6-12 Fishing for Creativity

 

Products Used

Form
  • Low Fire Clay, Hand-built forms
Color
  • SC-6 Sunkissed
  • SC-11 Blue Yonder
  • SC-15 Tuxedo
  • SC-16 Cotton Tail
  • SC-50 Orange Ya Happy
  • SC-74 Hot Tamale
  • SC-85 Orkid
Decorating Accessories
  • AR06 Stucco Art Roller
  • AR09 NamiWaves Art Roller
  • AR22 Regal Art Roller
  • SCR1 Blue Silicone Rib
  • Fettling Knife
  • CB-106 #6 Script Liner
  • CB-110 #10/0 Mini Liner
  • CB-604 #4 Soft Fan
  • CD-852 Slump Mold
  • BT-910 Synthetic Sponge

LP FishingForCreativity

Techniques: Hand-building, Glaze Application
Course Length: 2 weeks (allow for dry time and firing)
Level: Intermediate to Advanced, grades 6-12
Download Plan: Fishing for Creativity
 

Description

Art (Ceramics) + Science (Evolution + Animal Adaptation)

Throughout the history of the Earth, all types of creatures have had to adapt to the environment in which they live in for survival. This change is called evolution, and scientific history dates it back to the time of the dinosaurs. The world was very different during that time, (much hotter and wetter), and animals such as reptiles, fish, and even plants lived well in that environment. However overtime, the world changed, and it became harder for different types of animals to survive. Creatures that were not well suited to survive in that world died out, and those who adapted to their surroundings evolved overtime to become the animal species we know today.

Objectives

  • Students will research about evolution and the adaptation of animals in their environments for survival; specifically focusing on different species of fish.
  • Students will be asked to brainstorm how fish may have looked during the dinosaur age, or any time period until the present.
    • Ask questions such as:
      • "What did a fish look like when dinosaurs ruled the earth (or during other time periods)?"
      • "How did their appearances change, and for what reason?" Or "How did they hunt for food?"
      • "Did they get smaller, bigger, quicker, or slower?"
      • "Did they have to migrate to another body of water?"
      • "Was their habitat in saltwater or freshwater?"
      • "Did that location change overtime?"
  • Students will experiment with natural color for their fish, by using the versatile Stroke & Coats glazes.
  • Students will learn how to create balance and form with the clay structure of the fish, and will use their knowledge of color theory to create a natural color representation on the surface of their work.

National Standards (9-12)

  • VA:Cr2.2.HSI Explain how traditional and non-traditional materials may impact human health and the environment and demonstrate safe handling of materials, tools, and equipment.
  • VA:Cr2.1.HSII Through experimentation, practice, and persistence, demonstrate acquisition of skills and knowledge in a chosen art form.
  • VA:Cn10.1.HSII Utilize inquiry methods of observation, research, and experimentation to explore unfamiliar subjects through art-making.
  • VA:Re9.1.HSIII Construct evaluations of a work of art or collection of works based on differing sets of criteria.

Instructions

Part 1. Hand Building Instructions:
  1. Roll out ¼” thick clay slabs.
  2. Using SCR1 Blue Silicone Rib, smooth out any unwanted texture from the clay slabs.
  3. Using AR06 Stucco and AR09 NamiWaves Art Rollers, roll the different textures into the clay. If desired, smooth out the clay for the fish’s face area.
    • The AR06 Stucco and AR09 NamiWaves were used for the yellow fish.
    • The AR22 Regal and AR09 NamiWaves were used for the red fish
  4. From the textured clay slabs, cut the size of circle desired for the fish with a fettling knife.
  5. Using CD-852 and slump the slab over.
  6. From the textured clay slab, cut a fin, dorsal fin, and tail shapes with a fettling knife.
  7. Slip and score to attach fin, dorsal fin, and tail to the body of the fish.
  8. With extra clay, add small balls of clay along the back, fin, and tail of the fish. Use a pencil or end of a brush to press and attach the balls to the body.
  9. Use a small ball of clay and attach to create the eye.
  10. Roll two small coils of clay and attach to create the mouth.
  11. Once the slumped piece of clay (body of the fish) has stiffened, attach a circle a slab to create the back of the fish.
  12. Allow to completely dry.
  13. Bisque fire to shelf cone 04.
Part 2. Glaze Application:

Colors used for the Yellow Fish: SC-6 Sunkissed, SC-74 Hot Tamale, SC-50 Orange Ya Happy, SC-11 Blue Yonder, SC-15 Tuxedo, and SC-16 Cotton Tail.

Colors used for the Red fish: SC-50 Orange Ya Happy, SC-85 Orkid, SC-74 Hot Tamale, SC-11 Blue Yonder, SC-6 Sunkissed, SC-15 Tuxedo, SC-16 Cotton Tail.

Yellow Fish:

  1. Using the CB-604 #4 Soft Fan, apply 3 coats of SC-6 Sunkissed to glaze the upper body of the fish.
  2. Glaze the lower part of the body, fin, dorsal fin, tail, and lips using 3 coats of SC-74 Hot Tamale with the CB-604 #4 Soft Fan.
  3. Once dried completely, apply a light coat of SC-6 Sunkissed over all of the parts except the lips.
  4. For the face of the fish, apply 3 coats of SC-50 Orange Ya Happy.
  5. Apply 1 coat of SC-6 Sunkissed to the face.
  6. Apply 3 coats of SC-74 Hot Tamale to the dots of the fish using the CB-106 #6 Script Liner brush.
  7. Use the CB-106 #6 Script Liner and apply 3 coats of SC-11 Blue Yonder to the eye. Once dry, apply a loaded CB-106 #6 Script Liner brush full of SC-15 Tuxedo for the pupil. Apply a reflection dot with the CB-110 #10/0 Mini Liner using SC-16 Cotton Tail.
  8. Fire to cone 06.

Red Fish:

  1. Using CB-604 #4 Soft Fan, apply 3 coats of SC-50 Orange Ya Happy to the upper body of the fish.
  2. Once dry, apply a light coat of SC-85 Orkid using the CB-604 #4 Soft Fan brush.
  3. Using CB-604 #4 Soft Fan, apply 3 coats of SC-74 Hot Tamale to the lips.
  4. Apply 3 coats of SC-11 Blue Yonder to the fin, dorsal fin, and tail using CB-604 #4 Soft Fan.
  5. Once dry, apply 1 coat of SC-6 Sunkissed using CB-604 #4 Soft Fan.
  6. Use a loaded CB-106 #6 Script Liner brush to fill the dots using SC-6 Sunkissed. Use SC-74 Hot Tamale on the inside.
  7. Using CB-106 #6 Script Liner, glaze the eye using SC-16 Cotton Tail then add SC-11 Blue Yonder, use SC-15 Tuxedo for the pupil. Once dry, use the CB-110 #10/0 Mini Liner to add the reflection dot with SC-16 Cotton Tail.
  8. Stilt and fire to cone 06.

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