Ceramics I

Pinch PotsFabergé Eggs

• An ancient and contemporary form of pottery.

• Archaeologists have found pinch pots that date back over 20,000 years.

What is a Pinch Pot?

• A construction method

• Generally used for smaller pieces

• Created by pinching the clay walls to an even thickness using your thumb and forefingers

What is a Pinch Pot?

1 - Wedge the clay to rid it of air pockets

2 - Roll the clay into a round ball about the size of a tennis ball

3 - Hold the clay in one hand while

you gently press your thumb into the center of the form

4 - Gently push your thumb(s) down towards the bottom of the clay until you are about a ½” from the bottom. Be Careful

not to push all the way through the bottom.

Steps to Create a Pinch Pot

5 – Starting at the bottom, use your thumb and fingers to gently pinch and press the clay in an upward and spiraling motion, being careful not to create too wide of an opening

This will begin to thin the clay out to create the pot’s base and walls.

Do not try to thin the clay too much with one pinch. Instead, use a series of smaller pinches to work the clay upwards more than outwards as it thins. Aim for an even ½” wall thickness.

Note: Try to keep the opening fairly narrow – you can always make it wider but can never bring it back in once it has flared

1. Make two pinch pots of the same diameter (same sized round opening)

2. Join them together, rim to rim 3. Makes a closed ball-like form.

How to create a Combined Pinch Pot

1 - Decide which pot will be on the bottom

2 - Gently tap the bottom against the table to ensure it flattens and will stand on its own.

3 - Carefully place the two pinch pots together, checking that the openings will fit together

4 - Next, SCORE & SLIP the two edges that will come together and gently press them together until the extra slip oozes out

5- Using the end of a paint brush (I’ll show you which one’s) create a hole in the bottom of the container. This allows air to be released from the container so that it does not explode when fired.

Pinch Pot #1 for the bottom

Pinch Pot #2 for the top

Hole to avoid explosion

6 – Supporting the clay wall with your opposite hand, use your fingers or a tool to gently blend the seams of the two pinch pots together. Do this on both the outside and the inside of the pinch pot

You may need to use a wooden tool to extend your reach on the inside of the potBe careful not to push too hard or you may create a hole in the wall.

2 Pinch Pots, attached to each other to create one piece

Our Project Fabergé Eggs

http://www.history.com/videos/the-faberge-eggs#the-faberge-eggs

• Work bottom to top, rotating the clay in your hand as you pinch.

• Try to keep the pressure even or the wall will be of varying thickness.

• Pay close attention to the shape you are creating (look for symmetry)

• To make a longer shape, start with a cone-shaped piece of clay, instead of a circle.

Pinching Tips & Things to Consider:• To make a ‘fatter’ shape, apply

more pressure to the inside of the pot with your fingertips.

• You can use a wooden spoon to paddle the pot into a more geometric or angled shape.

• Cracks in the walls should be welded immediately using a tiny amount of slip or extra clay

• The rim/top edge can be left untrimmed or they can be trimmed or shaped with a needle tool or fettling knife.

Here’s how we’ll decorate

Carving Impressions of Textures

What are “Impressions”?• Impressions: marks created by pressing or stamping

an object onto another surface, in this case the object is clay.

• Almost any small object can be pressed into soft clay to create a texture

What objects can you think of that could be used to create an impression in our clay?

What is “Texture”?Texture: Element of Art Used to describe:1.Actual Texture:

The way a 3D work actually feels when touched

2.Implied Texture: The visual "feel" of a 2D work. Drawing the bark of a tree shows implied texture.

Textures can be described as rough, smooth, bumpy, silky, etc…

• Carving: marks created by drawing into the clay

• Carving must be done with the proper tools to ensure that it is the proper depth and thickness.

• When carving, make sure that you remove all crumbs as you work and smooth the edges so that they are not sharp.

What is “Carving”?

Fabergé eggs are highly decorative

Intended to look very expensive with the use of gold and jewels

Keep the decoration organized Repeat shapes and textures to create a

pattern