Decorative Clay Tiles

Objective: You will design and make a 6″ bas-relief decorative clay tile that incorporates overlapping details and demonstrates an understanding of three-dimensional art techniques. The subject, design etc, can be of your choosing.  I want you to work up an interesting design in your sketchbook: thumbnails, sketches and a detailed 6″x6″ good copy draft that you will photocopy and use to transfer your design to the clay.  I also want a paragraph of writing about ‘Why this design resonates with you’.

 

 

Introduction to New Technique: 

• Bas relief (or low relief) is a cool type of sculpture where the designs or figures are only slightly raised from the background. This makes the artwork look almost flat but still gives it a bit of depth and a 3D feel.Key Points:
  • Depth: The figures don’t stick out much, unlike high relief where they can be almost fully 3D.
  • Technique: Artists carve the material to create different layers, making it look like there’s depth while keeping it mostly flat.
  • History: Bas-relief has been around for ages, used by ancient cultures such as the Assyrians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.
    

    Image source: bbci.co.uk

  • Uses: You’ll find bas-relief in places like buildings, coins, and monuments because it can show detailed scenes without taking up much space.  You will also find them on lots of decorative tiles throughout the ages…

• Demonstrate Techniques:

  I will do a demo in class, but if you miss it here are some videos

10 Tips for Carving Pottery

Carving pottery

• Common Misconception: Please don’t think that your relief sculptures need to be fully three-dimensional; clarify; bas relief only needs to project slightly from the background. 

Guided Practice: 

• Model the process of designing a tile on paper first, emphasizing overlapping shapes. 

• Allow students to sketch their designs while circulating to provide feedback. 

• Demonstrate basic clay techniques (rolling, shaping, adding texture). 

• Guide students through their first attempts at creating a small tile. 

• Ask scaffolded questions:  

• What shapes are you using? 

• How will you overlap your details? 

• What textures could enhance your design? 

• Monitor student performance by observing their techniques and providing corrective feedback. 

Independent Practice: 

• Students will create their 6″ bas-relief tile using their approved designs. 

• Set expectations:  

• Follow the design outline. 

• Use appropriate clay techniques. 

• Maintain a clean workspace. 

• Students should complete their tiles within class time, applying techniques learned during guided practice. 

Extension Activity: 

• For students who finish early, provide clay and tools to create a second tile with a different theme or technique, encouraging experimentation with various textures. 

Homework: 

• Students will write a reflective paragraph about their artistic process, including what challenges they faced and how they overcame them. 
  

  Image source: static.com

 

Assessment: 

Students will present their completed clay tiles to the class, explaining their design choices and demonstrating the techniques for creating their bas-relief tiles. A rubric will assess creativity, technique, and presentation.