Unit Three Projects

Slab Building with Slump mold 

​Slab building with a slump mold is a method for creating ceramic forms by draping flat sheets (slabs) of clay over or into a pre-made concave form, such as a bowl or plate, to shape the general structure. The process involves rolling out an even slab of clay, allowing it to reach a leather-hard state for structural integrity, and then carefully pressing or "slumping" it into or over the mold. This technique is particularly useful for creating symmetrical, consistent shapes without using a potter's wheel and helps prevent cracking or warping during the drying and firing processes, as the mold supports the clay's form. 

Coil building is an ancient and widely practiced hand-building technique where long, rope-like strands (coils) of clay are wound and stacked upon a base to construct the walls of a vessel or sculpture. The potter blends each coil into the previous layer using their hands or a tool (like a rib or loop tool), often using the "score and slip" method to ensure a strong, unified bond and prevent separation during firing. This technique offers immense flexibility in creating diverse and organic shapes of varying sizes and heights, in contrast to the uniformity typically achieved with a potter's wheel. 

Slab building with darts is a modification of the standard slab building technique used to introduce complex curves, taper a form, or control the shape of an object made from flat clay sheets. A "dart" in this context is a V-shaped cut removed from the flat clay slab before assembly, similar to a sewing pattern dart. The cut edges are then scored, slipped, and joined together, causing the flat plane to bend and create a more volumetric or angular form that would be difficult to achieve with simple straight joins. This technique provides a precise way to engineer specific, often geometric, three-dimensional shapes. 

Sgraffito, from the Italian word "sgraffiare" meaning "to scratch," is a decorative technique that involves applying one or more layers of colored slip or underglaze to a leather-hard clay surface and then scratching through the top layer(s) to reveal the contrasting color of the clay body beneath. This method allows artists to create intricate lines, patterns, and detailed imagery, playing with positive and negative space to add depth and visual interest. The finished piece is often covered with a clear or semi-transparent glaze to enhance the contrast and provide a protective finish.

Relief carving in ceramics is a sculptural technique where designs are created by cutting away the background surface of a flat slab of clay to make the desired figures or patterns project from it, giving a three-dimensional effect. The term "revisited" might refer to exploring different depths (low or high relief) or modern applications, potentially combining the carving with other techniques like sgraffito or underglaze washes to enhance the depth and detail. The process typically involves sketching the design, using various carving tools to remove the negative space, and ensuring uniform thickness (by hollowing out the back if needed) to prevent cracking during the firing process.