before beginning with clay that shows variations in texture, pattern and composition.
Execute: 3 percussive rattles with design cohesion & variation
+1 drape (or other demonstrated method) bowl with foot CREATION STAGE STEP 3
TECHNIQUE #1: PINCH POT
C'mon! Everyone can do it. Even little kids. Don't believe me? Look here for simple instructions
**Must have a creative, planned design. Must be part of a 3 rattle thematic body of work (matches your other 2 rattles)
**Must have a small hole pierced into the clay body for the trapped air inside the double pinch pot sphere to escape (or it will blow up in the kiln as the steam tries to escape, generally not a good idea).
C'mon! Everyone can do it. Even little kids. Don't believe me? Look here for simple instructions
**Must have a creative, planned design. Must be part of a 3 rattle thematic body of work (matches your other 2 rattles)
**Must have a small hole pierced into the clay body for the trapped air inside the double pinch pot sphere to escape (or it will blow up in the kiln as the steam tries to escape, generally not a good idea).
TECHNIQUE #2: SLAB CONSTRUCTION
Getting a bit more complicated, the slab method requires precise cutting of leatherhard clay slab to construct a geometric slab-built enclosed rattle.
**Must have a creative, planned design. Must be part of a 3 rattle thematic body of work (matches your other 2 rattles)
**Must have a small hole pierced into the clay body for the trapped air inside the enclosed geometric rattle to escape (or it will blow up in the kiln as the steam tries to escape, again... generally not a good idea).
Getting a bit more complicated, the slab method requires precise cutting of leatherhard clay slab to construct a geometric slab-built enclosed rattle.
**Must have a creative, planned design. Must be part of a 3 rattle thematic body of work (matches your other 2 rattles)
**Must have a small hole pierced into the clay body for the trapped air inside the enclosed geometric rattle to escape (or it will blow up in the kiln as the steam tries to escape, again... generally not a good idea).
TECHNIQUE #3: COIL CONSTRUCTION
Perhaps the most challenging of the 3 techniques, the coil method requires stacking and aligning perfectly formed clay coils to construct a free-form coil-built rattle.
**Must have a creative, planned design. Must be part of a 3 rattle thematic body of work (matches your other 2 rattles)
**Must have a small hole pierced into the clay body for the trapped air inside the double pinch pot sphere to escape (or it will blow up in the kiln as the steam tries to escape, generally not a good idea).
Perhaps the most challenging of the 3 techniques, the coil method requires stacking and aligning perfectly formed clay coils to construct a free-form coil-built rattle.
**Must have a creative, planned design. Must be part of a 3 rattle thematic body of work (matches your other 2 rattles)
**Must have a small hole pierced into the clay body for the trapped air inside the double pinch pot sphere to escape (or it will blow up in the kiln as the steam tries to escape, generally not a good idea).
Goals & Grading Scale Components
A.2. Select and apply three-dimensional media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas and solve challenging visual art problems.
C. 1. Select and use elements of art for their effect in communicating ideas through artwork.
A.2. Select and use principles of art for their effect in communicating ideas through artwork.
C. 3. Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others
Vocabulary/Terminology:
A.2. Select and apply three-dimensional media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas and solve challenging visual art problems.
C. 1. Select and use elements of art for their effect in communicating ideas through artwork.
A.2. Select and use principles of art for their effect in communicating ideas through artwork.
C. 3. Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others
Vocabulary/Terminology:
- pinch - to form clay between the fingers and the palm
- coil - a rope-like formation of clay
- slab - a evenly rolled or pressed layer of clay
- bisque - is clay that has been fired but not yet glazed
- ceramics - are objects created from stoneware, porcelain or terra cotta
- clay - soil, water and sand
- fire - is the name for the heat that is used in a kiln
- glaze - a glass paint used on pottery
- kiln - a special oven used for hardening clay
- greenware - pottery that is not yet fired in a kiln
- leather hard - the hard condition of clay when it is almost air-dry
- score - roughen the clay's surface so that a bond may be formed between two surfaces
- sculpture - a three-dimensional art work
- slip - a liquid clay used to glue two pieces together
- texture - press or draw into the clay surface with objects to create a pattern, design or rough surface
- radial design – a type of design based upon a spinning, circular pattern
- incising - mark or decorate with cuts or a series of cuts
OOPS! Rules of ceramics to remember:
1) Clay should be no thicker than the top view of your thumb
2) Clay should be no thinner than a pancake
3) Score and slip to join clay together
4) Poke small holes into a trapped air environment to allow for the release of steam during firing (see below photo)
Reading Questions for Part 1:
1) Why do artists make pottery? 1) 2) 3)
2) Where is the Caddo region?
3) In your own words, define plasticity?
4) How do you burnish a pot?
5) What is the difference between incising and engraving?
6) Draw 2 design patterns you notice in Caddo pottery?
[___] [___] Now expand your thinking and create 2 new designs
[___] [___]
1) Why do artists make pottery? 1) 2) 3)
2) Where is the Caddo region?
3) In your own words, define plasticity?
4) How do you burnish a pot?
5) What is the difference between incising and engraving?
6) Draw 2 design patterns you notice in Caddo pottery?
[___] [___] Now expand your thinking and create 2 new designs
[___] [___]