Clay Rules & Procedures

1. Clay Rules & Procedures • ANYONE CAUGHT THROWING CLAY OR MISUSING THE CLAY IN ANY WAY WILL LOSE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING IN CLAY, WILL RECEIVE A 0 OUT OF 40 FOR THE PROJECT AND WILL BE SENT TO ISS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME YOUR CLASS IS WORKING ON THEIR CLAY PROJECT • Hands must be washed in the hand washing buckets not in the sink, because clay would clog the sinks. • Until you are finished building your clay project you must keep it wrapped up tightly in your plastic bag and drape a damp paper towel over it so it doesn’t dry out. • You are to carve your name and class into the base of your clay project using your pencil. You are to write your name on your bag using a Sharpie. • You are in charge of cleaning your work area. It must be washed clean with a damp sponge and then dried completely with a paper towel.

2. NAME CLASS Clay Vocabulary Study Guide • __________________________ - the process of forming a pot from rope-like rolls of clay carefully joined together • __________________________ - the process of placing the pots in a kiln and "firing" to a high enough temperature that the clay becomes ceramic • __________________________ - clay pots which are air dried, but not yet fired • __________________________ - the process of forming the clay by pinching it between the fingers to form the pot • __________________________ - the furnace in which pots are fired • __________________________ - to work the damp clay with the palms of the hands against a smooth surface (like working bread or cookie dough) to make the clay uniform in consistency • __________________________ - the stage of drying when the clay is no longer workable by hand • __________________________ - to make a series of shallow grooves in the edges of the clay to join two parts securely • __________________________ – clay and water mixed to a mayo like consistency. This acts like a glue when applying two pieces of clay together before • __________________________ -clay pieces that have been fired once in the kiln. • __________________________ - are products that add a shiny or glossy coating to a surface Coil fire greenware pinch kiln Knead or wedge leatherhard score slip bisqueware glaze QUIZ WILL BE ON ____________________________

3. ACTIVITY ONE: PREPARING YOUR CLAY http://artswork.asu.edu/arts/students/navajo/lesson4.htm The first thing you need to do before making pots is to prepare your clay. Clay often has air bubbles trapped in it. The air in these bubbles will expand when the clay is exposed to heat. Shortly the pot will explode. Also, there may be wetter or dryer spots in the clay. These must be mixed to develop a uniform consistency throughout the clay. Knead your clay on a hard smooth surface like a table top which is covered with a piece of canvas to prevent the clay from sticking to the table. The process is just like kneading bread or cookie dough. Work with a chunk of clay that more than fills your two hands. Gather the clay into a ball and work it by pushing the clay away from you with the heels of your hands. Then fold the clay back on itself and repeat this process until the clay feels uniform in texture and wetness and forms a smooth ball. Here are photos of Alan Jim as he kneads his clay

4. MAKING A PINCH POT Roll your clay into a ball and pat it into a smooth sphere. When you have a smooth ball, push your thumb into the center of the ball. Then, pinch the clay gently between your thumb and forefinger as you rotate the ball in the palm of your hand. See the photos for a better idea of how to do this. Slowly stretch the clay into the shape of the pot you desire. If the surface of the clay becomes too dry, it will begin to crack. If this happens, dip your fingers into a container of water and smooth the surface. Too much water will cause your clay to get too soft and the shape of your pot will become wobbly! Keep turning shaping the clay until the walls of your pot are even in thickness, about 1/4 inch thick, and the shape of your pot is pleasing to you. See the photos below for examples of wetting the pot. When the pot is finished, put it aside to dry. When it is leather hard you may want to add designs to the surface. When it is completely dry your pot is called greenware and is ready to fire. You can test it by placing the pot to your cheek. If it no longer feels cold, it is ready to fire.

5. MAKING A COIL POT To make a coil pot you will need to prepare several coils of clay. These are made by gently rolling clay back and forth on a canvas covered surface, stretching it outward as you roll, until you have a coil of uniform thickness of about 1 to 1 1/2 inches. The length of the coils need not be uniform. Make the base of your pot by making a spiral from one coil, pressing the sides of the coils closely together and smoothing inside and out to make a smooth base of uniform thickness. Begin building up the vertical walls of the pot by adding one coil at a time, carefully joining each coil to the one below it by smoothing with your thumb. Coils should become invisible as you build a smooth and uniform pot with a pleasing shape. If you do not join your coils carefully, the coils will separate as the clay dries and your pot will fall into a series of clay circles. See the photos for an idea of how the pot might look. Some potters leave the coil design visible on the outside of their pot as a design element. They do make sure that the inside of the pot is smooth and the coils are securely joined. When the pot is finished, put it aside to dry. When it is leather hard you may want to add designs to the surface. When it is completely dry your pot is called greenware and is ready to fire. You can test it by placing the pot to your cheek. If it no longer feels cold, it is ready to fire.

6. Name: Class: Pinch & Coil Pot Grading Rubric 1. The pot walls are ____uneven = 10 pts ____fairly even = 15 pts ____very even = 20 pts2. The form of my pot is ____not pleasing, 10 pts___somewhat pleasing = 15 pts ____very pleasing. = 20 ptsDoes this pot have an intended purpose? 2 pts If yes what is that purpose. ________ /46 points possible Write a paragraph about your experience working with the clay. (a paragraph is at least 4 sentences) 4 pts