POTTERY LANTERNS USING
HAND BUILDING METHODS
High School Art: Ceramic Slab Lanterns
Objectives:
•Students will be able to define the given clay vocabulary.
•Students will learn slab construction and hand building
techniques.
•Students will draw at least two preparatory sketches of ideas
for their lantern.
•Students will create a slab constructed lantern while exploring
cut-out design and texture.
•They will demonstrate good craftsmanship using slab and
hand-building techniques.
Materials: ceramic supplies (canvas boards, clay (low fire
earthenware), modeling tools, rolling pins, slats, glazes-low fire),
Exacto knives, paper towels, newsprint for tables
Preparation
• Wedge the clay into grapefruit-size balls, 3-4 per child plus a
few extra. OR **show them how to cut from the blocks of
clay
• Cover the work area with Masonite boards or canvas.
• Set out the clay, needle tools, containers of slip or water, and
the guide sticks “slats”
Day 1 Delivery: Ceramics Intro
Overview-Clay Building Methods: (all of these may be used)
1. Hand-building: building pots using the only the hands and
hand-held clay tools
2. Slab: clay is rolled into thin sheets or slabs and then formed
into shapes or forms.
3. Pinch: shaping clay by inserting the thumb of one hand
into the clay and lightly pinching/ pressing with the thumb
on the inside and fingers on the outside while slowly
turning the clay to enlarge the center opening of the clay.
4. Coil: creating ceramic forms by rolling out coils of clay
and joining them together by the slip & score method.
Stages of Dryness
1. Wet
2. Leather hard
3. Greenware or Bone dry
4. Bisquesware (first firing)
5. GlazeWare (second firing with glaze)
The Ten Golden Rules of Ceramics Submitted by Joe Cox
Day 1 Activity #1-2: Slab Construction Into –Teacher Guided
Demo
1. Teacher will demo each technique then have student practice
rolling out a slab. (Save & store wet for next class)
a. Rolling the Clay: Place guide sticks the thickness of the desired slab
on each side of the clay ball. The guide sticks need to be positioned so
that a rolling pin can ride on top of both of them. Throw the clay down at an
angle to get the flattening process started. Starting from the center of the
clay and roll away from yourself. Roll only to the edge of the clay. Return to
the center and roll towards you using the same pressure. Pick up the clay
& flip it over, this helps prevent the clay from sticking to the canvas board.
Repeat these steps, until the clay is flush with the guide sticks and cannot
be flattened any more.
b. Demonstrate to students how to store their slabs (on boards, in bags &
how to twist & wrap the rubber bands).
2. Students will work on designs for their clay lanterns in their
sketchbooks.
Day 2-6: Template & Construction of Lantern
Go over project handout.
Project Objective: Explore Slab Construction (BOX or cylinder), CutOut Design, & Texture
SLAB Construction Method: Teacher Demo (Day 2-3)
See Ceramic Box with Lid Lesson for Slab Lesson
1. Create a template: on a piece of paper draw out
the EACH of the separate pieces to your clay lantern.
1. Activity: Create a paper template for each structural piece
you will cut out of clay. Get out a ruler and make precise
measurements of the dimensions of your piece.
2.Draw a template for EVERY slab piece the EXACT size
you need it to be:
1. 4 Sides (2 sides can be different)
2. Bottom
3. Top or Roof- can be slab or pinch pot
3.Roll slabs (it will probably take several depending on the size
of your lantern) & use templates to cut all the pieces for your
lantern
Apply Texture to slab before cutting out templates. (Day 4)
a. Two ways to apply texture:
1.Use texture plates to press into the slab. Best done BEFORE
construction of the lantern. Make sure clay is not super soft or
the plates will stick to the slab & mess it up.
2.Press texture into the clay using various hand tools or objects.
Best done AFTER construction of the lantern.
4.Score and Slip – (DEMO) In order to attach two pieces of clay, you
must use the score and slip method. (Day 4-6)
1. Score or scratch both of the surfaces that will be joined several times
with a needle tool and apply a small amount of slip or water on both
sides. Be sure not to over-wet the clay, too much water will cause it to
become too soft, slimy, and unworkable.
2.Press & wiggle the surfaces together. If the pieces are not attached
with the score and slip method, the slabs tend to pull apart and could
pop apart as they dry.
3.To make an even stronger bond, roll a very thin coil of clay and push it
inside the joints where the walls meet.
4.Smooth out all joints with a modeling tool or “rib”
CUT-OUT DESIGN (Day 7-9)
1. Cut-Out Design can ONLY be done when the clay is leather-hard. You
must leave it out for 30+ minutes to let it get leather-hard
2. Demonstrate how to cut openings-windows & doors. Demo Subtractive
and Additive methods.
FINISHING
1. When completely finished, scratch your name into the piece
(side or bottom) & set on a bat labeled with your name & today’s
date in Kiln room to dry. Dry 5-10 days,
2. Bisque Fire: The term bisque refers to ceramic ware that has
been fired once without glaze.
Glazing – Applying liquid glazes to the ceramic pieces. Glazes
are made from finely ground glass suspended in a liquid. In the
presence of heat, the glaze becomes a glassy coating which
fuses to the surface.
Glaze Firing – Firing done after glaze has been applied to
bisque or (occasionally) green-ware to produce a glass-like
surface.
Activity:
Apply
glaze
to
bisque-ware
lanterns
3+
coats
https://createartwithme.com/ceramic-slab-lanterns-cut-out-design/
This lesson plan was written by Michelle C. East. If you
choose to use any of this lesson (written or photos),
please link back to this blog Create Art with ME!
Student Gallery (at various stages of the project)