Ceramic "Face It" Wall Piece

Materials:

1 lb. low fire white clay
paper
pencil
black permanent marker
acrylic paint
paintbrush
colored pencils
oil pastels
watercolor crayons
slab roller
clay tools: cutting tool, carving tools
fettling knife
sponge
newspaper
clear color protectant
plastic covering

Steps:

2. Flatten the clay and run it through the slab roller to form a nice even slab.

3. Draw a teapot design on paper (figure A) and cut it out to use as a template. Draw a template for the bottom base piece and cut it out (figure B).

4. Place the paper templates on the clay slab and cut shapes out with a fettling knife (figure C). Remove the excess clay. Let both pieces firm up for an hour.

5. Curve the piece by placing crumpled newspaper on the back side between the work surface and the clay, pushing the front out to raise the surface (figure D).

6. Attach the bottom base to the teapot by scoring the bottom edge of the teapot and top edge of the bottom with a serrated rib (figure E). Wet the edges with water and smooth them together. Soften the clay edges with a wet sponge.

7. Cover the teapot with plastic and let it set for six hours to a leather hard stage.

8. When firm flip the teapot over and attach two blobs of clay, with holes through them about half way up, on opposite sides for hanging.

9. Place the template on the clay and trace the lines of the design with a pencil, pressing hard enough to make marks on the clay (figure F).

10. Carve the features and textures (figure G) into the slab using a triangle ribbon clay-carving tool.

11. Smooth the carved lines with a wet sponge.

12. Shape small clay coils for hair and attach to teapot (figure H).

13. Let dry.

14. Fire to bisque for 24 hours.

15. Paint the bisque piece with black acrylic paint (figure I).

16. Color the teapot features with colored pencils (figure J), crayons, etc.

17. Spray with clear color protectant.

18. Wind picture wire through each hole on the back leaving enough slack to hang it on a nail.

Website: www.mariannebaer.com