Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're feeling great.

My name is Miss Afzal, and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson.

I'm really excited about that because we've got something really fun to explore today.

We're going to be looking at clay, at 3D modelling techniques.

Our lesson is called "Exploring 3D construction techniques with clay." Yes, we are gonna be getting our hands in the clay and modelling and creating, and I'm very excited about that.

The lesson comes from the unit of work Being curious about 3D design.

So I hope you are curious.

I hope you are excited about getting into the clay and the construction.

And if you're ready, we'll begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is: I can design and make a slab-built clay vessel, adding patterns and images to tell a story.

Oh my.

There is a lot happening in today's lesson.

I'm very excited.

We have some keywords in our lesson: slab building, vessel, and modelling.

Let's find out what they all mean.

Slab building: this is a pottery technique where flat pieces of clay are cut and joined together to make shapes.

Vessel: that's a container that can hold something, like a bowl, pot, vase, or cup.

In art, vessels can be practical or decorative, and they're often made using clay in ceramics.

Modelling: this is a way of making 3D art by shaping soft materials like clay or wax with your hands or tools.

Artists use modelling to build up forms and textures, often starting with a simple shape and adding detail.

Here are our keywords: slab building, vessel, and modelling.

Our lesson is called "Exploring 3D construction techniques with clay," and it consists of two learning cycles.

First of all, modelling clay to create a vessel form and then using paint to add pattern and colour.

Let's begin, modelling clay to create a vessel form.

Oh yes, there we have a packet of the good stuff, air-dry clay.

Modelling is a technique where artists shape soft materials by hand or with tools, building forms and textures.

Artists begin with forming simple shapes before adding details.

Modelling with clay allows artists to create a wide range of outcomes.

Now I'm curious, have you modelled with clay before? And if so, how did it go and what did you make? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Modelling involves shaping soft materials, often beginning with simple forms and adding detail to create textures and structures.

Pause the video while you decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected true, and now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause the video while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Modelling with clay allows for easy adjustments, making it ideal for experimenting with forms and textures.

Unlike carving, which removes material, modelling is an additive process where artists build up layers to create detailed sculptures.

Artists and designers can use hand modelling techniques or throwing on a pottery wheel to create vessels.

Take a look at these vessels.

Oh my.

Don't they look great? What do you notice about the shapes in these vessels? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

I wonder what you came up with.

Did you notice that they're all rounded? They all have curves.

Pause the video and share with someone, which of these vessels are you most drawn to and why? Thanks for sharing your ideas.

I'm quite drawn to the vessel that is third from the left at the front.

I'm quite interested in the layers or the embellishments that have been added to it and also the colour.

Really interesting.

Artists who use the vessel form in their works include: Phoebe Collings-James, who creates clay vessels which are usually hand-built, imperfect, and sometimes fragmented or broken, emphasising vulnerability, identity, and bodily experience.

Roberto Lugo uses traditional vessel forms like vases, urns, and teapots, but reimagines them with street art, graffiti, and portraits of figures from marginalised communities.

Do you know of any local artists using vessel forms? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Some hand modelling techniques used by artists include: the coil method: clay is built up and joined using rolled coils.

Slab building: flat pieces of clay are joined to create forms. And the pinch method: clay is pinched with fingers to create a vessel.

Pause the video and share with someone, have you had a go at any of these techniques? And if you haven't, which one do you feel quite drawn to trying? Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Let's have a check for understanding.

In slab building, artists work by, A, carving away parts of a solid block of clay; B, cutting and joining flat pieces of clay; C, pinching clay into shape using fingers; or D, rolling clay into coils and stacking them.

Pause the video and decide which of these describe slab building.

Well done if you selected answer B.

Indeed, slab building is when artists cut and join flat pieces of clay.

Artists who use the slab building method include: Rich Miller, who's known for slipware and surface design, also constructs pieces through assembling flat slab-built forms, especially in collaborative projects.

Magdalene Odundo is best known for her hand-built vessels, often coil-built and burnished.

She sometimes uses slab-built shaping in building complex forms. The process of slab building a vessel can look like this.

First of all, you wedge your clay to remove air bubbles.

