Ceramic Lanterns

We are creating clay lanterns. Included is my demo/sample.

Students are required to design the overall form and create a plan of attack to construct it applying the handbuilding skills they are developing. Students are also required to design the cut out...and of course, cut them out! That's the hard part!

As part of their research for design inspiration and possibilities, I am encouraging them to check out these links to different cultures and artists who work with cut paper. Cutting clay is a VERY different experience than cutting paper - but seeing the possibilities are always inspiring.

German paper cutting: Scherenschnitte
Chinese Paper Cutting

Beatrice Coron
Peter Callesen
Bovey Lee

Stay Up to Date with Our Progress!

Student work on our HTHS Ceramics Pinterest Board!  Click here!

Links for Inspiration and Research

Lakeside Pottery - great ideas for slab construction

Here are a few Pinterest links to check out for clay:

I just started my own.

Ms. Kelly Gartland is one of my former students! HTHS 2003 - Art teacher at Moorestown HS :-)

Shannah Dean - ceramics board

Clay Stages

or.... SoPoLoGoBoGo as I call them! Slip, Plastic, Leather Hard, Greenware, Bisque and Glazeware.

My students are learning the clay stages. To help them remember, they made a list of descriptive words for the stage they were assigned.

Here is what their descriptions for the four middle clay stages look like when made into a wordle! :-)

Written Assignment

My ceramics students only:

Please complete this form for the clay stage you were assigned in class.

 

Dirty hands = Engaged minds

We have been busy and learning so much! Students have created several bowls, test tiles for glazing practice and a cup. So far we have glazed our bowls and are beginning the work on our multi-technique vessel. More pictures coming soon!

Learning by Doing

The students are creating some functional pieces as an introduction to the clay stages. We are building up the basics and getting our hands dirty as we develop skills to create bowls, mugs, cups and vases.

Look at 'em go!

Our Handmade Sketchbooks!

Our first project in ceramics didn't even involve clay! We created our own sketchbooks from fabric swatches that were donated to the department.

Students will use their sketchbooks throughout the year as a place to take notes, draw out their ideas or write down glaze layering recipes. Here are some photos of our books.

Signing Off with a Signature Stamp

The students' stamps are ready to use! Fun stuff. Can't wait to see them embossed in the clay!

Chop Chop!

...here we go!

For our first assignment, we are creating signature stamps. In China such stamps are called a Chop, and in Japan, they are called a Hanko. These traditional Asian seals are used to sign documents, artwork and other paperwork.

The students will:
• develop a design that functions as a unique, one-of-a-kind signature stamp
• carve it into a 1.5 inch EZKut print plate 
• use it to emboss their signature into their ceramic work