Use coil, pinching and/or slabbing to create a 6″ x 6″ vessel that is in the form of an animal.

Artists Research: Select two of the vessels shown on this page that interest you. Click on the picture to enlarge the image, sketch the form in your notebook, record when it was made, where it was made. Is the artwork attributed to an individual? How do you think it was used? What features of the artwork will be an inspiration for your own work? Continue your research independently, seek out artworks and  photo resources that will help you determine the look and design of your piece.

Artists Plan: Create at least two sketches of different animal vessels. Include embellishment plans in your sketches. Be descriptive with your plans, what method(s) of construction will use to complete the artwork?

Artists Observe: What details of the animal are you going to emphasis or focus on? You aren’t being asked to make a replica of the animal, but an interpretation in the form of a vessel. Look at the examples shown, which features are emphasized in the historic ceramic works?

Art Making Skills: Focus on refining your craft while building this project. Build it well, build it right using coil, pinch and or slab methods. Do not work solid and then scoop out your work later, that is not an example of improving art making skills already learned and practiced in class.

Artists Solve Problems: Stick with it! Work through different possible solutions and try some when your plans don’t work as easily as you thought. Get suggestions from your peers. Before you change ideas or projects you must arrange a conference with the teacher.

Artists Reflect: Document your process and completed work in a blog post. Some questions you might address: What was successful about this work? What were some challenges? How would your process, form, time management change if you were building this art work again?