Combining Coil and Mold Constructions

At the end of this unit, students will be able to… Identify the parts of a vase. Demonstrate the artistic process and problem solving from preliminary design to finished product. Apply mold and coil construction to create functional and decorative clay forms. Apply radial balance and pattern to organize art elements. Apply oxides and glazes to finish the surfaces of clay forms. Improve control over clay media and techniques.

Mold 5 parts of a vase Coil Vase

A mold is any form used to shape clay. You may drape or build clay into a slump mold. Or you may drape or build clay over a drape mold. You will use a slump mold for this project.

The different parts of a vase may be compared to the different parts of the human form. FOOT BODY NECK SHOULDER LIP HANDLE MOUTH

A coil pot is a form made from rope-like strands of clay. These strands of clay are called “coils”.

Squeeze out a rope of plastic clay by hand. Roll your clay onto the table using light pressure from your palms to your fingertips. Avoid short quick rolling or heavy pressure because it creates flat and/or uneven coils.

Horizontal rows may be built up. Sections may be lined up vertically like a picket fence. Coils may be rolled into a spiral shape. “S” spirals may be rolled. Rainbows can be made by cutting rolled spirals in half. They may be wrapped around a disc of clay.

Units may be cut and combined into partial sections.

1.Select your mold. (Bowl) 2.Trace your bowl in your sketchbook and plan your coil pot using rhythmic pattern and radial balance. 3.Line your bowl with dampened paper so that your project will not stick to your mold. 4.Align your “units” in your mold to recreate your drawing. 5.Use small, flat pieces of clay to line the back of the coil design. 6.Repeat steps 3-5.

Trace your bowl. Use a pencil to create 2 designs using repeated linear units organized using radial balance.

Patterns of art elements originating from a center point repeating themselves outward with equal spaces.

How are Butterworth’s two coil bowls examples of radial balance?

Line the bowl with strips of damp paper (i.e., paper towels or newspaper) This will keep the clay from sticking to the bowl!

Add coil “UNITS” into the bowl making sure to follow your design carefully. Be careful not to damaging the coils as you handle them. Fill the bowl all the way to the rim.

Flatten marble-sized balls of clay between your finger and thumb. Apply slip and attach them over your coils on the inside of your pot Press firmly, but not so hard as to smash the coil pattern on the outside.

After filling the entire interior seams of your bowl with pinched pieces of clay, smooth it all out. Add a soft coil to the rim to ensure that the lip has the thickness of your finger.

Place a flat board on top of your bowl.

Invert the bowl. Tap gently. Lift the mold off of your bowl.

Carefully remove the wet paper from the clay bowl. DO NOT pick up the soft bowl to avoid distorting the form or designs.

Repeat steps 1 through 7 to create a duplicate bowl. Use the SAME design! This 2 nd bowl will be used for the top half of your pot

Score and slip the lips of the two bowls together. MAKE SURE YOUR DESIGNS LINE UP! Add a belt-line of units to hide the joint between the two sides.

Score and slip the lips of the two bowls together. Use a pencil to connect the lines between the two coiled halves to hide the middle joint.

Student Example

Create a neck (free-hand or in a mold). Cut a hole in the body where the neck will be attached. Score and slurry the neck to the body. Hide the joint (see step 8).

Add handles Add a base, foot or pedestal Add decorative UNITS around neck Carvings around the belt-line

Naomi Keller, Gay O’Neill, Derek Davis, Kim Cooper. Omaha North High School