6th grade designers at Baltimore Design School have been developing their hand building ceramics skills to create coil vessels in Mrs. Cafaro-Edwards’ class. Designers began with clay experimentation and attachment techniques to familiarize themselves with the new material, then planned and sketched their vessels before beginning to construct them. They learned how to stack […]

6th grade designers at Baltimore Design School have been developing their hand building ceramics skills to create coil vessels in Mrs. Cafaro-Edwards’ class. Designers began with clay experimentation and attachment techniques to familiarize themselves with the new material, then planned and sketched their vessels before beginning to construct them. They learned how to stack the coils to build out, in, or straight up depending on the desired shape of the vessel. They had the option to smooth the coils or to keep the coil texture intact on the outside. They also learned various additive and subtractive techniques for embellishment, and some advanced learners added features like handles, lids, and spouts. After the bisque firing, designers applied gloss glaze to their vessels for the final glaze firing. Many designers even participated in loading their vessels into the kiln and unloading them once they were fired.

Close up of vessel created by designer Cire’ Brown. She wanted to create a container with a dome-shaped lid that looked like a cupcake, and we think she nailed it!

A selection of finished vessels just after being unloaded from the kiln from the glaze firing.