For my first attempt at slab building for today's workshop, I made a oval vase with floral imprints. To execute this, I used the slab roller to flatten out my college buff clay and then using a smooth kidney tool to smooth out the cloth impression from the slab roller. I then used a ruler and clay knife to measure and cut out two even rectangle slabs, taking a hair drier to dry out/harden the clay only slightly more so it's more leather hard and be won't be difficult to build with. I thought that using some dry-pressed fauna would work nicely as a pattern for my vase, which I gently pressed into the clay using the flat side of the kidney tool and gently pulling them off to reveal the impressions. I then flipped over to cut beveled edges on either end for both slabs and then scoring them so it'll make a strong joint when building. Once the two pieces were ready, I stood them upright and applied clay slip to the beveled edges and gently pressed them together and smoothed any excess clay/slip for a cleaner finish. Finally, I rolled another slab out and cut out around the two walls of the vase to create the base, scoring and applying slip to join it all together like I did previously with the walls of the piece.
Overall, I didn't like the outcome all to much. This was only my second experience with slab building so there was a lot I could have done differently to make it more successful. The joins weren't very clean or even so if I were to do this exact vase again, I should use more leather hard clay so it's easier to work with and practice the my joints.
Experimental Second Attempt.
I had some extra time at the end of this workshop so I decided to make a small experimental water pitcher with a spout. I rolled out another slap and used pointed tool to draw a graphic eye with a tear. Then, I beveled the edges and joined the slabs together, this time with only one slab so that it was more narrow and tall. Using a hole cutter tool, I pierced a hole at near the top of the pitcher at the, scoring the rim and then using the same tool use as a guide for the spout for its width. Once I attached this I used slip decoration to colour in my piece. Overall, I like this piece better. I don't think the edges are that clean but I like the aesthetic with the soft colour palette and attempt at a functional structure.