Submitted
byLinda Erling-Baker, Archbishop Walsh High
School
Project:
Ceramic fish
Grades 7-12
Standing fish vessel
Alternate
Lesson - ArtsConnectEd
Objectives:
- Organic
form in ceramics- sculptural ceramics
- Look
for pattern in nature - art with science
- Create
textures and pattern in clay
- Demonstrate
craftsmanship in handling materials
- Explore
ceramic decorating techniques
- Appreciation
of Oriental art, Raku pottery
Materials:
Photographs
of fish, live goldfish and beta fish, Clay, canvas cloth,
rolling pins, guide sticks, slip dishes, modeling tools,
wire loop tools, assorted gadgets for textures, various
laces, potato sacks, stamps …and other assorted
textures. Glazes, underglazes, brushes, India ink (for
Raku look).
Dowel rods and wood for bases, wire for hanging
Fish is made by fusing two humped slabs - or by coil vessel.
Tail is flared out for support. Fins are added.
Motivation:
- Slides of Oriental art showing a fish motif
- Egyptian
Faience Fish (from Getty ArtsEdNet) – discuss
symbolism
(no
longer online)
- Demonstrations in forming techniques.
- Actual
live fish to draw ( gold fish and beta).
Procedures:
1.
Study photographs of fish or live goldfish and beta fish.
Draw fish large enough - body should be about 4"x9"
with fins and tail extending to edges 9x12 paper (some of our
fish grew quite large)
2.
Wedge and roll out slab of clay using guide sticks to
insure even thickness of slab
3.
Cut out shape of fish including fins and tail.
Round up body portion of fish over a newspaper hump.
Texture body and fins using a variety of tools- use
natural or inventive designs (using a variety stamps and
textures provide—or carve in texture)
Alternate method: Make body from two pinch pots. Score
and fuse together. Make small opening for mouth (so air can
escape). This method makes a fish with a rounder body.
4.
Roll out another slab- cut out body portion only. Round
out body over newspaper hump (texture or use wire loop tools to
carve in texture)
5.
Fuse body portions together when leather hard.
Score and apply slip to secure seam. Hide seam with
rubbed in or carve texture to match body. Leave mouth open
for air to escape - OR make hole in back for hanging on a wall.
Some of our fish were standing sculptures with open mouths. Wall
mounts had holes in the back - cut when leather hard. some chose
to make a pocket fish - cut a larger fish body with tails and
fins attached
and kept that flat - the cut just the body portion
and humped that up - leaving the top open for a plant or
whatever - these were also wall mounts. Holes were made in flat
piece to hang with jute. ArtsConnectED
lesson - leave bottom of fish open so fish will stand (and
paper is easy to remove)
6.
Add eyes, gills, additional fins (pectoral and gill
fins). Make free standing on fins - or put holes in back for
hanging on wall (insert wire into holes after firing)- or put
hole in under belly to mount on stick and wood base.
7.
Glaze after bisque firing.
May use underglazes and clear glaze.
Crackle, if desired, to make fish simulate the Raku
firing of the Japanese. To crackle- brush India ink over entire
fish --- then wash off (ink will go in crack of glaze)
Alternate finish - watercolor paints - with clear acrylic gloss
when dry. Linda
Erling Baker used metallic paints for her fish.
Alternate
Assignments:
For
students who are behind - or for those who have fewer classer
periods each week:
Make flat relief sculpture fish - cut out one fish body with
fins and tail attached and hump up body to round... texture...
add additional fins. See Linda
Erling Baker's Golden Fish Treaure.
Alternate
for Free Standing Fish Sculpture
-
Make
mirror image slab body with back connected. Bend over a
newspaper hump and fuse face and tail section.
- Add
back fin and tail - try to show movement - add fins out to
the side for support so fish will stand
Alternate - "Fish Sticks"
- Fun and whimsical - Fish mounted on a dowel into wood base.
-
Look at names of fish - create a visual
pun from the fish name - or create your own character fish -
new fish name. Make same as above - 3-D hollow sculpture.
Make humorous. Example - a Tiger barb may have a tiger head.
An Angel fish may have wings and a halo. Put hole in belly
for dowel rod. Sand and paint a wood base. Glaze or paint
the humorous fish and mount. See Karen
Williams Smith's Lady Fish (soft sculpture).
Evaluation:
Student
self-evaluation.
Student
written critique
Grade
form:
7Th
GRADE - Ceramic Fish name__________________
DESIGN
10
9
8
7
6
5
other
CONSTRUCTION
10
9
8
7
6
5
CRAFTSMANSHIP
10
9
8
7
6
5
PATTERNS/TEXTURES 10
9
8
7
6
5
GLAZING
10
9
8
7
6
5
