CERAMIC FACE JUGS

PROJECT OVERVIEW:
Students will gain an understanding and appreciation
for the sculptural art of face jug, a tradition originally
begun by slave potters. Art can be both realistic and
abstract. Students will improve their ceramic skills
and create their own face jug~ a container with human-
like features based on history and folklore discussed in
class. After constructing a jug with a neck, students
will add the human features to their pots.

PROCEDURES:
1. Create at least 4 designs for your ceramic face jug. Drawings of jugs should have a neck and
have a face with distorted/ exaggerated facial features. The jug should express an emotion or evoke
an emotional response from the viewer. The jug should have 2 eyes, 1 nose, and 1 mouth.

2. Create your jug using 2 pinch pots (we will do this TOGETHER).
 Roll 2 spheres of equal size
 Create 2 pinch pots: poke your thumb into the center of the sphere and with fingers around the
outside pinch and turn, begin by pinching the bottom spiraling around the pot upward; form the
pot by pulling up instead of out, pay special attention to the bottom and inside corners; the
thickness should be about the width of your palm; repeat directions for the second pinch pot
 Attach 2 pinch pots together: place one pot on top of the other; make sure both pots fit together
well without a large dent- gently widen top of pot so they fit smoothly together; using 2 fingers,
apply water along the top ridge of the pot; place one pot on top of the other
 SCRATCH over the seam of the two pots; SMOOTH the seam with fingers.
 Roll the pot on the placemat to further smooth the pot and REFORM (reshape) the pot
 Cut hole at the top of the pot with a straighten paper clip about the size of your finger; insert
finger into opening curl finger and pinch up top when it is too thick and smooth opening
 Add neck to jug- using extra clay, roll fat coil (about size of cocktail dog); flatten slightly and
wrap around finger; make a clay ring; rub seams together; check size by placing the ring to the
opening; add 2 finger water to the top of the opening and attach clay ring/ neck by
SCRATCHING with popsicle stick and SMOOTHING with fingers- rub the seams away; S&S
the outside of the neck and the inside of neck; REFORM neck by pinching, if necessary.

3. Use your sketch to create the face. This is a relief sculpture- all features should come off the
surface and not incised (carved) into the clay.
 Making a nose (DISTORTED/ EXAGGERATED). It is easiest to build the structure of your
face around the placement of the nose.
 Create a nose from a small flat slab of clay (pre-cut); cut into a large triangle; folding it over
your finger like a taco –pointed at one end and fatter at the other end; decide on placement on
jug- nose can be tilted/angled, remembering to leave room for mouth & optional-chin/ beard; if
nose look like bird beak, you have placed the nose onto pot incorrectly, place on other side of the
triangle; remove, scratch surface of jug where nose will be attached with fork (SCORING); add
 water or slip/attach nose; SCRATCH with a clay tool around the outside of nose; SMOOTH
seams/scratching with fingers; to seal inside the nose, use q-tip and rub the seams inside the
nose- should make a “gross & disgusting sound”; REFORM nose to desired shape.
 Nostrils- make 2 small balls of clay dip in water and add to the side of nose, SSR to the bottom
side of the nose; bend the nose by adding finger inside nose and bending the nose on the outside
 Adding eye sockets- by pressing thumbs into clay jug in the place where you are going to put
the eyes later; DISTORTION/EXAGGERATION; they can be uneven (one high/ one low), too
close to nose, too far from nose one can be vertical/ one horizontal; eyes should not be lower
than the nose so there is room for the mouth;
 Making lips; tongue
 Make a medium with/ length coil; pinch ends together into ‘teardrop’ shape; then pinch other end
to make mouth; decide on placement on jug and check for size; pinch shorter, if needed; slip and
score surfaces attached with a clay; SMOOTH seams/scratching with fingers; rub the seams
inside the mouth; REFORM into the desired shape of lips- pinching them out to make the lips
fuller or adding more clay; pressing/ blending more of the lips into the jug to make
smaller/narrow lips
 OPTIONAL: Tongue should be added before teeth- roll fat coil; flatten and form into tongue
shape; flatten & pinch back of the tongue; dip in slip and attach between lips; blend seams
around the tongue; REFORM shape and direction of tongue.
 Eyeballs- Get small amount of soft clay; roll 2 small balls of clay for eyeballs-do not have to be
of equal size (distortion); slightly point the ball so it can be easily dipped into slip and pressed
into the eye sockets on the jug; gently press into socket but do not flatten.
 Eyelids- make small coils; dip into water and surround the eyeballs; blend clay coil away from
the eyeballs just like the skin of our eyes go away from the eyes all around the eyes; coils can be
shaped all around the eyes to keep the eyes round or can be shaped into a football shape similar
the shape of realistic eyes; SCRATCH coil with a clay tool AWAY from the eyes; SMOOTH
seams/scratching with fingers; use q-tip and rub the seams that are in tight corners; REFORM
into the desired shape- thick eye lids can be gently pressed but not blended toward to eyes;
smooth well.
 Eyebrows- add a lot expression depending on their direction and placement; make coils for eye
brows; uni-brow or 2 eye brows; SCRATCH with a clay tool and SMOOTH using fingers.
 Making other features: ears and other details
 Ears- roll 2 balls, may be different sizes (distortion); flatten like a thick cookie; tap one side of
clay ‘cookie’ to create a flat side to attach to jug; decide on placement on the jug; remove,
scratch pot a clay tool; dip into slip and attach to jug; SCRATCH back and front of the ear;
SMOOTH seams of the ear: REFORM the ear into desired shape
 Pencil, paintbrush, or other tools can be used to create textures for hair and/or other details.

4. OPTIONAL: ADDING A HANDLE (Do last)- using extra clay, roll a larger fat coil (about size of
the hot dog) and longer length; flatten slightly and form the handle in the way you would like;
scratch with fork where the handle will be attached at the bottom and top; add slip/ water and
reattach handle; SCRATCH with popsicle stick and SMOOTHING with fingers- rub the seams
away; S&S inside the handle and underneath; add additional coils around the attachments and blend
in completely to give the handle additional support.

5. Use pencil to write first and last name on the bottom of the jug to finish face jug.
6. Allow clay to dry to bone dry stage and fire in the kiln.