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Ceramic Ink Patterned Wall-hangings
Lesson Plan, Grades K-12, Art History, Amaco, Ceramics & Sculptures, Printmaking
Description
Lesson Plan and Artwork by Dana DuMont
Color, form, and design communicate meaning. They also connect the viewer with artists including Ming Fay, Alexander Calder, Carolina Sardi, and Monica Radhoff-Troll’s “Last Day of Icarus.” Using AMACO® inks, clay, rollers and tools, students can layer color, pattern, and design to create bright hanging ceramic tiles in a range of color and line intensity.
Objectives
- View and discuss artists listed above who readily employ repetition, pattern, and texture in their compositions.
- Sketch basic ideas for wall hangings or mobiles.
- Experiment with gel plate printing techniques.
- Manipulate AMACO inks, rollers, clay, and glaze to create a mobile filled with shapes, patterns, and a desired color palette.
Supplies Needed
AMACO® Low Fire Earthenware Clay, White Art 25
AMACO® Ink, INK-87 Bright Red, 8 oz
AMACO® Ink, INK-09 Deep Yellow, 8 oz
AMACO® Ink, INK-61 Jet Black, 8 oz
AMACO® Ink, INK-90 Bright Orange, 8 oz
AMACO® Ink, INK-60 White, 8 oz
AMACO® Low Fire Gloss Glaze, LG-10 Clear Transparent, Pint
AMACO® Pony Roller, 15⁄8", Hardwood, Steel Frame
AMACO® Textured Clay Rollers, 4", Set of 4
AMACO® Textured Clay Rollers, 2½", Set of 4
AMACO® Textured Clay Rollers, 4", Set of 6
Twisteezwire™ Craft Sculpture Wire, 30", Pack of 200
Fettling Knife, 4¾", Soft Pliable Steel Blade, Wood Handle
Clay Cutter, Wire, 18"
Inovart™ Soft Rubber Latex-Free Long Lasting Brayer, 4"
Royal & Langnickel® Cleaning Tool Value Pack, Set of 72
Gel Printing Plates, 5" x 7", Pack of 10
Armature Wire, Aluminum, 1⁄16" x 350 ft
Armature Wire, Aluminum, 1⁄8" x 130 ft
EuroTool® Stainless Steel Ultra Light-Weight Mini Plier, 5", Set of 4
HomeTools HT-132 Wire Cutters, 6½"
*Here are the supplies needed for this lesson plan for reference. Find a convenient carousel of shoppable products for this lesson below.
Standards
Standard #2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Standard #5: Develop and refine artistic work for presentation.
Instructions
1
View suspended works by Ming Fay, Alexander Calder, Carolina Sardi, and Monica Radhoff-Troll and have students look specifically at the artists’ use of pattern, shape, color, balance, and composition. Then, create sketches of ideas for wall hangings.
2
Roll ¼" slabs of clay and have students cut them into smaller shapes using clay tools.
3
Use a brayer to evenly roll the AMACO Ceramic Ink onto a gel plate.
- Place the small pieces of slab clay gently onto the inked surface.
- Roll over the clay with a pony roller, then gently lift the printed clay piece and set it aside.
- For a second layer of color, roll the AMACO Clay Texture Roller over the AMACO Ceramic Ink using an analogous color. Use the textured roller to print on the small slabs, then smooth the slabs with the pony roller if needed.
4
Make clay beads.
5
Experiment with rolling or stamping the AMACO inks on the plate. Next, place newsprint over the design and gently roll over paper with the pony roller. Lift the print and let dry a bit before transferring to clay. Again, roll the paper with the design side down onto the clay with the pony roller.
6
Make clay beads to share if you choose. These can be painted when bisqued instead of glazed.
7
Add holes to the top and bottom of each slab and also the beads. For the slabs, allow ¼” space from any side when making the holes. Trim and smooth the slab edges. Be sure to add initials or keep each set of pieces in labeled trays. Set to dry under thin plastic.
8
When fully dry, bisque fire slowly at cone 04. After clay cools, apply 3 thin coats of clear glaze, stilt, and glaze fire to cone 05. Paint any bisque beads with acrylic paint.
9
Have students arrange their clay pieces to plan their composition. Then, thread Twisteez® wire through the pieces. Create wrapped wire beads to incorporate into their final artwork
10
Bend aluminum wire with pliers to create the top hanging structure, and wrap the Twisteez wire around the aluminum. Aluminum can be colored with permanent marker or wrapped in colored wire if desired.
11
Students can create gallery labels and display, share, and constructively critique their completed glazed wall hangings.
