Coil VesselVocabulary, Criteria, and Steps

Coil Pot Criteria… 20 pts each Students will create a Coil Pot which…

Is at least 9” in height by 4” in width. The base must be no smaller than 3” wide in the shape of a bottle.

Is constructed completely of clay coils that have been slipped, scored, and blended together.

Exhibits design elements and pattern created through manipulating coils. Additive process.

Is smoothed entirely on the inside surface. Must be Neat clean, glazed properly with name

and period on bottom

Coil Pot Design… The coils are both the medium of the piece and a

large portion of the final design Things to consider:

Shapes used Where used % Smoothed % Coiled Pattern Texture

Coil Pot Steps… Draw rough sketches of the shape of the

pot you are going to create Pot form should relate to its function

Jug, jar, bottle.

Coil Pot Steps… Based on your chosen sketch, create your

template out of a large piece of sketchbook paper. *Hint*---If you draw one side of the template to scale

you can fold the paper in half and trace it so you get a perfect match

The template: Acts as a guide Visual reference Basis for coil design

Coil Pot Steps… The Base

Make a slab to a thickness of ½” (one-half inch) Draw and cut a circular template out of sketchbook paper that

matches the diameter of the base of your piece (3”, 4”, 5”, etc.) Cut out the clay circle and then smooth the base using your rib

Make sure to keep your template out on the table with you at all times during construction of the Coil Pot if you use it, so you maintain accuracy

Coil Pot Steps… The Coils

Prepare small lumps of clay into a WEDGED, rounded cylinder Only press an amount of coils that you will be able to use during

the class period, otherwise the coils have a tendency to dry out quickly

ALWAYS KEEP THEM IN A BAG SO THEY DRY OUT.

Lastly, Coil Pot Steps… Begin construction by slipping and

scoring the first row/coil onto the top of the base Attach the coil to the base in the same

way as for all previous projects paying close attention to the inside of the pot

*Reminder*---Smooth the inside facing side of the coils as you add each level, the outside should maintain the rough coil appearance

For each level of coils that you add, you must remember to slip and score the coils together to ensure the best possible adhesion and strength

STEPS CUT COILS AS ILLUSTRATED Pinch coil into slab on the inside

Merging coils using both hands

Do the same on the outside/Use a rib to smooth…

Place 2nd coil/ Smudge into lower coil

Pull the outside coil to the pot

Repeat with the next layer, and the next…

To build up To build straight up… stack coils DIRECTLY

ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER To make the vessel go OUT… move each

coil toward the outside a little each time.

To make the vessel go IN… move each coil toward the INSIDE a little each time.

Join coils at a different place

Use the same method as above to create the pot's rim. You may choose to leave the rim "un-smoothed" as illustrated below. If making a large pot, it might be too soft to hold it's full weight. Cover it and allow it to set for a while before proceeding. When starting again, the next coil added MUST be slip-and-scored to the existing pot.

Finished! Now Add something to it and make it AMAZING!

Examples: