Tennessee Tech University - Appalachian Center for Crafts - Clay Studio

Vince Pitelka, 2009

Art 3520 - Advanced Clay Studio - Surface Design
Some Things to Consider

When we think of surface design, obvious things come to mind, such as color, pattern, and texture.  In approaching exploration of surface decoration, it is essential that we consider all the possible variations of surface, and the implied emotional and psychological meanings suggested by each quality of surface. 

131 Possible Qualities of Ceramic Surface

The Content of Surface: Emotional and Psychological Impact
Every pattern, texture, and color communicates specific psychological and emotional content, subject to individual interpretation.  It is essential to consider this when working with surface decoration.  Consider the words above and the possible narrative content they carry.  Consider the full range of color and value - light and dark, cool, warm, and hot.  Think about the implications of various color combinations.  Certain ones seem discordant and disturbing, while others are soothing and harmonious.  Color is a very powerful tool, and it is the responsibility of every artist to fully consider the narrative implications of colors individually and in combinations. 

Visual and actual texture can convey a wide range of meaning.  Visual texture refers to the appearance of texture, regardless of the actual textural qualities when we touch the piece.  Many glazes appear very textural and yet are absolutely smooth.  Actual texture involves tactile sensation when we feel texture on the surface of a piece.  To imagine the emotional and psychological associations with texture, we have only to think of the words in the list above which have specific textural associations - smooth, silky, greasy, hard, cratered, soft, fluffy

When we seriously consider the power and possibility of color, pattern, and texture, we begin to appreciate the unlimited range of content and meaning that can be communicated in ceramic surface.  As we explore surface design, consider these issues carefully, and select your surface qualities deliberately according to the narrative qualities you want to communicate.  Be prepared to talk about your choices.  

Stages in Surface Development
Wet Clay - poke, push, prod, scrape, stretch, slash, groove, mold, model, incise, impress. add, subtract, impress, flute, facet, slip-paint.

Leather Hard - carve, impress, stamp, applique, sprig, flute, facet, engrave, add, subtract, scrape, mishima, inlay colored clay, laminate colored clay, slip-paint, slip-trail, slip-layer, feather-comb, slip-marble, textured slip, slip-resist.

Bone Dry - carve, scrape, sand, sand-blast, slip-paint, terra sigillata, polish, burnish, underglazes, green-glaze.

Bisque-fired - sand, sandblast, grind, engobes, underglazes, stains, glazes, brush, dip, pour, spray, spatter, speckle, glaze-resist.

Glaze-Firing Processes with Varying Surface Effects - low-fire, mid-range, high-fire, oxidation, reduction, sawdust-smoking, raku, bonfire, salt, soda, sagger, wood. 

Multi-firing Processes - enamels/china paints, lusters, decals. 

After the Firing - sandblast, sand, grind, chip, break, reassemble, paint, spackle, bondo, putty, mixed media.