Gr. 9 Clay and Grotesque Art

1. Unit 2: Clay

9. Rules in the Clay Studio
1. Clay and glazes contain silica, which is not good for you.
Work carefully to avoid disturbing dust.
2. Clay must be kept moist while you are working on a project.
You are solely responsible for keeping your clay projects
covered with plastic.
3. Clay clogs the drain! When you are done working for the
day, you must clean your tools and your hands in rinse
buckets.
4. You must also wipe your tables with a damp rag. This
minimizes dust, and leaves the studio clean for other artists.

10. The Tools
1) Clay – basically dirt & water
2) Kiln – a device used to cook all moisture out of clay; there are many
types, but we will use an electric kiln. Clay must be fired (heated in a kiln)
in order to become permanently formed.
3) Modelling tool – anything that helps to shape clay (a spoon, a
smooth stone); we have specially designed wood modelling tools.
4) Ribs – metal or wood; can be smooth or serrated (toothed); serrated
ribs are good for scoring.

11. The Tools
5) Ribbons – metal loops that function as carving tools; come in various
shapes & sizes.
6) Pin tool – a metal pin or a toothpick; useful for putting ventilation
holes in a piece
7) Glaze – silica-based colourant; glazes must also be fired in a kiln to
become permanent; makes pottery food safe.

12. Clay Stages
1) Greenware – clay that has not been fired
2) Slip – watery clay (like milk); used as glue when joining piece of clay.
3) Leather-hard – clay that has partially dried; it holds up its own form,
but can still be manipulated.
4) Bone dry – clay that cannot lose anymore moisture without being
fired; it looks off-white. Clay must always be bone dry before firing, or it
will explode!
5) Bisque ware – clay that has been fired but not glazed; it is white.
6) Glaze ware – clay that has been glazed

13. Important Processes
1) Wedging – also called kneading; pushing & pulling the clay to get it to
a homogenous state (even moisture, no air bubbles).
2) Scoring – creating rough texture where two pieces of clay will be
joined; slip must be applied to the scored area before welding the clay.
3) Welding – blending two pieces of clay together, after scoring &
slipping.

14. Crucial Things to Remember!
● Maintain even thickness (0.5 in / 1cm) to avoid
cracks
● Dry evenly (cover work in plastic)
●
● Eliminate air bubbles and contained air (or
your piece will explode in the kiln).

15. Pinch Pot Project
 You will make a pinch pot.
 Your vessel must be at least 3 inches in one dimension.
 Once you have shaped your vessels, you will decorate
their surfaces using a motif.
 A motif is a design that is repeated in an artwork.
Examples – spots, stripes, various shapes...
 You will glaze your pinch pot after it is bisque fired.
 Marked out of 12 points:
Form - 4 points, Motif – 4 points, Glaze – 4 points

16. Grotesque Art
 What does “grotesque” mean?
 What are some examples of grotesque
images?

17. Examples of Grotesque Art
 Medieval gargoyles

18. Grotesque Art
Medieval Gargoyles …
 Were spouts carved in the shape of a human, animal, or
demon
 Were connected to a gutter for throwing rain water from
the roof of a building
 although later examples - particularly in the 19th century-
served as merely decoration.
 Served as protectors. It is a common belief, through
many cultures, that in order to keep away evil spirits one
must use something frightening.

19. Examples of Grotesque Art
 Totem poles

20. Examples of Grotesque Art
Totem poles:
 are as varied as the numerous tribes which produce them.
 may recount familiar legends, clan lineages, or notable events.
 celebrate cultural beliefs
 some are intended as purely artistic presentations.
 Certain types are part of mortuary structures incorporating
grave boxes
 are also carved to illustrate stories, to commemorate historic
people, & to represent shamanic powers

21. H. Bosch’s “Hell” from
“The Garden of Earthly Delights”

22. Examples of Grotesque Art
 Hieronymus Bosch was a prolific Dutch painter of the 15th
and 16th
centuries.
 Many of his works depict sin and human moral failings.
 Bosch used images of demons, half-human animals and
machines to evoke fear and confusion to portray the evil
of humans.

23. M. Beckmann’s “Departure”

24. Examples of Grotesque Art
 Max Beckmann (February 12, 1884 – December 28, 1950) was
a German artist who lived through both World Wars.
 From the ’30s on, his works often contain symbolic
references to the brutal actions of the Nazis.
 His subjects and symbols also assume a larger meaning,
addressing universal themes of terror, redemption, and
the mysteries of eternity and fate.

25. Grotesque Project
 Using clay, you will create a grotesque goblet
or a grotesque sculpture.
 You will use reductive building (build solid
and carve out later).

26. Otto Dix

27. Otto Dix

28. Matt Barney

29. Tom Bartel

30. Glazing
 Glaze is a clay-based colourant.
 Glazes must be fired in a kiln to become
permanent.

31. Glazing
 Important things to remember:
1. Glaze makes clay food safe.
2. Glazes change their appearance after
being fired.
3. Glaze fuses to anything it touches in the kiln. Keep the
bottom of your work clean up to 0.5 inch/ 1cm from the
bottom.
4. Mix the glaze before applying it. Apply 3 even coats of
glaze.

32. Examples of Good Glaze

33. Glazing Techniques
1) Dipping – immersing the entire clay piece into glaze; after dipping
you MUST remove all glaze from the bottom with a wet rag.
2) Pouring – pouring glaze onto your clay piece; again you MUST
remove all glaze from the bottom with a wet rag.
3) Brushing – painting the glaze onto the clay piece using paint
brushes; since glaze is a thick, sandy material, it is crucial that you clean
your brushes with soap so that no glaze is left in the bristles.
4) Overlapping – mixing glazes in a separate container or on the clay
piece can provide very interesting results.

34. Glazing Techniques
5) Masking – glaze will not stick to areas of the clay that have been
covered with masking tape; you can use tape to create patterns on your
work and then remove the tape before firing.
6) Sgraffito – scratching through a layer of glaze to create patterns of
unglazed clay
7) Mishima – putting glaze in carved designs, and wiping away the
excess. The glaze only stays in the carved areas.

35. Artist's Statement: Grotesque Project
1) How did you come up with your idea?
2) Do you think you were successful in making a
grotesque object? Explain.
3) How successful were you in controlling the
clay? Were you able to smooth out unwanted
bumps and cracks? Were you able to create
the form you wanted?
4) What did you like or dislike about this project?