Vocabulary

2. Vocabulary • Clay- moist earth made of decomposed rock • Firing- baking clay at a high temperature • Kiln- An oven for firing clay • Plastic- wet workable clay • Leatherhard- unfired clay, not quite dry but firm enough to carve • Green Ware / Bone Dry- clay that is dry but has not be fired • Bisque Ware- clay that has been fired • Glaze fire- the second firing in which the glaze turns to glass • Slip- a mixture of clay and water. Looks like pudding (but doesn’t taste like it) • Scoring- Roughing up the surface of the clay. Combined with slip, scoring creates a firm bond between two pieces of clay.

3. Preparing your clay for sculpting Wedging removes air pockets

4. Methods of sculpting with Clay • Pinch Pots or Modeling • Coil Building • Slab and Slip Methods • Throwing on the wheel

5. Modeling clay into a pinch pot. • Start with a ball • Push thumb into center • Pinch from bottom upward • Shape and smooth for finished pot

6. Modeling clay using coil method • Cut out base • Roll clay into coils or “worms” • Build up walls with rope-like coils • Smooth over joints

7. Sculpting with the Slab Method • Flatten clay • Roll and cut to size • Score and Slip • Join and reinforce • Smooth with tools • Finish and repeat

8. Your Assignment: Create a clay tile. The tile must: Have multiple layers (score & slip) Use at least 2 textures Incorporate 1 Principle of Design