This document provides instructions for students to create ceramic artist's signature stamps. It outlines a 10 step process for designing and carving 3 stamp designs, including requirements that one design must include the student's initials and class period. Students will brainstorm designs, outline them, carve details using tools, add designs to stamp handles, mark tops, smooth surfaces, and fire the stamps for use signing ceramic pieces. Examples of word, letter, and pattern stamp designs are shown to inspire students. The stamps will allow students to professionally sign their ceramic works for the semester in a more permanent way than just writing on the pieces.

1. Artist’s Mark or Signature Stamps
-Your Unique Symbol - Name, initials, pattern, design
-Ceramic Artist’s place this typically on the bottom of pieces or elsewhere.

2. • Create a signature mark for your ceramics
pieces.
• It will make it look more professional than
just scratching your name at the bottom.
• Signature stamps can be as simple as just
your initials. You can also come up with a
hallmark-type of a symbol.
• You decide. Please, no cliché symbols.

3. Requirements:
1.3 different designs
•At least 1 should include
your initials or
first/lastname AND class
period (5 or 7).
•Designs can include
patterns, symbols,
shapes.
•Designs can be slightly
larger than a quarter.
Should fit on bottom of
standard coffee mug

4. *You will create 3 designs total

5. The Project Steps
1. First you will need to brainstorm and sketch 3 different ideas
2. Brainstorm and sketch on handout provided.
STEP 1: Planning & Sketching

6. Step 2: After you sketch & get approval
from teacher
• Roll a coil the same
diameter as your design.
• Shape it to fit the design
outline (whether it's an oval,
a circle, a square, etc..)

7. Step 3: Outline in pen & transfer design
• Outline the
sketch with a
pen that has a
water-soluble
ink.
• Then wet the flat
part of your
future stamp
and press it onto
the paper.

8. Step 4: Start carving your design
• Scratch details
with needle tool
• Use a soft brush
to clean lines.
• Don’t rush

9. Step 5: Perfect lines
• Use a variety of
tools to widen the
design lines and
make them as neat
as possible.

10. Step 6: Carve rest of stamp

11. Step 7: Add design to stamp handle.
• Decorate the stamp
stem itself as you are
going to use it for a
while - you might as
well enjoy it as an art
piece.

12. Step 8: Mark the top side of the stamp.
• Shown here
with the 3
dots.

13. Step 9: Smooth it with wet sponge or
paintbrush
• Let it dry.
• Bisque fire.

14. Step 10: Fire it & then glaze it!
NOTICE!!!
You DO NOT
Glaze the
stamping
surface.
-Test it out.

15. Some Ideas: Words or Letters

16. Patterns and Symbols
• Remember only
1 needs to have
your name and
class period.
• The other 2
designs are free
form.

20. Some artists like to place stamps on outside of their pieces

22. Others make stamps to use as textures or
patterns on pieces.

23. Repeating the stamp

27. Allison McGowan

29. Assignment Review
• Over the next four days you will be
creating 3 different stamps.(1 with name &
class period)
• One of these stamps will be used as your
personal signature on your clay work this
semester.
• 3 stamps due on Wednesday next week.

30. Video Tutorial
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6Pj-WeYQ