Exposed Coil Pots

Assignment:

Your assignment is to create an exposed coil pot. You will need to create a vase, large bowl, or pitcher where at least one side of the coil is exposed. Your entire vessel does not need to show the exposed coil but the coil pattern should be the main emphasis of the design. Your design can be functional or expressive but the connection of the coils should be strong. You may free form your coils or use a mold.

Objectives:

  • I can roll even coils of clay

  • I can create a strong bond between coils

  • I can create patterns out of coils

  • I can blend delicately as to not ruin the form of my pottery.

Art History: Jomon Pottery

Jōmon Pottery is some of the oldest examples of ceramic vessels in Japan. All Jōmon pots were made by hand, without the aid of a wheel, the potter building up the vessel from the bottom with coil upon coil of soft clay. As in all other Neolithic cultures, women produced these early potteries.

Contemporary Artist Inspiration: Amy Simmons

Click on above link to access Amy Simmon's article about her coiling process.

Other Inspirational Images:

Planning & Design:

Assignment: Create 3 design sketches.

Think of form; are you creating a bowl, vase, pitcher?

Come up with coiled patterns. What kind of designs can you make with your coils?

Skill Builder

Coil Patterned Tile

Directions:

Make a minimum of 5" x 5" tiles using a variety of coil shapes.

Process: