Lesson 5: Smooth Coil Vase

 Ceramics

Coil Method: Smooth Coil Vase 

Const. 2-3 Classes / Dry Period:  1 Week | Glazing: 1-2 Classes / Kiln Firing : 1 Day

Vocabulary

Score: scratches made on the clay to rough the surface. 
Slip: getting the clay wet (the scored portions) to create a fine stick mud. Score and slip is used to attach two pieces of clay together.
Stick: press clay together to join them.
Smooth: smooth the seam between the two parts you joined together

Utah Standards: 7-8.V.CR.5, L2.V.CR.3                

Directions

Base:  flat a piece of clay to about ¼ thick using the rolling pin. Then use something round to mark the base of the vase. The lid of the glazing bottle works really well for this step.
Cut it out using one the ceramics tool. 
Start Making Coils: roll some clay like if you were making clay rope or snakes. Make sure to roll the clay from the tips of your finger to the hill of your palm. 
Each coil should not get thicker than your thumb or thinner than your pinky. So keep an eye out for how thick they get.
Stack them high:  Lay the coil around the edge of the base and overlap them enough to cut it into a perfect donut. Or keep piling them on top of itself as you go around the base. 
Shape: to make the belly, stack the coil a little off to the outside, that will make the vase bigger. To make the neck, place the coil a little more to the inside of the vase. 
Remember to score and slip each time a coil overlaps another. 
Smooth:  use your thumb to smooth the coils of clay together. You want to make sure that the clay is not only smooth together, but also stuck together. Do this after every coil.  
Resume Coil Construction: after you are done smoothing the clay, resume coiling and pilling it up. 
Goal: Your goal is a vase that is 7 inches tall, made out of coils with a certain shape.  

You can print this lesson by clicking here 

You can watch this video and other ideas, by visiting my YouTube channel, 1 Crazy Art Teacher.