Empty Bowls Sculpture

Assignment:

Your assignment is to explore the idea of conceptual vs. functional ceramics by making a pair of glazed "bowls". You will be required to donate at least one or more bowls to the empty bowls charity. The bowl you donate needs to be a functional bowl and the other bowl should be sculptural. Both "bowls" should relate to each other as part of a set.

Objectives

1. I understand form & function vs. conceptual sculpture.

2. I can use soft slab and slump molds to create a bowl form

3. I can develop the foot and lip of my bowls.

4. I understand

5. I understand how the empty bowls charity raises awareness of hunger and money for the Hunger Task Force in Milwaukee.

The Empty Bowls Project

Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to raise both money and awareness in the fight to end hunger.

Every year students and artists donate ceramic bowls to the project, the bowls are sold and the proceeds go to the Hunger Task Force

Local restaurants also contribute by donating soup. Those who purchase a bowl get to try local soups for free!

Design

Conceptual vs. Functional Ceramics

Crafting Functional Pottery

1. Are the top rims and the edges of the handles sharp to the touch?

2. Is the curvature at the top of a drinking vessel suitable for holding liquid and drinking from? Does it curve in or out, or is it straight up? (For optimum function, there should be a slight curve outward so that liquid flows easily from the vessel into the mouth and does not dribble.)

3. Is the shape and weight of the object suitable to be held or drunk from?

4. Is the piece balanced on the surface it is intended to sit on?

Construction

Functional Bowl Construction

Understanding the stages of clay

Please review the slide show to see the stages of clay.

Stages of clay

Making the Bowl

Step 1: Wedge the clay

Step 2: Roll a slab of clay

Step 3: Drape slab over slump mold

Step 4: Trim extra clay off the bottom with cutting tool

Step 5: Tap clay with stick to form

Step 6: Make a foot or form bottom

Step 7: Smooth out and refine

Video directions:

Slump Mold Bowl Construction.mp4

Foot & Lip & Finishing Touches

Foot & Lip

Finishing Touches :

Before letting your bowl dry finish the bowl in the following ways:

Smooth out the lip

Attach a foot or stabilize the bottom of the bowl

Carve or add any designs to the exterior of the bowl

IMG_7997.MOV

Construction Do's and Don'ts

DO:

Attach any wet pieces of clay by scoring and slipping
Smooth out all areas with a damp sponge
Add a foot to your bowl so it sits nicely.
Smooth out the lip.

DON'TS:

Don’t chip or crack the clay
Don’t draw with a needle tool on the inside of the bowl (Smooth bowls work better for eating soup!)
Don't leave the bowl unbalanced.
Don't leave any sharp edges.

Glazing Techniques:

Glaze: A coating of material applied to ceramics before firing that forms a glass-like surface. Glazes can be colored, opaque, translucent or matte.

Read the label to know what color the glaze is and what type of glaze is in the jar.

DO NOT mix the glazes

Only glaze bisqueware NOT greenware

Rinse your bowl with water

Apply at least 3 coats

do not miss any areas of the clay body but DONT glaze the bottom of your cups

Thoroughly clean your brush when done

Underglaze

Underglaze can be used similar to painting.

Colored clay slip can be painted onto unfired or fired pottery to create a design.

Wax Resist

This technique works for looser lines, shapes, patterns or designs. Think of your designs whether they are "paintable".

The technique involves painting wax onto either the clay body or another color and it resits the second color put on top.

Examples:

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