MIDCENTURY CERAMIC HAND DISH

Midcentury Ceramic Hand Dish

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create a Midcentury Hand Dish using ceramic techniques learned in class
• Use vibrant colors (saturated, high chromatic, pure pigment), line variation (swirls, squiggles, curves), and texture (hatch marks, smooth edges, stamping) inspired by American Artist (1916-2001) Howard Finster, Italian Painter (1913-1988) Piero Fornasetti, & Graphic Artist (1898-1972) M.C. Escher
• Use mishimas techinques (carving, incising, inlaying) and design principles (balance, repetition, composition) based on Bitossi Ceramic Art 
• Define Pottery (first art forms explored by mankind involving pots, dishes, and other earthenware or baked clay articles)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Hand (1980) Howard Finster
2. Read Nadia's Hands by Karen English
3. Discussion Questions "What is the purpose of Indian Mehndi designs? What is the meaning behind these beautiful tattoos? What are some ways you express luck and happiness during deeply moving experiences? What are some ways you express love and strength during important celebrations? What are some ancient traditions we still use today in the United States?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use slab method to trace & cut out the hand template (fingers, thumb, palm) of ceramic work
2. Use coil construction to make the base (bottom, foot, fillet) of ceramic work
3. Use slip & score method to attach base to the back of Midcentury Ceramic Hand Dish

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Midcentury Ceramic Hand Dish for Assigned Table
2. Hands (1942) Piero Fornasetti
3. Discussion Questions "How do artists create Mendhi Designs? Where do these beautiful traditions and festivals originate? Have you ever seen Indian Mendhi Designs in real life? What can hands reveal about your health, personality, and hobbies? How can these hands show ones past and future?"  

Lesson Activities

1. Use sculpting methods to smear, smooth, and connect hand parts (fingers, thumb, palm)
2. Add surface decoration (paisleys, swirls, vines, eyes, stars) to ceramic hand 
3. Add textural details (ring, fingernails, wrinkles) to Midcentury Ceramic Hand Dish

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Midcentury Ceramic Hand Dish for Assigned Table
2. Set Up Studio Area (water bucket, sponges, needle tool)

Lesson Activities

1. Inscribe poem, couplet, and signature on back of ceramic work
2. Apply watercolor paint to hand parts, surface decoration, and textural details
3. Apply gloss finish to hand parts, surface decoration, and textural details

Artist Examples 

Student Examples