Plate Assignment

Art 7B - CERAMICS: WHEEL THROWING I
Section 52809 MW 8:00 a.m. -11:10 p.m.
Cabrillo Community College
Room - 307
Instructor: Geoffrey Nicastro

Homework #2

Making Plates and Altered Rims.

Goals: The emphasis of this assignment is to challenge your creativity with rims, practice your trimming skills, and to work with measured amounts of clay.

Assignment #2 Create a MAXIMUM total of 12 minimum total of 4 plates with at least 3 different style rims using 3 distinct weights of clay.

• 3.5lbs Dinner plate
• 1.5lbs Sandwich plate
• .5 lbs Saucer

1. Use the scale to weigh your clay.
Starting with a known amount of clay will give you a platform for consistency.

2. Measure with your hands!!
A regular amount of clay will produce the same size plate each time. If you learn to use your hands for measuring your centered ball of clay it will help you make consistent forms over long periods of time. Try to make a set of 4 the same size.

3. Be creative with the rims on each plate .
This can be done while the clay is moving on the wheel, or at any point in it's stages to bone dry. Developing a style of your own will make your work stand out. The rim, or lip, can make your form speak.

4. Finish the underside of each plate.
Plates will provide a trimming challenge if you do not take care to manage the drying of your work. Feel free to explore beyond the traditional foot ring. NO CRACKED or UNFINISHED bottom plates should be fired.

5. Experiment with engobes and scraffito.
The plate is an ideal surface for design work. Save at least 2 plates for scraffito glazing.