buff moist clay, canvas cloth, rolling pins, guide sticks, plastic containers (we used 1/2 gallon salad containers from the deli), newspaper, assorted clay modeling tools, assorted stamps, slip dishes, glazes, glaze brushes

coil method, plastic, leather hard, bone dry, slip, score, cross-hatch, symbol (symbolism), glaze, kiln, fire, slab, pressed coil, drape slab, separator 

• students will become aware of symbolism in Renaissance art (and other art)
• students will use ceramics vocabulary
• students will demonstrate craftsmanship in working with clay
• students will express themselves through use of personal symbols--make work meaningful to them
• students will become familiar with various forms of hand-building and decorating.
• students will critique works of art

• Renaissance terra-cotta sculptures
• contemporary ceramics
• Native American ceramics
• Text: Art-A World of Images and Images and Ideas.

Teacher's Resources:

• Ceramics Handbuilding. 
• Clay Decorating Techniques
• Low-Fire Clay
• History of Ceramics
• Ceramics Print Portfolio

1. Show examples of coil vessels--both traditional and contemporary.
2. Show examples of Native American pottery--"talking pots"--explain some of the symbolism in Pueblo pottery. Show pots that were made at the same time as the Renaissance
3. Discuss Renaissance ceramic sculptures--What do they symbolize?  What are some of the symbols in the Renaissance paintings?
4. Review ceramics vocabulary--stages of clay--techniques--materials.
5. Demonstrate placing separator in plastic container (so clay will not stick to inside)
6. Demonstrate making various symbols--from slab technique, pinch, and coils
7. Demonstrate forming techniques--slab for base--coil method and pressed coil method for sides of vessel--scoring and applying slip to fuse together
8. Demonstrate shoulder and neck of vessel
9. Demonstrate various types of lids, handles, etc. (or bottle stoppers)
10. (after bisque firing) Demonstrated glazing.

1.      Line plastic bowl with plastic wrap or newspaper (as a separator) - put name on bottom of bowl with masking tape--MAKE AT LEAST FIVE SYMBOLS TO USE IN CONSTRUCTING BODY OF VESSEL--will be fused in with coils and pieces of clay. We used 1/2 gallon salad containers to form the main part of the vessel. Keep symbols in small plastic baggie until ready to use. Symbols were made from small slabs of clay with carved in designs and added coils.

2.      Wedge clay to remove air bubbles

3.      Roll out slab of clay with rolling pin.  Use guide sticks on either side.  Slab should be about 3/8" thick.  Cut slab for bottom of bowl.  Place slab in bottom

4.      Method 1: Texture slabs with stamps, gadgets, and texture panels. Cut slab shapes and place in bowls--fuse where slabs touch.  Score and apply slip. Add symbols shapes as you build the walls of vessel (score and slip where they touch). Some students made a tracing of their hand as one of their symbols of "self". Some made little faces - little people - cars - trucks - sports equipment - leaves - flowers - TV's etc.

Use a variety of textures---but choose ones that will compliment each other (similar in design)

Store in plastic bag between work sessions. PUT NAME ON PLASTIC BAG.

5.      Method 2: Roll out coils of clay--rope like pieces of clay--roll up into interesting patterns--press into bowls--fuse coils together on back sides with slip and thin pads of clay.  (see pressed coil pot teacher example)

6.      Fill bowl with patterned coils, personal symbols and textured slabs. Un-mold when leather hard (keep wrapped in plastic bag between work sessions)

7.      Add coils to form shoulder of vessel--(may use a bowl same diameter of plastic container)

8.      Fuse  bowl on top of the first by scoring both edges and applying slip. Note: Some students chose to make a lidded vessel instead of a bottle.vase. A slab of clay was draped over a rounded newspaper or plaster hump and cut slightly larger that top of vessel. When leather hard - a slab ring was fused on under side to fit inside vessel and keep lid from sliding. Students were very creative in their handle designs - making shapes/forms to symbolize something important to them.

9.      Continue neck of bottle with coils or slab cylinder.  Make a cardboard cylinder to help support neck.

10.  Add additional symbols --details with coils, stamps, tools.

11.  Allow to dry---bisque fire ---

12. Wash vessel (inside and out)--apply glaze (pour glaze on inside--brush on outside). Students were given the opportunity to use Majolica glazes -- or could glaze all one solid color.

13. Glaze fire

Grading Criteria:

• Use of symbols (students provide a description and significance)

• Craftsmanship in handling clay

• Use of two or more forming techniques

• Overall design-originality

• surface decoration

• glazing

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