Princeton Online
Incredible Art Department
Home Art Lessons Resources Listgroup Art News
Contact Art Jobs Art Rooms Art Stuff Pet Peeves
Art Forum Associations Cartoons Guestbook Awards
         Incredible Art Department
                                                                  Incredible Art Deparatment
 
Submitted by: Melissa Speelman, Sycamore Junior High Cincinnati, Ohio
Unit: Pablo Picasso - Slab Construction
Lesson Plan: Face Vessels Inspired by Picasso (Cubism)
Grade level: Middle school thru high school (adaptable to elementary)

Objectives:

Create a three or four-sided vessel incorporating abstracted faces on each side. Vessels should be irregular in shape.

Demonstrate skills and craftsmanship in working with clay

Explore hand-building methods of construction

Demonstrate an appreciation and awareness of the work of Pablo Picasso

Materials:

clay, clay tools, rolling pins, guide sticks, slip, canvas cloth, modeling tools, glazes, brushes

Vocabulary:

score, slip, slab, pinch, coil, Picasso, cubism, Blue Period, glaze


Resources:

Prints of Pablo Picasso cubist style
Prints of Pablo Picasso "Blue Period"
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/picasso.htm
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/sp-picas.htm
See contemporary artist - Lori Kelley's Picasso pots - from Cincinnati, Ohio 

The Process: 

·        Sketches:  Begin by planning your design.  Decide how many sides you will be using and begin sketches of the shape of your vessel as well as the abstract face designs you will be using.  Your base will be a free form design that is larger that your vessel.  Remember: The sides can be irregular in shape but MUST have perfectly vertical sides and a horizontal base in order for your sides to fit together.

·        Final Design: Your final design will be drawn onto idea paper to scale. Remember to include your base which will be a free form shape that is larger than your vessel.  You will be using this as a pattern to cut from your clay slab.  Faces should also be drawn onto the pattern.  This is a rough draft.  Changes may be made once you begin sculpting faces onto clay.

·        Slabs:  Begin by rolling a slab using two slats and a rolling pin.  Your slab must be uniform in thickness before you begin cutting.  Place pattern pieces onto clay and cut each side carefully. 

·        Sculpting:  You must sculpt your faces before constructing your vessel.  Be careful not to attach too much clay to each side or you will have a hard time getting your vessel to stand.  Remember to SLIP & SCORE!

·         Construction:  Now you are ready to slip and score your sides together and then attach (slip & score) to the base.

Allow to dry and bisque fire

Glaze as desired - apply even coats.....These are glazed blue to pay tribute to Picasso's Blue Period

                                    [BACK TO MIDDLE SCHOOL LESSONS

 

 

Send submissions to Judy Decker
[History | Contact Us |

GoStats web counter
GoStats web counter