Holiday Pins

Small relief sculptures

Objective:

To create 15 pleasing, wearable holiday pins using a relief sculptural technique. The pins will be gifts to the teachers and staff.

Supplies:

Clay, paint, ribbon, and various other materials for decoration.

Terms:

Craftsmanship-A person who practices a craft with great skill; The technique, style, and quality of working. 
 

Decoration-The act, process, technique, or art of decorating. Something that decorates or adorns; an embellishment.

Relief- A type of sculpture in which form projects from a background. There are three degrees or types of relief: high, low, and sunken. In high relief, the forms stand far out from the background. In low relief (best known as bas-relief), they are shallow. In sunken relief, also called hollow or intaglio; the backgrounds are not cut back and the points in highest relief are level with the original surface of the material being carved.

Bas-relief- A French term meaning "low-raised work." This art, along with high relief, is known collectively as relief sculpture -- meant to be seen primarily from one direction -- as opposed to sculpture which is in the round or full round.

Skills:

Brainstorming

Craftsmanship

Painting techniques

Patience

Rubric: Microsoft Word format

Step #1

Start by rolling out the clay using a rolling pin. Make the clay about 1/8 inch think. It's important not to get the clay too thick or thin. Thin clay tends to curl up and warp if it'd too thin. Thick clay will be too heavy to wear as a pin.

Step #2

Cut your design out using a paperclip or another tool with a sharp tip.

Step #3

Start building your relief. You should build up several different areas. Round edges when applicable. This should not look like it was cut out using a cookie cutter. Each pin should take an hour each. These are more than just pins, they are small works of art.

Decide on a theme. If you choose snowmen, all of your pins must be snowmen. Although you will make 15 snowmen, each must be different in four or more ways. You could make some with hats, other with scarf's, some with both. There are many different ways you can make each pin an original work of art. Remember, you must make 15 pins and no two can look the same.

Remember that your work will be displayed out in the public.

Step #4

Let the pins dry and fire them.

Paint the pins. The front and the edges need to be completely painted. Take your time and do a good job. Use many different colors as well as other items like ribbon or glitter to enhance your work.

Examples