FACES n VACES Student Examples Materials -Pre-cut plaster strips (about 1 wide) -Plastic bags or Vaseline for face covering -water containers -clay -clay tools -Internet for research -Sketchbook -Glaze and/or oxide for final decoration Step 1: Making your plaster face mold Find a partner to help you make your face mold. Lay the plastic bag over your head (with a nose hole) or cover your face with Vaseline. I find it easiest to begin by framing the outside of the face with the plaster strips and then working your way in. Leave the nostrils open. Once the face is covers with about 3 layers of strips (and mold feels sturdy) take the mold off of your partner and place on crumpled up newspaper for support. Cover up Nostril hole with plaster strip right away and let mold fully dry.
Step 2: Artist Research & Vessel Design Brainstorming Read Passage on the history of the African-American Face Jug Tip 1: Look at Greek Pottery for tips on vessel forms Website: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/agbv/hd_agbv.htm Things to think about for your design. How many times will you place your face onto your vessel? How will you place your face onto your vessel (upside down/sideways/etc.) Are there any ornamental features you want to add to your vessel (texture, handles, etc) In your sketchbook, sketch out 4 to 6 thumbnail sketches of your vessel ideas. Show teacher your ideas when completed. Step 3: Demo on Hand building your Face Vessel 1. Begin with a stencil (cut out piece of paper for your base size). 2. Roll our a slab (about 1/4 to 1/2 thick) trace stencil on slab. This will be the bottom of your vessel. 3. Roll out some coils. You will be building your vessel using coils. There are two types of coils you can use to build your face vessel. The standard coil is a round and the band coil is created by rolling out a standard coil and then pressing it down gently to flatten out the coil. You can gain height faster in your vessel using a band coil. If you decide to use band coils, you need to roll out your coils at least 1 2 thick. Standard coil: Roll out a coil about 1/4
Band Coil: Roll out a coil about 1/2 in diameter and then flatten slightly with fingers. 4. Score and Slip your clay base and your coils and begin layering your coils to represent the shape of your vessel design. You MUST slip and score the top and bottom of the coil. I find it easiest to slip and score both the top and bottom of the coil and then attach it. A poorly scored coil will cause your vessel to fall about before or even after the bisque firing. Think of scoring as a zipper the more lines you have for score marks on each surface, the better your two pieces will be 'zipped' together. Scoring clay takes forever with a needle tool, but the work is worth it in the end! Remember: You need to know where and how many times you will place your clay face onto your vessel. Adding your face will interrupt you adding height to your vessel. Example of good score marks on clay.
5. Pressing clay into your face mold. Roll out a clay slab about 1/4 or a little under a 1/2 thick. Cut the slab into clay squares or rectangles (does not have to be perfect). Press cut squares slabs into face mold. I like to start at the nose and more my way out to to the outer edge of the face. Tip: Make sure your clay more wet then dry. If your clay is softer, you can over lap your squares and just blend each piece into each other and not have to worry about slipping and scoring. Let your clay face rest in the mold for a day. I have found that if you press your clay into your plaster mold one day, then wrap it really well in plastic, the clay in your face is the perfect firmness to fit into your vessel without falling apart. 6. Build your Face Vessel! When you reach the height of about 2 to 3 inches on your vessel. Line up your clay mold face to figure out where you want to attach the face to your vessel. Draw a line with a needle tool to out line the placement. Cut out line with knife or needle tool. The area you cut out will be U shaped. Slip and score both the vessel edge and the edge of your clay mold. Attach your face to the vessel and blend in line. Continue adding coils create height. Repeat if necessary. Look at the images below for building examples.
Step 4: Complete Vessel for Bisque Firing 1. Make sure your vessel is ready and smoothed out for the bisque firing. 2. Sign your name or initials on the bottom of the vessel. 3. Give uncovered vessel to teacher for bisque firing. If your vessel does not get uncovered or you do not give vessel to the teacher, your vessel will not get fired. Step 5: Follow your teachers instructions for decoration. 1. Decorate 2. Glaze firing if necessary Step 6: Complete Rubric and Turn In!
Rubric Faces n Vases Reflection Questions (use complete sentences and fully explain your response. No yes and no responses!) 1. What inspired the shape of your vessel? 5 points (Example: Greek pottery research or Face Jug article or something else?) 2. What Mood is your face vessel portraying? Explain what the characteristics are within your face jug that portray this mood. 5 points 3. Are you happy with your final product? Why or why not. 5 points 4. Circle the two successful elements of are used in your face vessel. 2 points Line Color Shape Form Space Texture Value 5. Explain why these 2 elements are successful within your face vessel. 5 points 6. Circle 2 successful principles of design found in your face vessel. 2 points Contrast Rhythm Pattern Balance Movement Emphasis Unity 7. Explain why these 2 principles are successful within your face vessel. 5 points
Score yourself on the following criteria. 1 2 3 4 5 Craftsmanship Novice line, value, composition and in the use of materials Improved line, value and composition in the use of materials. Little attention to detail. Competent line, value and composition. Adequate attention to detail. Excellent line, value and composition. Good attention to detail. Refined and sophisticated line, value, compositions in the use of materials. extreme attention to detail. Creativity Novice and restricted approach to developing the idea with no evidence of risk taking. Improved thinking and expression in development of creative idea, but with limited risk taking. Competent development in expression of creative idea with increased attempts at risk taking. Excellent approach to original thinking and expression, with evidence of risk taking. Refined and sophisticated approach to original and unique expression with a high degree of risk taking. Time Management 25% of the time correctly, and used 50 % of the time correctly, and used 75% of the time correctly, and used 100 % of the time correctly, used Questions Answered: /29 points Student Score: /15 Teacher Score: /15