Next, roll your clay into a five-millimeter-thick flat slab.

You may wish to use guide sticks.

Cut clay slab to required shapes using a cutting tool.

The next part of the process of slab building a vessel can look like this.

Form the walls by bending the slab into a curved shape.

Join the sides and the base using the slip and score method.

And then smooth the clay over all the joints until they are securely connected.

Proper clay joining is essential for a strong result.

Score by cutting lightly into the clay with a clay tool and then add slip.

And slip is diluted clay to act as a glue.

Then blend the two clay pieces until the seam disappears.

What shapes would we need to cut to create a vessel form like this? Pause the video and share with someone.

What did you come up with? Here's Laura.

"There is one large rectangle for the side of the mug.

I think it would be best to use a coil for the handle." That's a good idea.

And Jacob: "Yes, and we need a circle for the base so it is round.

It needs to be joined very strongly." Pause the video and share with someone, how could you join the base and the sides of the mug? Pause the video and share with someone.

Well done if you remembered about using the slip and score method.

And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to use the slab building technique to create a vessel, like a mug or vase.

You may choose to follow these steps to guide you.

So first of all, wedge your clay to remove air bubbles.

Then roll your clay into a five-millimeter-thick flat slab.

You may wish to use guide sticks to ensure a consistent and even height.

Cut the clay to the required shapes using a clay cutting tool.

Bend the slab shape to form the walls of the vessel into a cylinder.

And then join the sides and base using slip and score method.

Blend the clay to fully join the surfaces and create strength.

So pause here while you have a go at this multi-stage first part of your task.

And now for the next part of your task, you can add details with hand modelling.

You could press materials into the clay to create a textured surface, net, stamps, Lego, coins, forks, et cetera.

Be creative.

Add modelled shapes onto your vessel using the score and slip method to join securely.

Model a handle with a unique shape using coiling.

So pause here while you add details with hand modelling.

Okay, how did you get on? So, adding those details, there are many possible outcomes.

You may have created something wonderful like this.

Wow.

Pause the video and share with someone your impressions of this mug.

Thanks for sharing.

Let's hear from Alex.

"Aisha, you have hand modelled the handle of your vessel to create a more interesting form like Roberto Lugo." Wonderful.

I wonder if you'd notice that.

And here's Aisha.

"Thanks.

I also added a sphere like Rich Miller and pressed patterns into the clay's surface using a stamp to add decoration." Oh, I really enjoyed those in particular.

Great job.

And now we're on to our next learning cycle, using paint to add pattern and colour.

How have details been added to this vessel to embellish it? Pause the video and share with someone.

Okay, I wonder what you came up with.

Let's have a look.

Well, clay has been built up to create forms. Love that sphere at the top.

Textures have been pressed into the clay to create areas of relief.

Vibrant colours have been painted.

And patterns and images have been added.

So colourful, so expressive.

Clay allows details to be added both into the clay as a texture or on top of the clay as a surface design.

Traditionally, clay is decorated with glazes that need to be fired.

However, paint can also be used on top of the clay surface.

Embellished clay pots have been found across the world from both modern and ancient civilizations.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of the following best describes how details can be added to clay? A, details are added only by adding water and slip to the clay; B, details can be added by either working into the clay or adding a surface design; C, details can only be added by moulding the clay into shapes; or D, details can only be added by painting over the clay surface.

Pause the video while you decide which of the following best describes how details can be added to clay.

Well done if you selected answer B.

Indeed, details can be added by either working into the clay or adding a surface design.

Some believe that ceramic vessel designs need to be symmetrical, but clay is expressive.

It doesn't have to be perfectly symmetrical or realistic.

Many artists use bold designs, patterns, and personal storytelling in their work, with imperfections that add character and meaning, such as Bari Ziperstein and Brian Rochefort.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of the following statements are true about ceramic vessel designs? A, all ceramic artists prefer to create symmetrical and realistic designs for their vessels; B, ceramic vessels must always be perfectly symmetrical and realistic to be considered successful; C, ceramic vessels should never include personal storytelling or bold patterns as they must be perfect; or D, imperfections in ceramic vessels such as asymmetry or bold patterns can add character and meaning to the piece.

