Connected Tile Sets

Ceramic Tile Sets

​Wedging the clay

​Wedging the clay is getting the air bubbles out of it - if you don't, your piece may break in the kiln! ALWAYS wedge your clay before you use it, whether that is on the wheel or hand building.

Dropdown

If you do not wedge you clay, it might​

Select answer

in the kiln.

​Rolling out your clay

Using the slab roller will flatten your clay into a large slab.

1. Lift the top canvas

2. Place your clay down

3. Lay the canvas down on top

4. Roll forward

5. Roll back

6. Remove your clay

SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING! Only ONE person should be touching the slab roller at a time, and you should only be handling the CANVAS, CLAY, and WHEEL!

Multiple Choice

Where should your hands be when operating the slab roller?

• On the wheel

• Under the roller

• On top of the roller

• Touching the gears

There are many unique ways you can choose to cut your clay, depending on what you want the final product to look like. The default, is 3-4 squares, no smaller than 4 inches x 4 inches each.

Tip: a fettling knife is the best tool for this job!

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Cutting your clay

Multiple Choice

True or False: I can cut any design that I like, as long as I have 3-4 tiles (of decent size)?

• True

• False

​Slip & Score

​This additive technique attaches two pieces of clay securely. First, you scratch both sides that will be attached (scoring), then wet both sides with water or slip (slipping), and then press the pieces together, blending down the edges.

Tip: the best tool for this is your pin/needle tool.

Multiple Choice

In attaching two pieces of clay, which step actually comes first?

• Slip

• Score

• Press

• Blending

​Bas-Relief Carving

​This subtractive technique involves lightly carving into a clay surface, using a variety of tools. Remember to carve LIGHTLY - you don't want to cut the whole way through your slab, just the surface.

Tip: the best tools for this job are your wooden & metal carving tools.

Dropdown

When working in bas-relief, press​

Select answer

with your tool to carve away the top layers of clay.

You can create tiles that come together to form a scene or image.

​​Scene

Different patterns using the same color palette can create a very unified work.

​​Patterns

Having a set of tiles that are only connected by color are another form of unity

​​Color

These tiles are connected by the theme of nature - what other themes could you use?

​​Theme

​Square Tile Connections

Creating rectangles or shapes that are not identical, but still fit together can create an interesting visual effect.

​​Varying Proportions

Interesting textures can really bring a set of decorative tiles together, even if the textures are not all the same.

​​Texture

This is done using clay pieces and mortar - how could you create this effect just using your clay and glaze?

​​Mosaic

​Other square tile ideas

Your tiles do not need to be square. You can choose to create organic shapes.

​​Organic

You can also choose to create geometric shapes.

​​Geometric

This scene is not cut into perfect square tiles, instead, it is cut along the outlines of the fish and water.

​​Scene

You can use some of your tiles as accents to frame a central tile.

​​Framing

​Not just squares!

Place them around your house to add a pop of art.

​​Decorative

Place them outside as an accent to your garden.

​​Outdoor Mosaic

Keep these tiles flat and use them to hold your drinks.

​​Coasters

​Replace this with your body text. Have a nice day. Happy teaching!

​​Ornaments

Uses for tiles