Before making my clay tile project, I need to draw designs on paper. At first, I was just doodling around, drawing different shapes with patterns. Then, I slowly combine those scatter shapes together and formed a tree. After planning, I started by making a slab. Pushing the clay on canvas, and make sure it’s thicker then my thumb, wedge to squeeze out air. To cut out the outline/form of the tree, I used needle tool to do so. I also used the round pointing tools to emphasize thicker lines. Next, I draw out each geometric shape on the slab. I add in different patterns and texture for each small geometric shape. Sometimes, I add in organic shapes for pattern to balance out. I also added in multiple pieces on top of the main slab, to emphasize some geometric shape. Score and slip is a very useful skill when it comes to attaching two piece together. To make contrast, some pieces are big and some are small. I didn’t fill out all geometric patterns with patterns, I leave some blank, so it will also create balance. To make sure the slab will not bend after going through the kiln, I need to apply the technique called groove, where you carve out lines of thin clay beneath the tile.

One of the principle of art is Line. I applied this when separating different geometric shapes on my slab. Ivy used lines to outline her fire around the sun shape tile. I saw on Dora’s project, she draw lines crossing each other to create patterns on the rabbit ear.

Shape is another principle of art. My design was inspired by Mimi. She created circles, squares and triangles to create patterns. And put them in different order to create various patterns.

For Space, I didn’t fill out all of the shapes with patterns. I leave some of them blank. From Anastasia’s project, the eye shape clay tile. She only add patterns next to the eyeball, and leave the eyeball blank, so it can be emphasized, and doesn’t look that messy.

Furthermore, Form is another principle. Mine is spiky, from the geometric shape branches, and also from different triangle slabs. Most of my shapes are in the form of slabs. I saw that Mimi not only include slab, she also decorate it with round balls piling on top, as well as three dimensional pyramid and cube.

The last principle of art I used in this project is Texture. It is very important, it creates different feelings for the clay tile. I use needle tools to poke dots on the soft clay surface, creating rough texture. Joanne rub water on the clay surface, creating smooth texture.