Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mrs. Tipping and I'm really looking forward to learning with you today about ceramics through cake culture.

We are going to do lots of thinking, talking, and exploring together in this lesson.

So shall we get started? Let's go.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to create a clay pot using coil and pinch techniques, adding texture to make it unique.

Before we start, I would like to introduce you to some keywords.

We'll be using these keywords during the lesson, so it might be a good idea to write these words down.

The keywords we'll be using today are coil technique, pinch technique, and slip.

I'm gonna say those again and I would like you to repeat them after me.

Coil technique, pinch technique, and slip.

Good job.

Now let's think in more detail about what these keywords mean by taking a look at their definitions.

The coil technique is a method of shaping clay using long rolls of clay stacked up on top of each other.

The pinch technique is a method of shaping clay by pinching it between fingers to form a pot or bowl.

And slip is a liquid mixture of clay and water used to join pieces of clay together.

Pause the video here to make a note of these keywords and when you are ready to continue, press Play.

These are the learning cycles that we'll be working through together in today's lesson.

An introduction to pot creation techniques.

And refining and personalising your clay pot.

In the first learning cycle, we're going to explore pot creation techniques.

Ceramics are objects made from clay and hardened by heat.

Ceramics have been used for thousands of years for practical, artistic, and decorative purposes in cultures around the world.

You can see in this image here a collection of earthenware clay pots.

You see their different designs and patterns.

The pottery making process includes preparing the clay in the first stage, then forming it, then drying the clay, and then firing it in a kiln before glazing it, and that is optional, not all clay pots need to be glazed, and finally glaze firing, which again is optional, doesn't need to happen.

So those are the stages of the pottery making process.

Clay can be worked with through traditional hand-building techniques to make different forms of pottery.

So you can use the coil technique or the pinch technique or the slab technique.

The coil technique involves rolling clay into long, snake-like shapes, or otherwise known as coils, which are then stacked to create the walls of your pot.

You can see in that image there how the coils have been added on top.

Now, this technique is great for building up height and shape.

The pinch technique involves pinching the clay between your fingers to shape it into a pot or bowl.

And this technique allows for great control over the shape and size of your pottery.

And slab building involves rolling out flat, even pieces of clay that can be used to cut out shapes or assemble together.

And this technique is great for creating even shapes and larger structures.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

What is the coil technique in ceramics? Is it rolling clay into small balls and pressing them together? Is it rolling clay into long snake-like shapes and stacking them? Or is it shaping clay by pinching it with your fingers? Pause the video here and give yourself a moment to think.

Press Play when you're ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said it's rolling clay into long, snake-like shapes and stacking them, you are absolutely right.

To make a clay pot, you'll need to prepare the following materials.

Carving or modelling tools, having your clay, some water, a sponge, and slip.

Now, slip is a mixture of water and clay.

Now, before you start shaping your pot, wedge your clay by kneading and pressing it firmly against the table.

Wedging helps to remove any air bubbles, and this step is important to prevent cracks during the drying and firing process.

So I'm going to have a go at wedging the clay.

So I'm going to knead it and press it into the table.

So pause the video here and you do that too.

Wedge the clay and press Play when you are ready to continue.

How did that go? You might have found the clay can take a lot of force and it can stick to the table or surface quite easily.

Now create a base for the pot using the slab technique.

So roll out a flat slab and use guide sticks to ensure an even depth of clay.

So can you see those guide sticks there in that image? They are either side of the clay and then cut around a circle template, it could be a bowl mug or even a cardboard circle, to create a circular base for your pot.

So I'm gonna have a go at creating a slab base using those guide sticks to roll a consistent depth for your slab and then to cut out a circular base for the slab using a template such as a cup or bowl.

So pause the video here and give yourself some time to create a slab base and press Play when you are ready to continue.

How did you find that? Well, you might have found that the guide sticks really helped to keep the slab a consistent depth and flatness, and you might have used a small cardboard circle as a template to get that circular base.

Now using similar-sized lumps of clay, roll them in your hands to create spheres, like this.

We've got that end product there of a lovely round sphere.

So roll it between the palms of your hands.

Now, using the palm and heel of your hand, roll the clay forwards and backwards on the table to gradually create coils.

Can you see here? So rolling them along to make long coils that look a bit like snakes.

And when you've made your coils, score both the pot base and the coils.

Then apply the slip and connect them together.

Remember to smooth out the sides of the clay by using your fingers or a damp sponge.

Then keep adding coils by scoring and using slip until you reach a good height for your pot.

It's important to use plenty of slip when connecting two pieces of clay together.

This helps to ensure that pieces do not separate during the drying or firing process.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

What is used to join coils of clay together during the process of making a pot? Water, slip, clay and water mixture, or glue? Pause the video here and have a discussion with your partner.

And press Play when you're ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said slip, you are absolutely right.

That's what's used to join coils of play together during the process of making a pot.

This brings us to our first learning task.

I'd like you to use the coil technique to create a basic pot or bowl.

So roll out long, even coils of clay.

Stack them onto a circular slab base to create the walls of your pot, smoothing and joining them with water or slip as you go.

