GRADE LEVEL: PINCH METHOD 3 - 8 SLAB METHOD 6 - 12

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Focus:
This is a lesson plan designed to teach two basic methods of hand built pottery - pinch and slab, using a polymer clay that needs no mixing, does not dry out unless exposed to heat, (so can be left uncovered in between classes), and can be decorated in a number of innovative techniques.

Project Application:
The photocopy transfer designs provided are examples of authentic pottery surface decorations. Sources date from ancient to modern times, and represent native pottery crafts and designs from the Orient, Africa, Greece and the Indians of the Americas.

Transfer Technique:
Note: Laser printer toner, Xerox (copy machine) toner, will all transfer to the Sculpey clays. Inkjet images will NOT transfer. If you use an inkjet printer, take a Xerox copy of the image or design page, and use that for your transfers.

Roll a sheet of Sculpey to l/8" thickness. Choose design from transfer sheet (found on PDF file), cut out and place face down on the clay. With fingertips or a roller, press so that all of the design areas have contact with the clay. LEAVE PAPER IN PLACE and bake the clay sheet on an ovenproof glass baking dish for l0 - l5 minutes. Avoid scorching as clay is rolled very thin and make cure quickly, but do not under bake or it will be weak.

Let clay cool completely before handling. Then, very carefully peel off the photocopy sheet. Because of the thinness, the clay will have some flexibility. Use sharp scissors to trim excess clay from around the design border to form a patch. The patches can be applied to the actual pottery with heavy, white craft glue or silicone glue. (The teacher should apply the silicone glue). Hold patches in place on pottery by securing with masking tape. Do not place tape directly on the actual design, as it may be damaged. Protect it with a sheet of paper. Two or more motifs from the same origins may be used together on one pottery piece - i.e., a border design and a major design. (see illustrations).

SUPPLY LIST:

• Sculpey - about 2 - 4 oz. per student
• Assorted simple tools
• Photocopy designs for transfers
• Rolling pins or brayers
• Scissors

MANY FINISHES CAN BE USED:

• Waterbase liquid acrylic paint, applied with a variety of tools such as brushes, sponges, rushed paper or toothbrush (spattering) - for special effects
• Metallic waxes to highlight raised surface patterns
• Sculpey Glaze for a glossy or semi-gloss finish oPhotocopy transfers for symbolic or pictorial decoration (interdisciplinary lesson plan included under Slab Method section).

Pinch Method: (suitable for grades 3 - 8):
Knead Sculpey for a minute to condition. Roll into a ball. Push thumbs into the center to form opening. Pinch sides lightly and evenly to hollow out. Form into a round or oval bowl. Keep walls and base l/2" even thickness (based on one slab (4 oz.) of clay). If less clay is available, reduce thickness and size of pottery. Walls can be smoothed with fingers prior to baking, or sanded after baking. If a textured surface is wanted, this can be done with a variety of simple tools that can be pressed into the clay before baking (e.g. plastic fork, plastic toothpick, comb, screening, screw and nail heads, etc.). Coils, dots, and other shapes can be pressed onto surface for relief designs (roughen surfaces first to have better adherence). Bake at 275° F. (l35° C.) for l5 minutes for smaller pottery (2 oz.). For larger pottery with thicker walls, (4 oz.), bake for 25 - 30 minutes.

Slab Method: (suitable for grades 6 - l2):
Knead Sculpey for a minute to condition. Roll into a fat log if making a rectangular slab; roll into a ball if making a round or square slab. For smaller size (2 oz.), roll to flatten to 1/4" thickness; for larger size (4 oz.), roll to flatten to l/2" thickness. Keep all thickness' consistent in one piece of pottery.

Make a paper or cardboard pattern for bottom and sides (see pattern examples - Section A). Lay pattern(s) on clay and cut around with a toothpick or other sharp object. Join two of the sides together by placing a rope of clay inside and smoothing into the crack. Do the same with the other two sides. Then join the two halves. Cut a bottom to fit. Join sides to bottom using the same inside coil method. A round or oval canister type of pottery can also be made by cutting a circle or oval for the bottom and a rectangle for the canister. Join the canister seam first with a coil. Then place the canister onto the bottom and join with a coil. Bake at 275° F. (l35° C.) for I5 minutes for l/4" walls and 30 minutes for l/2" walls. Decorate with photocopy designs from sheets provided.

Template Pattern: