Ceramics – Coil Vessell

Vase, box, container, cylinder, person, thing, etc.

What is a Coil Pot? Coiling is the process of

building up the wall of a pot by snaking a rope of clay in circles, one on top of the other.

In the image on the right, the pot takes advantage of its coils and makes it an interesting design feature.

The gaps between the coils are sometimes filled in so the pot has smooth sealed walls.

Leaving space between the joints of a coil pot.

Can be symmetrical or odd shaped (asymmetrical).

Can be small or very large.

Can use a variety of clay types.

CoilCoil

Coil Pot

• Make the bottom how ever big you want to make it.

• Then you start off by rolling your clay out into a coil.

• After your all done rolling out your coils start scratching and slipping the coils around what ever base you decided to make.

• When doing a coil pot you can change the way its going to look by moving the coil closer to the edge. That will make it bigger, or you can make it smaller by putting it closer to the inside of the pot.

• Keep on doing the same process in till you think it’s the right size.

Pressed Coil Pot

1. You start off by rolling coils or what ever design you want to do.

2. Then you roll a few long coils and put them around the smaller coils.

3. Now you join them together by adding clay and smoothing it out.

4. Take the bottom that you made for you pot and join them together with slip. Make sure you scratch the surface.

5. Now all you have to do is do the final touches.

History of Pot Making.Because these early pinch pots could only carry small amounts of water and food, the next stage in the history of pot making was coil pots.

People began to make their pinch

pots bigger by adding on coils of

clay to the rims of the pots.

*Japan’s Jōmon people, who thrived from 10,000 to 300 BC, made distinctive pottery for boiling, steaming, and storing food. The pots were made with coils of clay and then decorated by rolling carved sticks, plant fibers, or braided cords over the outer surface.

Coiling Artists• Michael Hardy

Pot on far right.• Monica Young

Both of these artists cover up the coils in their pots with an extra layer of clay.

A smooth surface is left behind.

Brenda Glacier, a bay area sculptor…uses only coils

Traditional Greek Style Coil PotsCoils are smoothed out

Using the coils as part of the visual and textural design.

Abstract or Geometric…symmetry or asymmetry

Non-existent coils or partially obvious

Functional or sculptural?

Texture and coils

Coils and “buttons”

Functional and sculptural

A little bit this and little bit that

Cut out sections- SLAB & CoilCeltic Coil Pottery

Relief and Coil

How to start!

Project: Coil Pottery

1. Can be Sculptural and/or functional

2. Atleast ¼ of it must use coil technique.-how you incorporate this and the concept of the artwork is up to you.

3. 2 sketches, ideas and any reference images you may need are Due on Thursday! I will be absent on Tues. & Thurs. next week

4. Remember – No copying images or artists!