Ceramics & Sculpture – Unit 2: Coil
Requirements:
In this unit, you will be creating 3 vessels using the Coil Method. Sketches are required for all 3 vessels.
Requirements:
1. Coil Mug: Create an exposed coil mug that is about 5” tall and has a handle.
Due to FIRE: Friday, March 7, 2014
2. Sketches: Draw 3 designs for exposed coil vases and 3 designs for unexposed coil vases.
The sketches should be fairly large, taking up a page in your sketchbook.
Make sure to add detail, designs, and color to the unexposed sketches.
3. Exposed Coil Vase: Create an expose coil vase that is about 8” tall, shows the coils on
the exterior, and has 3 shape changes. (Choose your favorite design from your sketches).
DUE to FIRE: Friday, March 14, 2014.
4. Unexposed Coil Vase: Create an unexposed coil vase that is about 8” tall, does not show
the coils on the exterior, has 3 shape changes, and a decorative feature on the exterior
surface. (Choose your favorite design from your sketches).
DUE to FIRE: Friday, March 21, 2014.
Directions for Coil Building:
1. Create a base by taking about a handful of clay, roll the clay into a ball, and flatten the ball into a
pancake that is about ½ inch thick.
2. Roll a coil, using the palms of your hand, on a flat surface. The coil should be about ¼ inch thick.
3. Slip the base where you plan on stack your coil.
4. Stack your coil on the base. Blend the seams on the interior, making sure you cannot see the
seams after blending.
5. Continue rolling coils, stacking, and blending after every coil you add.
Hints:
 To make your vase go in, stack the coils towards the interior of your last coil.
 To make your vase go out, stack the coils towards the exterior of your last coil.
 Be creative with your coil designs. You can make your coils into swirls or zigzags. Remember the
coils do not have to be stacked horizontally.
 Only slip the coils if it has been sitting out for a while or you are returning then next day. Slip only
the last coil you added to add the first coil. Too much slipping with make the clay soggy and you will
have more difficulty controlling the shape.
 If you are building and it seems to be caving in or you cannot control the shape, let it sit out for a
while to harder a little. The softer the clay is, the more likely it will start to cave in. Added too many
coils too soon may cause the vase to cave in.
Finishing the pots: Once your pots are fired, you will glaze them. It is preferred to use glaze when the
pot is meant to be mostly functional, being used as a pot.
Vocabulary to know:
 Coil
 Slip
 Score
 Weld




Handle
Foot
Body
Neck




Lip
Form
Exterior
Interior



Exposed
Unexposed
Paddle
Ceramics & Sculpture – Unit 2: Coil
Rubrics: Coil Mug
Composition
Created using appropriate Coil Method
Equal thickness and length of coils.
Texture / Detail designs present (at least 3)
Handle present
Glaze finish
Craftsmanship
Neatness? Cracks? Smooth? No thumb prints. Glaze drips?
Responsibility / Effort
Turned in on time? Completed? Kept up with rubric?
Creativity / Originality
TOTAL
Rubric: Exposed Coil Vase
Planning
At least 3 sketches (Appropriate size, detail, design and color.)
Composition
Created using appropriate Coil Method
Equal thickness and length of coils/
Size requirement: 8+ inches in height, 8+ in width
Interesting form: 3 shape changes.
Texture / Detail designs present (at least 3)
Glaze finish
Craftsmanship
Neatness? Cracks? Smooth? No thumb prints. Glaze drips?
Responsibility / Effort
Turned in on time? Completed? Kept up with rubric?
Creativity / Originality
TOTAL
Rubric: Unexposed Coil Vase
Planning
At least 3 sketches (Appropriate size, detail, design and color.)
Composition
Created using appropriate Coil Method
Equal thickness and length of coils – smoothed out exterior.
Size requirement: 8+ inches in height, 8+ in width
Interesting form: 3 shape changes.
Texture / Detail designs present (at least 3)
Glaze finish
Craftsmanship
Neatness? Cracks? Smooth? No thumb prints. Glaze drips?
Responsibility / Effort
Turned in on time? Completed? Kept up with rubric?
Creativity / Originality
TOTAL
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