SLAB RELIEF TILE
OBJECTIVES
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To construct a relief tile using basic slab
construction, score & slip and applique
techniques.
To relate relief sculpture methods to the
elements and principles of design on a tile.
To tell a story or set a mood using the element
of space.
To understand how relief sculptures have been
used in history and as an art form.
To define the ceramic terms; Relief, Bas-relief
and Applique.
Some sculptures are meant to be viewed
from all sides or “in the round”. They are
“fully three-dimensional”.
The
“viewpoint”
for some
sculptures
are even
underneath!
RELIEF
SCLULPTURE
is “frontal” - meant
to be viewed from
one side only (the
front) - even
though details and
sculpting are quite
three-dimensional.
Relief
• The term relief comes from the Latin verb
relevo, which means to raise.
• To create a sculpture in relief is to give the
impression that the sculpted material has
been raised above the background plane.
Bas-Relief
• French word meaning low-relief.
• Technique where less than 50% of the
depth of the piece is shown and there may
be undercut areas.
Applique
• Involves adding low relief clay forms to
slip and scored, leather-hard surfaces for
embellishment.
• Decorative technique that involves the
addition of molded clay to vessel surface.
Today we see Relief carvings most often on the
pediments of government buildings, monuments and
sometimes school buildings built in the classic style of
architecture.
Contemporary ceramics has evolved, and
often the functional becomes the sculptural
and the sculptural becomes the functional.
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Pennsylvania
ceramic artist
David
Stabley not
only alters
traditional,
functional
forms, but
uses shape,
surface,
texture, and
color to tell
stories on
clay.
.
 Originally
trained as a
printmaker,
David uses
the clay
surface as
his canvas
on which he
draws,
paints, and
carves
What do you notice about
Stabley’s work?
YOUR TASK
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Create a story or set a mood that will be
told through a relief tile
Story ideas:
song
an event in your life
fairytale
movie
historic event
SPACE
Foreground
 Middle ground
 Background
 Size relationship
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– Objects that are large
– Objects that are small
Preliminary drawings
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Create 2 very different ideas for your
preliminary drawing
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Try to convey what will be added on and
what will be carved
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Show how you will use texture
VOCABULARY
Relief
 low relief (bas-relief)
 Applique
 Composition
 Foreground
 Middle ground
 Background
 Narrative
 Texture
 Space
 Size relationship
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CRITERIA
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Clay body – either red or grey
Size – minimum 7”x7”x1/2” wet
Include foreground, middle ground and background
Have large, medium and small shapes
Shapes overlap
Areas that are built up (Bas-Relief) using applique
Objects can extend off the edge
Finish Techniques – Underglazes & Glazes
Craftsmanship
Tools, Tools, Tools….
hands
modeling tools
loop tools
ribs
sponge
wire clay cutter
Slab Building Techniques
When to add or subtract clay?
When clay is leather-hard it is best to add
(applique) or subtract clay.
 Make sure to score and slip all applique.
 Use loop tools to subtract areas of clay.
 Use the proper sized tool for the task. i.e.
larger tools will take away larger areas of
clay away faster, etc.
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relief tile demo