Lesson Plan #54-Clay Pitchers

Handbuild with Textured Slabs and Sprig Molds

by Tracy P. Gamble
Tracy P. Gamble is a studio potter working and teaching in Plainfield, Indiana
Photography by David L. Gamble

Please scroll down for the entire lesson or follow these quick links: Tools and Materials | Lesson Plan Goals and Objectives | National Visual Arts Standards | Planning | Instructions | Glossary | Download PDF Version

Photo of a finished pitcher glazed with Potters Choice glazes

I love the pitchers in this lesson plan because there are so many possibilites in design for shape, style, texture, decoration and technique. This plan is designed for 4th grade to adult, all skill levels.

Create these pitchers from scratch. Students individually design their pitcher shape on paper, cut out templates from their design and then start handbuilding in clay. So many textures to choose from for this project including: texture rollers, texture molds, handmade stamps, found object textures, etc. Students have additional choices for handles and feet for pictchers with the handle and feet sprig molds. There are also many decorative sprig molds to choose from.

Cross curriculum possibilities exist for science or biology themes with frogs, fish, etc. and/or social studies with cultural textures and sprig attachments, and/or history themes with Mimbres, Islamic and fossil textures and sprigs.

Let your imagination and your curriculum be your guide.

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Finished pitcher by Scott Kelley

Scott Kelley

  • Texture tools
    Textured Clay Rollers—8 different designs (16005F or 16008G)
    Stamps
  • Various Glaze Brushes
  • Sketch Book and paper
  • Scissors
  • Chamois
  • Vinegar
  • Rubber rib
  • Newspaper
  • Stiff cardboard

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Finished pitcher by Sara Hawkings

Sara Hawkings

Lesson Plan Goals and Objectives

  1. Students will create a functional or purely decorative pitcher using design skills, slabs, textures, sprigs.
  2. Students will learn to create and decorate with sprigs.
  3. This lesson integrates the history of many cultures and art.
  4. This lesson is suitable for 4th graders to adult.

National Visual Arts Standards

  1. Students know and compare the characteristics of artworks in various eras and cultures.
  2. Students describe and place a variety of art objects in historical and cultural contexts.
  3. Students describe the function and explore the meaning of specific art objects within varied cultures, times, and places.
  4. Students analyze relationships of works of art to one another in terms of history, aesthetics, and culture, justifying conclusions made in the analysis and using such conclusions to inform their own art making.

Planning

  1. 5 pounds of clay per student
  2. Roll slab 3/8" thick and 10-12" x 15" slabs
    (approximately 3-4 pounds for slab)
  3. Keep some fresh clay (two pounds per student), not rolled into slabs, to use for making sprig attachments used for feet, handles and decoration

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    STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTION

    Pre-Work

    1. Design and sketch pitchers: 3 to 4 inches tall (including spout and feet) x 4 to 5 inches wide (including handle)
    2. Cut templates from sketches on paper

    lesson-plan-54-step1

    1. Roll slab, smooth and compress with plastic rib.

    lesson-plan-54-step2

    2. Apply texture. Press texture into slab using a texture roller, stamps, or press slab into texture molds.

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    3. There are four parts to a basic pitcher: two sides (squares), one base (oval), and one spout (rectangle).

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    4. Score sides at the ends to join, using a scratch tool, fork, etc. where the parts of the pitcher connect.

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    5. Paint on small amount of vinegar (used instead of slip for the glue) on scored places and attach.

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    6. Reinforce seams with coils of clay, press and smooth gently.

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    7. Score, paint on vinegar, and attach base to sides of pitcher. Press base to sides.

    lesson-plan-54-step8

    8. Seal both inside and out to secure attached areas for a functional pitcher.

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    9. Size up the spout and decide exactly where to place. Mark outside where spout goes.

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    10. Cut along mark.

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    11. Score, paint on vinegar, and attach spout. Smooth interior of spout carefully to connect and enhance pouring capabilities.

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    12. If desired for design, cut corners off top of spout.

    lesson-plan-54-step13

    13. Smooth end of spout for pourability.

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    14. Press the amount of clay needed into the handle sprig mold. Press and repress clay into mold.

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    15. Smooth to flatten, from the center out, with a rubber rib.

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    16. Roll a small clay coil and then flatten one end. Wet flat end with a bit of water, attach to clay at one end.

    lesson-plan-54-step17

    17. Lift up and quickly remove small clay coil. Shape ‘handle’ into a “C” for attaching after feet are attached.

    lesson-plan-54-step18

    18. Make feet from sprig mold using same technique.

    lesson-plan-54-step19

    19. Attach feet with larger half of foot wrapped gently around and up the outside of the base. Point bottom of feet up and smooth connections using wood smoothing tool.

    lesson-plan-54-step20

    20. Attach handle and if desired, more decorative sprigs.

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    21. Smooth rim and spout with chamois and fingers.

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    22. Slow dry with plastic draped over pitcher for 24 hours. Remove drape of plastic and continue drying until bone dry. Bisque fire pitcher to Cone 04 and finish by applying final glaze decoration. Glaze fire.

    Pitchers can be made with low fire (Cone 04) clay or mid/high fire (Cone 5/6) clay. Match glaze to clay type, Cone 04 clay with Cone 04 glaze, etc. Decoration on wet and leather hard clay can be done with Velvet underglazes before the bisque fire.

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    Finished pitcher by Matt Hoagland

    Matt Hoagland

    Glossary

    Bone-dry: Final stage of greenware, completely dry and ready to be fired. Clay is very fragile, non-plastic and porous within this state.

    Chamois: A soft, pliable cotton cloth finished to simulate the leather from any of various skins dressed with oil.

    Leather-hard Clay: Stage between wet and dry clay. The clay is stiff enough to support its own weight, but pliable enough to be bent and worked with.

    Score: to scratch or “rough up” surfaces of clay that are to be joined together.

    Sprigging: Decorating technique in which small clay coils, balls, or molded pieces are affixed to the damp or leather-hard surface.

    Template: A positive pattern used to trace a shape or
    design.

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