Unit 3: Monoprint Mugs with Ms. Kearney

Monoprint Mugs
"Nature Inspired"

Washingtonville High School

Clay Class

Ms. Kearney

This segment builds on students’ knowledge of pottery by introducing students to the coil building method of vessels. This hand building method relates to previously discussed ancient methods of pottery as covered during a prior history of the pottery wheel presentation. It is important that students understand the history and culture behind pottery. So much of what we have discovered about our history has been studied through artifacts and tools, such as pottery. Students will have the option to continue working on the pottery wheel in class, but they will also be introduced to the coil method of pottery as an alternative to wheel throwing a finished mug. This allows students to have more options and opportunities to experience different methods of constructing pottery. Students can also utilize these new methods of building with clay in their future class projects. Introducing students to the decorative method of monoprinting allows students to combine three-dimensional and two-dimensional art techniques into one project. Students will also use this part of the project to reflect on an experience in nature that is personal to them, allowing them to think deeper about their mug’s design and connection to their artwork.

Click on the following links to see different artistic processes related to this unit:

Adam Field-South Korean Pottery

Jason B. Burnett-Silk Screening and Monoprinting

Eric L. Stearns-Underglaze Transfer

Lauren Karle-Monoprinting with Slip

Lauren Karle-Slip Trailing Designs

Ms. Held's student teacher, Ms. Kearney, introduced the Monoprint Mug project for Unit 3. Student's began brainstorming ideas for their nature inspired designs during a quick Do Now activity. Ms. Kearney demonstrated how to coil build and monoprint in class. Take a look at the presentation to see some examples of artist's finished work and see how different artists use these techniques.

DRAWING ASSIGNMENT: Students are to draw their nature inspired design on a sheet of blank paper with their name and period number written in the corner. It is important to draw the original image as large as possible. Ms. Kearney will be photocopying students' original drawings so that each student receives four small scaled prints of their drawing. Students will use these four prints to monoprint their designs on their mugs. Here is an example of Ms. Kearney's original sketch and her photocopied sketches which will be used to monoprint on her mug.