Downey High School Ceramics
Department of Visual and Performing Arts
VIDEOS
Pit Fire
This video features stills of the pit fire experiment conducted for our ceramics classes using a primitive firing technique. The firing was a complete success and students were very pleased with the outcome of their projects. Mrs. Chavez from Sussman Middle School joined us for the experience.
Making an Ocarina Part 1
The basic body of an ocarina whistle is created using the pinch pottery technique of hand-building. This instructional demonstration covers that portion of the project in part one of this two part video. Sculptural elements are then added later.
Making an Ocarina Part 2
The basic body of an ocarina whistle is created using the pinch pottery technique of hand-building. This instructional demonstration covers that portion of the project in part two of this two part video. Sculptural elements are then added later. (See Viking Head Ocarina for an example of sculptural elements.)
Ocarina Student Work
In this video, you will view a collection of student ocarina projects set to music.
Viking Head Ocariana
In this video, you will view a sped up version of the creation of a sculpture using a clay ocarina as a head base. Some of the work was done at home so was not recorded in this video.
Sugar Skull Demo
This video shows the steps to making a slab and flat tile sugar skull out of clay.
Leaf Bowl Demo
In this video, you will view a demonstration for making a leaf bowl out of clay. This project features the slab rolling technique, leaf impressions, scoring and slipping, and slump mold method of hand-building.
Gnome Demo Part 1: Body, Head & Hat
This video shows the steps to making a little gnome using the pinch pot technique of hand-building. This part covers making the body, head and hat.
Gnome Demo Part 2: Limbs
This video shows how to make simple limbs for the gnome project.
Gnome Demo Part 3: Ears
This video shows how to make ears for the gnome. This is a simple way to give a realistic feel to your project.
Gnome Demo Part 4: Noses
This video shows how to make a detailed nose for the gnome.
Gnome Demo Part 5: Eye Sockets
This video shows the steps to making eye sockets for the ceramic pinch pot gnome.
Gnome Demo Part 6: Lips
This video shows the steps to making lips on the pinch pot gnome.
Gnome Demo Part 7: Other stuff
This video shows the steps to making details and other attachments for the gnome.
Throwing Demo
In this video, I demonstrate how to center clay and throw a basic small cylinder.
Mug Throwing Demo
In this video, I demonstrate how to throw a mug.
Trimming Demo
In this video I demonstrate how to trim a thrown mug.
Personalization
In this video I demonstrate how to use wooden stamps to personalize the mug.
Adding a Handle
In this video I demonstrate how to add a handle to a mug.
Adding embellishments
In this video I demonstrate how to add a viking helmet as an embellishment.