Clay Pottery Vase

23 Feb, 2008 in art pottery by admin

Clay Pottery Vase

How Greek Red-Figure Vases Replaced Black-Figure Vases

Retro seems to be the "in" thing these days. There are retro sports jerseys, shoes, video games, movies, etc. What was old is new again. Some wall decor, such as wall vases, celebrates retro artistic styles. While some styles are traditional, others are so retro that they borrow styles from ancient Greek pottery. After Greek vases first began to flourish, they began using the "black-figure technique." However, Greek pottery would continue to evolve.

HUMANS, CREATURES AND STORIES

After the Greeks started including human figures on their vases, they began adding other images as well. Many of these objects were mythological in nature. However, it is fascinating how they depicted scenes from Greek literature. Today, we use book illustrations to show a particular scene in a story. Instead, the Greeks would group certain objects together or even create new figures that had not previously appeared in the original stories! The best Black-Figure artists of this time would infuse their own experiences into their artwork.

RED IS THE NEW BLACK

Within time, Greek artists became limited in their artistic expression, due to the confines of the Black-Figure technique. Thus, at around 530-525 BC, they began developing a new style of vase-painting, called the "Red-Figure technique." The figures remain in the clay's color, and thus become red when someone heats the vase. In this spirit, creators of the wall vase are always striving to improve their craftsmanship.

The Greek artists used one of two main techniques. One method was to use a black glaze in order to create a very thin line that was raised a little bit. This line was a "relief line." Meanwhile, the other method involved using a diluted glaze whose hue ranged from dark brown to clear yellow. The artists also applied the glaze as a solid wash, to certain sections of the vase.

BLACK, BACKGROUNDS AND BENEFITS

The backgrounds of vases created using the Red-Figure technique were also significant. This area included the space in between and surrounding the figures on the vase. Now, the area was a shiny black hue. This contrasted greatly from black-figure vases that onlookers seemed to view against a light shone against it. However, by using the Red-Figure method, each figure seemed to be blanketed by a personal spotlight!

Just as a wall vase today can liven up a room, the new Red-Figure method created some important benefits for onlookers. Viewers of the vases could see it better from long distances. Also, decorations on the vase wore down its shape less. The black background combined with the areas of the vase without figures. As a result, the vase's shape was restored, and either the silhouette or the outline of the vase became highlighted.

It is quite amazing how the black-figure method descended from its prominence in the late 7th century BC., to become virtually obsolete a century later. However, even the red-figure method would eventually lose its prominence.

Some of today's contemporary wall decors, such as wall vases, are retro Greek. Use them to turn something old-into something new!

About the Author

Article provided Jessica Ackerman of WallDecorandHomeAccents.com a site featuring
contemporary wall decors
and
metal artwork
.

What process is gone through when making a clay sculpture (pottery)?

like a vase, or a clay pot or something.

i know they also have this spinning wheel thing where you use to mold the clay and stuff..

and you list out the process like 1. abc.... 2. kjdkjd.... please?

im writing a story that includes pottery making. thanks for the help!!
im sorry if the question is phrased in a very confusing way

The other answer is good. But some parts have a resting time between. Ceramics have a rhythm that can take a couple weeks to finish a piece. Some pieces take a lot longer. Some families have been so involved with ceramics that The current generation prepares clay for the grandchildren that have not been born yet.

When a piece is first made it is very soft. So the piece is left to dry.
Sometimes it is put in a drying cabinet to slow the drying.
The weather and time of year have a lot to do with drying.
Some try to hurry the process.

The piece is then trimmed.

Some under-glazes can be applied at this stage

The piece is allowed to dry for several days or longer.
The piece is then fired to a bisque state.

In the Bisque stage it can be sanded or an under-glaze can be applied.

A glaze would be applied.

The piece would then wait to go to a high fire.
Loaded in the kiln.
The kiln is fired. It will take a while for the kiln to cool down

Some people feel a little like Christmas morning when the kiln is opened and you see what the kiln does - If you are doing a higher firing like cone 10 in reduction the results are not always predictable.

The piece would normally be finished at this stage.

How to throw a big wide clay pottery vase on a wheel demo pot throwing ingleton pottery