CERAMICS

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CARVE YOUR WOODEN STAMP
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ROLL OUT A SLAB
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MAKE A DESIGN IN THE SLAB WITH THE STAMPS
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YOU CAN ALSO MAKE YOUR FORM FIRST AND THEN STAMP
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APPLY UNDERGLAZE
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YOU CAN ALSO UNDERGLAZE AND THEN REMOVE CLAY TO CREATE A DESIGN
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YOU CAN CARVE TEXTURES INTO THE GLAZE TO CREATE CONTRAST

TECHNICAL SKILLS VIDEOS

INSTRUCTION

  • PLAN OUT YOUR PROJECT DESIGN (mug, cup, bowl, pitcher, bird feeder, spoon rest, etc.)
  • CARVE A WOODEN STAMP (use a speedball Lino cutter, be cognizant of your fingers, carve away from yourself and your other hand, use a vise as needed)
  • ROLL OUT A SLAB (use a slab mat and rolling pin to roll out your clay - 1/8 to 1/4 inch thickness)
  • STAMP DESIGN (using your wooden stamp, and possibly other students' stamps, make a pattern on your clay slab)
  • FORM BASIC FORMS (form your basic structure - use the 4 S's to attach clay - Score, Slip, Stick, and Smooth; touch up the pattern on joints after the joints are well attached and smooth)
  • CLEANING UP SURFACE (spend some time make sure the surface is exactly how you want it - consider running a damp sponge over areas that need to be smoothed)
  • BETWEEN LEATHERHARD AND BONEDRY (dry out your project some, but not all the way - it should be firm but not yet fragile)
  • UNDERGLAZE (paint or flow underglaze in recessed areas - you can run a sponge over the raised areas to remove any glaze that got away from you)

ADVANCED IDEAS

  • CARVING INTO AREAS THAT ARE ALREADY GLAZED
  • PROJECTS WITH MORE COMPLICATED SHAPES
  • INTEGRATING METAL AND/OR WOOD INTO YOUR FINISHED CERAMICS PROJECT
  • STENCILS TO APPLY DIFFERENT AREAS OF GLAZE
  • CONTRASTING COLORED SLIP