May 2025 Course Homework
Try to make a clock that means something to you. It can be inspired by your pet, your garden, your football team, a holiday, or your sweet old Aunt Rose. You can find ideas on my Pinterest Site.
Your clock will be constructed with a combination of some (or all) of the techniques you’ve already practiced in class: slab building, modelling, and pinch pots.
Consider where you want it to go – hang on the wall, on the mantlepiece or gift-wrapped for a friend.
Design your clock
You’ll need a ruler, some heavy paper (or card), scissors, and a pencil.
Sketch the clock front
Maximum Size: 18x18x10cm
It can’t be bigger, but it can be smaller
1. Draw an 18×18 square on your paper and design the clock front within those dimensions.
2. For your clock face, trace around the circle you drew in class. The point of the minute hand reaches the outer edge of the circle.
Make your pattern
Once you’re finished sketching the front, measure all of the dimensions and then draw your pattern pieces so they’ll match up.
Decorating
Here are some things to consider when you’re making your design
3-D Considerations
Your clock is basically a box. You’ll tack on any 3-D elements: sprigs, stamps, and modelled sculptural elements. All sides of the clock can be decorated (except the back). I’ve ordered some number stamps (approx 1.5cm high) if you’d like to use those for the hours.
If there is something you want that I don’t have, you can make your own sprigs or stamps at home with some air dry clay or Fimo.
Painting Considerations
Your clock is made with white earthenware clay. You can add colour by painting it with coloured slips and underglazes.
Coloured Slips
You’ll use slips to change the base colour of your clock (if you don’t want it to be white) or anyplace else where you want a solid colour. Also use slip to fill in the stamps for mishima.
Underglazes
You’ll use these to add painterly details to your clock and for the numbers (if you haven’t used stamps).
Underglazes are not opaque and won’t cover a dark background colour. (So paint the base slip colour a light colour.)
Schedule
w/c 2 June: Make your clock form
w/c 9 June: Paint on slips
w/c 16 June: Paint with underglazes and finish up