Pause the video while you decide which of these statements are true about ceramic vessel designs.

Well done if you selected answer D.

Indeed, imperfections in ceramic vessels, such as asymmetry or bold patterns, can add character and meaning to the piece.

Many civilizations used surface design to tell stories.

Ancient Greek vases and pottery were often painted with mythological scenes depicting gods, heroes, and everyday life.

These vessels not only served a functional purpose, but were also a canvas for storytelling.

Many civilizations used surface design to tell stories.

The Maya civilization produced ceramic vessels with intricate designs that often depicted gods, mythical creatures, and scenes from Maya cosmology.

These vessels were often used in rituals and offerings, telling stories about the relationship between the human and divine worlds.

Modern ceramicists and artists can use vessels for storytelling.

Betty Woodman's work combines functional ceramics with sculptural elements.

Her colourful ceramic forms often represent the relationship between domestic spaces and personal identity.

Grayson Perry's "American Journey", 2020, examines his understanding of and fascination with American identity and culture.

Take a look at these designs.

What stories could these surface patterns be telling? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

I wonder what story you came up with.

And now it's time for your next task.

I would like you to decide on a scene of a story that you'll depict on your vessel.

Think about and answer: what story will you tell? Will you include all parts of the story or just one scene? Is there any important imagery needed to convey the story to the audience? Will you add any other details or colours to your work? Pause the video while you decide on a scene of a story that you will depict on your vessel.

Okay, great to be back with you.

How did you get on with deciding on a scene of a story that you'll depict on your vessel? There are many outcomes, but you might have come up with a story like this.

Here's Aisha's.

"I chose the Persian story 'Nasruddin, His Son and Their Donkey' and want to show the donkey walking without a rider, as this is the final scene before they realise the moral of the story." "I will create a patterned frame around my image.

This will be abstract, but look a little like a bumpy road and a tree.

I will use vibrant colours and lots of busy patterns like Roberto Lugo." Oh, I love that, Aisha.

Great story.

And now for the next part of your task, I'd like you to use paint to add pattern and colour to your work.

So first of all, plan your design.

You should: create a quick sketch of the design for the scene of the story that you will depict on your vessel.

Label where you will add paint and the colours you'll use.

Label the base colours and the areas of pattern or detail.

And then next, use paint to apply the base of your design to your vessel.

Apply paint to create the base colours of the design, building up layers rather than one thick layer.

So pause here while you use paint to add pattern and colour to your work, first planning your design and then using the paint to apply the base of your design to your vessel.

I'll see you when you're finished.

Okay, how did you get on? There are many possible outcomes, and you may have created something like this.

Great bold use of colour there for those base layers.

And next, I'd like you to add surface details to your vessel.

You could: add details with paint using a thin brush.

Use paint pens to draw details and smaller patterns.

Use sponges or stamps to transfer patterns.

So pause here while you now add your surface details to your vessel.

Enjoy getting into the details.

Okay, it's great to be back with you.

How did you get on with adding surface details to your vessel? There are many possible outcomes, and you may have created something wonderful like this donkey, flowers background on this mug.

Here's Izzy.

"I love the details that Aisha has created.

It keeps my eye looking all over the work.

The composition is so full and vibrant." Couldn't agree more, Izzy.

Wow, there's such a lot going on there.

My eye is actually drawn to so many different places.

In our lesson "Exploring 3D construction techniques with clay," we have covered the following.

Modelling is an additive clay technique which allows artists to create a wide range of outcomes.

Artists can use hand building methods like pinch pot, coil method, or slab building to create clay forms. Artists and designers can use hand modelling techniques or throwing on a pottery wheel to create vessels.

Clay allows details to be added both into the clay as a texture or on top of the clay as a surface design.

Well done, everyone, for joining in with this lesson.

I've loved this journey that we've been on.

First of all, exploring different clay techniques, pinch part, coil methods, slab building, and then getting right into the slab building ourselves.

These vessels you've created are wonderful.

I loved how you use slip and score to join the different pieces of your clay together to create this form.

And wow, those surface designs are just wonderful.

Hope you've enjoyed storytelling through clay, and I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

In the meantime, stay creative.