Week 1 introduces clay techniques and design development. Students will sketch natural forms, merge the designs, and create 3D abstract forms for their ceramic pieces. Homework involves in-depth study of natural forms through various media. Week 2 focuses on understanding clay properties and strengthening designs. Students refine designs and choose an artist to reference. Homework is an in-depth study of the chosen artist. Week 3 involves basic construction of ceramic pieces through techniques like slip and scoring. Refining forms and adding clay sections. Week 4 is for surface work like smoothing, adding textures, and biscuit firing pieces before glaze and color schemes are applied in the final session.

1. YR12 3D Unit: Ceramics

2. .
The Next few Weeks
Outlook:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Final session
Design & clay techniques introduction
Design development & planning
Base construction – soft clay
Final layers on strengthened/hardened
clay - surface, texture & detail
Colour, glaze & finish.

4. Peter Randal
Page

5. Pamela Sunday

6. Using two different natural forms, you will merge
and abstract their forms to create a design for a
small ceramic piece. There are three parts to your
design:
1)Shape & Form
2)Surface texture
3)Colour
HW - You must draw, sketch, paint and use a range
of media to investigate your subject matter in
depth. Create a study page for each of your natural
forms,
Week One: Design & Research

7. Sketching form – 3D Design Sheet
Be free & let go..............
Draw out the shape of each natural form – 5 mins
Draw a close up of the textures – 5 mins
Merge the two drawings to make a range of fused patterns and
shapes – 5 mins
Using these initial sketches draw out two to three abstract three dimensional forms. Try to
make them look 3D by adding in shading and tone, Be aware of the top, the sides and the
bottom even if the form is round.
Week One: lesson A

9. Using your initial sketches draw
out two to three abstract three
dimensional forms. Try to make
them look 3D by adding in
shading and tone, Be aware of
the top, the sides and the
bottom even if the form is round.
Take Photos of your two forms to
help with your HW. Get different
angles and close ups.
Week One: lesson B

10. Henry Moore Design
Work

11. Complete all design work and present a double page of rough
and initial designs. Be creative with your page composition
and layout. Use light and dark and form.
Week One: lesson C

12. -Complete a minimum of a double page of observations
on your two chosen natural forms. Ensure you focus on
3D shape and then colour and texture close ups.
- Complete your 3D form design work with shading, tone,
detail and annotation.
Beaumont Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/beaumontart/
Beaumont Blog: http://artatbeaumontschool.blogspot.co.uk
Deadline: January 15th
January
This week……

13. Week TwoUnderstanding
Your Clay: Lesson
AWater levels are key to successful clay work, soft clay can do certain things whilst other
effects may need harder clay that has less water. Clay will dry out between lessons even
when wrapped in plastic.
You can soften clay over time, do not add lots of water and create a slippery surface.
This will also weaken your structure.
Ensure you slip and score well so as the clay dries parts do not fall off, it must bond
correctly.
Nothing thicker than an inch – use scooping out or air holes to ensure trapped air can
escape.
Smooth off surfaces with your fingers and thumb (NOT WATER) before adding
texture or surface.
Use ten small gentle pressures/presses rather than one hard shove to move/form/mold
the clay.

14. Key Technical Terms
•Slip & score
•Soft clay
•Moulding
•Shaping
•Forming
•Base
•Strengthen
•Hardened
•Leather hard
•Carve
•Surface texture
•Form
•Smoothing
•Balance
•Space
•Thick - thin

15. Begin to look at a range of ceramists and and
ceramic sculptures to inspire and improve your
design work.
https://vimeo.com/32996839

16. Add technical notes to your design
with ideas of how you will make it.
Consider and reference some of
the techniques from last lesson.
Lesson B & C - Developed Design Page
Look at a range of
ceramists to support
your ideas. Choose
one (or two) to study
for HW this week.
On a new double
page, begin to draw
out the final design.
You might start to
play with colour but
this is not essential at
this point.

17. - Reference a range of ceramic pieces of work that inspire you
but choose one artist to complete a transcription on in more
depth.
Consider the following three areas:
•Form/shape
•Colour
•Surface decoration
Choose one artist and study them in more depth.Beaumont Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/beaumontart/
Beaumont Blog: http://artatbeaumontschool.blogspot.co.uk
Deadline: January 22nd
January
This week……

18. Basic construction
Task: using the techniques introduced,
build the main core form of your
sculpture.
•ENSURE you slip and score correctly
•Think THICK & STRONG (you can
always carve more away later)
Week Three: lesson A/B

19. Begin to refine the base : add clay sections, carve and start to
mould/smooth the form.
You may want to make extra sections to harden for next week,
ready to slip and score onto your main base.
Week Three: lesson C

20. - Complete and update your developed
design page.
Beaumont Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/beaumontart/
Beaumont Blog: http://artatbeaumontschool.blogspot.co.uk
Deadline: 29th
January
This week……

21. WEEK Four:
Lesson A/B/C
Surface
Smooth the entire surface with
your thumb/plastic/tools NOT
water.
Add surface decoration or press
textures into the surface.

22. Biscuit Firing
• Photograph your final
sculpture from all
angles and details
• Leave in the kiln room
to go bone dry.
• It will be biscuit fired.

23. draw out the final sculpture from your photos.
Paint the drawing with the colours you would
like to apply to the surface. You can draw out a
few and try more than one colour scheme.
Use mixed media to enhance surface texture
(subtly ie tissue/string ect.)
Beaumont Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/beaumontart/
Beaumont Blog: http://artatbeaumontschool.blogspot.co.uk
Deadline: 5th
February (all ceramic work complete)
This week……

24. Extension - Jacqueline Rush Lee
Explore
tape and
paper, what
can you
make?

25. Tara Donovan

27. Microscopic Inspiration

28. Dale Chihuly - Glass