Remember that you should have a notepad or printout of your worksheet. The worksheet is located at the lower part of your Pottery Screen. If you do not have a printout then take notes so you can put the information needed in the boxes.
Using the coil method, make a jar or vase
Coil pottery is a type of pottery that is made by coiling thin strips of clay around each other to form a pot or vessel. This type of pottery was first used by the Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians and later spread to other cultures around the world. Coil pottery is typically made by hand without the use of a pottery wheel.
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Slabbing clay is a hand-building pottery technique that has been around for centuries. Before potters began using pottery wheels, simple tools were used to create clay pottery. Slabbing clay is a technique that includes rolling out slabs of clay and then cutting out pieces and attaching them together to create pots, cups, and urns. Once you have mastered the slab technique, the creative possibilities are endless!
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A pinch pot is a simple form of hand-made pottery produced from ancient times to the present. The pinching method is to create pottery that can be ornamental or functional, and has been widely employed across culture. The method used is to simply have a lob of clay, then pinch it to the shape desired.
Pinch pots are the simplest and fastest way of making pottery,[1] simply by pinching the clay into shape by using thumb and fingers. Simple clay vessels such as bowls and cups of various sizes can be formed and shaped by hand using a methodical pinching process in which the clay walls are thinned by pinching them with thumb and forefinger. It is a basic pot making method often taught to young children or beginners.
The process begins with a ball of clay. Thumbs are pushed into the center, and then rudimentary walls are created by pinching and turning the pot. The pot is then pushed on a flat surface to create a flat surface, thereby creating the base. A base can be made by rolling three coils and pressing them together, and then onto the bottom of the pot. Pinched, compressed clay may also be used as a base for building coil pots. The base of the pot is less prone to cracking when formed this way.
Tiles are usually thin, square or rectangular coverings manufactured from hard-wearing material such as ceramic, stone, metal, baked clay, or even glass. They are generally fixed in place in an array to cover roofs, floors, walls, edges, or other objects such as tabletops. Alternatively, tile can sometimes refer to similar units made from lightweight materials such as perlite, wood, and mineral wool, typically used for wall and ceiling applications. In another sense, a tile is a construction tile or similar object, such as rectangular counters used in playing games (see tile-based game). The word is derived from the French word tuile, which is, in turn, from the Latin word tegula, meaning a roof tile composed of fired clay.
Tiles are often used to form wall and floor coverings, and can range from simple square tiles to complex or mosaics. Tiles are most often made of ceramic, typically glazed for internal uses and unglazed for roofing, but other materials are also commonly used, such as glass, cork, concrete and other composite materials, and stone. Tiling stone is typically marble, onyx, granite or slate. Thinner tiles can be used on walls than on floors, which require more durable surfaces that will resist impacts.
This method is another simple project. Develope a pottery using the pottery wheel that was shown to you during the introduction or using a pottery wheel that you find on the Internet.
One key element to successfully using your own pottery wheel is through thorough preparation. The first part of this preparation is to ensure that your ‘bat’ (the flat disk attached to the head of your pottery wheel) is cleaned by scraping off any excess clay using a wooden rib or metal scraper. You should avoid using too much water, as bats are liable to warp over time.
Step 1 : Spin the wheel and slightly moisten the center of your bat with your sponge.
Step 2 : Place your clay on to the center of the bat in a gumdrop shape. Flatten the edges of the clay with the palm of your hand, turning the wheel manually until all sides are flattened down. Following this, use your index finger to press the edges of the clay, sealing the edge of the clay to the bat.
Step 3 : Once you are satisfied that the clay is firmly in place, increase the speed of the wheel and put some water on to your hands. Before starting to manipulate the clay, ensure that your elbows are locked to your legs.
Step 4 : Use your left hand to push the clay up (this is called coning up) and use your right hand as support. Use the palms of your hands to squeeze the clay inwards, allowing the clay to pop up between your hands. As the manipulated clay gets taller, maintain an ‘A’ shape with your thumbs.
Step 5 : Following the coning up of your clay, you also need to cone down in order to center the clay and ensure that you can push the clay to where you need it to go. At this point you should add more water if needed. Place the fat part of your left thumb (where it meets the palm of your hand) directly on top of the center of the clay and place pressure away from you (not down on to the clay). The fingers of your left hand should wrap gently around the front of the clay.
Step 6 : Your right hand should also be placed at the top of your clay but on the side and gently pushing the clay to the center. The fingers of your right hand should also be gently wrapped around the clay.
Step 7 : Both hands should be pushed in the directions described above and then slowly slide your hands down the clay in tandem. At this point you should have created a ‘cone up’ position for your clay. Keep repeating this method, with more water if necessary, until the clay is centered. The best method of establishing whether the clay is centered is by placing your hands gently around the clay and slowly spinning the wheel. If your hands stay in place then your clay is centered, but if they move and wobble then you will need to repeat more coning.
Step 8 : At this point, you will start to form the size and shape of your pottery. Rest your hands on the sides of your clay, with the right thumb knuckle placed over the top of your left thumb knuckle, keeping your thumbs parallel to the floor. Press the top knuckle into the bottom in order to create a small divot in the top of the clay.
Step 9 : To make the opening for your bowl, plate or vase, the next stage is called drilling. Place your left thumb in the previously created divot and turn the wheel, waiting until your thumb is centered and not moving about. Use your right hand fingers to guide your left hand thumb down towards the bat.
Step 10 : Now is the time to form your pottery! Insert the middle finger of your left hand into the divot. Put your right hand over the top of your left hand and slowly pull the clay back towards you to create your desired shape.
Step 11 : Once you are satisfied with your desired shape, you can also add different elements including a lip or handle, depending on what you are creating. You can also use a wooden rib to clean the inside and outside of the pot.
Step 12 : To remove your pottery from the bat, place a taut wire on the far side of your piece and slowly slide the wire back towards you.