And make sure to smooth the inside of the pot as you build.

So pause the video here and give yourself enough time to use the coil technique to create a basic pot or bowl.

and press Play when you're ready to continue.

How did you find that? Did you have enough coils? Did you go for a pot or a bowl? Well, in this clay bowl sculpture, many coils of clay were rolled out before scoring and slipping them together onto the slab base.

And as the clay started drying, the coils were smoothed out and a ridge at the top was made by slightly running a carving tool around it.

So well done for having a go at using that coil technique to create your pot or bowl.

This now brings us to the second part of our lesson where we're going to look at refining and personalising your clay pot.

There is more than one way to make a clay pot.

To make a pot using the pinch technique, you can begin by taking a ball of clay and then you push your thumb into the top of the ball and begin to pinch with your thumb and fingers to start shaping it into a ball, and you slowly work your way around the edges, keeping the shape symmetrical.

Then as you pinch, you also smooth out any rough areas to make the sides even.

This pinching technique gives you full control over the form of your pot, making it perfect for small, hand-shaped creations.

And you see this one that's being created here in this image.

Now you can combine both coil and pinch techniques to make your pot more dynamic.

For example, you might use coils to form the walls and pinch the top to shape the opening.

You can also experiment with different heights and rim designs.

Can you see what this artist is doing here? Creating some dips in the rim there, of this pot.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

Which of the following is a key feature of the pinch technique? It involves pinching the clay between fingers to shape it.

It uses a wheel to spin the clay.

It is used to smooth out rough edges of the pot.

Pause the video here to give yourself a moment to think about the answer to this question and press Play when you are ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said it involves pinching the clay between fingers to shape it, you are absolutely right.

Well done.

After finishing your basic shape, it's time to smooth out the surface.

Use water and a sponge to gently smooth the surface of your pot, and this will remove any rough edges and make your pot more refined.

Let's take a look at this image here.

How has the artist refined this pot to enhance its visual qualities? Pause the video here and have a discussion with your partner and press Play when you're ready to continue.

What did you discuss? What could you see here that the artist has done to enhance the visual quality of this pot? Well, you can add texture to your pot by using tools like sticks, stamps, or even your fingers.

You can press patterns into the surface to give your pot a unique design and think about how texture can add to the visual and tactile qualities of your piece, so how it feels.

Many artists use clay techniques such as coiling, pinching, or slab building to create the form of their ceramic sculptures.

Personality, uniqueness, and creative flair can then be added to clay sculptures by adding texture, detail and decoration.

The artist Grayson Perry makes large, decorative pots such as "The Vanity of Small Differences" in 2012.

His pots often reflect social issues and contemporary culture through vibrant, detailed designs.

Takuro Kuwata makes contemporary ceramic pieces using traditional hand-building techniques.

And Betty Woodman uses bold colours and unusual shapes in her ceramic pots.

Now discuss with a partner how you might decorate your clay pots, with texture, details, and decorations to give them more personality.

Pause the video here to have that discussion and press Play when you are ready to continue.

What did you discuss? What would you like to do to add texture, details, and decorations to your clay pots? While Alex says, "I like how drawing with a fork creates repeating wavy lines and patterns, I want to use this technique to create rhythm and movement across my pot." And Sam says, "Using different types of straight lines can create an exciting geometric effect.

And I think this will look good against the smooth curvy pot shape.

Did you come up with similar ideas, or are you going to do something different? Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

What can you use to add patterns or designs to the surface of your clay pot? Paper and erasers.

Water, waterpots and brushes.

Texturing tools, sticks, stamps or fingers.

Pause the video here to have a discussion with your partner and press Play when you are ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said texturing tools, sticks, stamps, or fingers, you are absolutely right.

Well done.

This brings us to our final learning task.

I'd like you to create a pot using the pinch technique and to refine your pot by adding surface textures.

So start by pinching a ball of clay into a small pot.

Gradually pinch and smooth the clay to shape the pot, creating a symmetrical smooth form, and focus on the rim and the inside of the pot, ensuring the shape is balanced and even.

And finally, refine your pot by adding surface textures using tools such as carving tools, forks, or stamps.

So pause the video here and give yourself enough time to have a go at creating a pot using the pinch technique and to refine your pot, adding surface textures.

Press Play when you're ready to continue.

How did you find that task? Well, let's have a look at this example here.

This pinch pot was created from a big lump of clay, and after rounding it into a ball, the centre was pushed into and the sides of the ball were pinched to create an even thickness.

And the bumps and ridges were added to create an organic surface texture.

So well done for having a go at creating your own pinch pot and creating your own textures on it too.

Before we finish this lesson, let's summarise what we've learned about experimenting with coil and pinch pot techniques.

The coil technique and the pinch technique can be used with clay to create pots and bowls and many other ceramic sculptures.

It's important to use slip when connecting pieces of clay together so that they are securely bonded together.

Textures and decoration can be added to clay sculptures during the process of drying to develop their personality and uniqueness.

Thank you for joining me in this lesson today.

I hope to see you in the next one.

See you next time.