Peeking Dragon Egg

Peaking Dragon Egg Lesson Plan

Products Used

Clay
  • low-fire white clay
Color
  • SC-15 Tuxedo
  • SC-6 Sunkissed
  • SC-75 Orange-A-Peel
  • SC-74 Hot Tamale
  • CG-992 Mint Chip

Decorating Accessories

  • BT-910 Synthetic Sponge
  • CB-110 #10/0 Mini Liner
  • CB-404 #4 Pointed Round
  • CB-604 Soft Fan

Miscellaneous Accessories

  • Pencil, pallet knife, or wooden tool, tooth pick

 

Designer: Bre Kathman
 

Description

For grade levels 4-8

The word dragon entered the English language in the early 13th century from the Latin word: draconem (nominative draco) meaning "huge serpent, dragon". Most dragons have reptilians and serpent-like qualities including scales, lizard-like legs, and wings.

Dragons in today’s world are seen in such books as JK Rowlings’ Harry Potter series or J.R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, and your students are sure to connect with many others. Start their creative juices flowing by checking out some of the creatively illustrated dragons in media today and then challenge your students to draw their own unique dragon and egg.

Sketching out a dragon will allow them time to develop the personality of their dragon, which will be reflected in the egg. During the sketching process, be sure to talk about texture, contour and unique traits a dragon egg can have. The possibilities are endless! (ie, Fire dragons might have bright red skin and blue eyes, horned dragons might have green skin and little horns all over their head)

Objectives

  • Students will experience the use of clay, techniques and processes.

  • Students will gain firsthand knowledge of how to create a 3D sculpture from a 2D drawing.

  • Students will create texture by using negative space on a form.

  • Students will antique with glazes.

  • Students will understand the connection between modern media and Art.

Instructions

  1. Begin with about 2 lbs. of low-fire white clay.
  2. Create 2 pinch pots, one slightly taller and thinner than the other. These should be slightly thicker than a normal pinch pot, about ¾ in. thick.
  3. The shorter, wider pinch pot will be your base. Sit the taller, thinner pinch pot on top so that the open sections make one sphere.
  4. Connect the 2 pinch pots by pulling clay from the bottom pinch pot up and over the connection point and up the side to make a smooth transition.
  5. Now that air is trapped inside the sphere, roll the top and bottoms into an egg shape. Be sure to create a flat spot so it won’t roll away.
  6. Next, texturize the dragon egg to your liking.
  7. To create scales, it is easiest to sit the egg on the bigger side and use a pallet knife press 3 indentations into to the top section of the clay (see image 1) in 3 sections.
  8. Continue pushing the pallet knife into the space between the 2 previous knife pushes to create a scale pattern.
  9. Once scales are completed, hollow out a space for the dragon eye to peak out.
  10. Use a tooth pick to carve in cracks around the space for the eye.
  11. Cut a hole in the bottom of the egg so that air can be released.
  12. Dry and bisque fire to cone (Δ) 04.
  13. Paint 1 messy coat of SC-15 Tuxedo over the entire piece.
  14. With a damp sponge gently wipe off the surface so the black stays in all the crevices. (Technique: antiquing)
  15. Paint 3 coats of CG992 Mint Chip over the egg except for the eyeball and cracks.
  16. Wipe off any CG992 that may have gotten on the eye of the dragon.
  17. Paint the eye from the inside out using a liner brush paint 3 coats of SC15 for pupil, then SC6 blended into SC75 into SC74 working out for a marbleized effect.
  18. Remove any glaze in the cracks near the eye with a tooth pick and then paint 3 coats of SC 15 with a liner brush.
  19. Let dry and fire to Cone (Δ) 06.

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