ceramic slab building techniques

CERAMIC HAND-BUILDING TECHNIQUES

By the absolutely amazing…Ms. Hart

SLAB CONSTRUCTION

Slabs are basically flat pancakes attached to one another.

Slabs can be made by using; A slab roller A rolling pin Your hands (think mud pies from back in

the day.)

1. SQUISH IT

Important!Make your slab with a uniformed thickness.

The whole thing should be flat without high and

low spots.

Roll out your slab using a slab roller or rolling pin. For smaller slabs you can use your hands!

No, this is not my hairy hand!

1. SCORE AND SLIP

Important!Always score both pieces

that you are going to attach to one another.

Score with a needle or loop. Prepare your slip.

My, what nice scores you have.

1. SNAKE IT

Important!Make sure to really press into the coil so there is

not trapped air.

Remember…TRAPPED AIR IS THE ENEMY!

Using a coil and a smooth tool create a reinforced edge.

Look, he’s doing the snake.

1. SMOOTH IT

Important!Don’t use to much slip or you will have saggy and

unstable clay.

Remember…A finished pot is a happy pot.

Using a little slip and some nice tools (which include your fingers) smooth out the edges and clean up

any snake bits that still may be around.

Smooth as a baby’s bottom.

1. STYLE

Don’t have an idea…

•Think about things that have

happened to you in your life.

• Remember pictures you’ve

seen

• Try and tell a story

• Use your art to “speak” a

message

Now for the fun part, adding you own personal style to it.

Oh girl, you pot is looking tight!

TIGHT, PIMP, RAD, STELLAR, AWESOME POTS!

TIGHT, PIMP, RAD, STELLAR, AWESOME POTS!

TIGHT, PIMP, RAD, STELLAR, AWESOME POTS!

TO RECAP!

Step 1:• Squish it

Step 2:• Score and slip it

Step 3:• Snake it

Step 4:• Smooth it

Step 5:• Style it

Bonus step…Step 6:• Sell it and become rich and

famous!

What are the 5 “S” steps in

making a slab constructed

objects?