How to Make a Greek Vase Out of Clay

The black on the vase was created during the firing process.

Carry libations like an ancient Athenian by making a Greek vase out of clay. According to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, fine black-and-red-figure pottery were used in 500 to 300 B.C. to store precious liquids and for special ritual ceremonies, such as the bridal bath. The symmetrical vases were roughly 20 to 25 inches tall and featured black backgrounds with red painted on. Craft your own vase at home without a pottery wheel by using air-dry clay in a coil method, where snake-like pieces are stacked into the shape of the vessel.

Things You'll Need

• Air-dry clay
• Spray bottle with water
• 8-inch wooden base
• Small bowl
• Craft brush
• Small sponge
• Red and black acrylic paint
• Fine artist's paintbrushes
• Clear acrylic spray paint

Instructions

1. 

   Build up the entire vase with the coils.

   Roll out a snake-like coil with a handful of air-dry clay. Spray your clay with a water bottle if it is dry, or let it sit at room temperature for 20 minutes if it is too wet. Shape the coil until it is approximately .5 to .75 inches wide and 10 inches long for the vase's base.

2. 

   Longer coils make the vase wider, while shorter ones make it thinner.

   Encircle the coil so the two ends meet. Place it onto your 8-inch wooden base, which serves as the base of your entire project while you are working. Smooth the ends together. Roll out three more coils with the same thickness. Make one that is 10 inches long, the second one 11 inches and the third 12 inches.

3. Mix together 2 tablespoons of clay and 2 teaspoons of water in a small bowl to form slip, which is watery clay that acts like mortar between the coils for this project. With a craft brush, add a thin layer on top of your first coil. Wrap the newly formed 10-inch long coil into a circle and lay it over the first layer. Press them together with your fingers.

4. Wrap the 11-inch and 12-inch coils into circles. Brush a thin layer of slip onto the last coil layer. Add the 11-inch coil on top. Brush on another layer of slip. Press the 12-inch coil onto your ceramics project. Smooth the layers together gently. Once all the layers are added, a final smoothing is done so you cannot see the coils.

5. Roll out a 13-, 14- and 15-inch coil with the clay. Encircle each coil into a circle shape. Brush on a layer of slip onto the layer of coils you have finished. Press the 13-inch coil on top. Repeat with the 14- and 15-inch coils. Your vase is slowly becoming wider. Roll out another 15-inch coil and then 14- and 13-inch coils to slowly curve the vase thinner. Encircle each coil.

6. Add a small amount of slip between each layer, using the second 15-, 14- and 13-inch coils in the same order. Smooth coils so far. Roll out a 12, 11, 10 and 9 inch coils. Wrap them into circles. Add each layer of coils in the same order and brush on slip between each layer. Roll out coils that are 8, 9 and 10 inches. Wrap them into circles and press the layers into place in the same order.

7. Smooth the entire exterior of the clay coils with your fingers. Dampen your fingers to help with the smoothing. Once the coils can no longer be seen, dampen a small sponge. Smooth the exterior of the vase. Allow your vase to air dry for approximately seven days.

8. Paint the vase using fine artist's paintbrushes with red and black acrylic paint once it is completely dry. Spray clear acrylic over it to give it a shine.

Tips & Warnings

• Scoring the coils before adding a new layer can help hold the coils together better.

• The vases can be worked on a banding wheel that rotates for easier moving and working around the project.

• Draw a side view template of a Greek vase you wish to craft before your start. Cut it out onto cardboard and hold it up to your project to make sure you are following its silhouette guide.

• Form vase handles by rolling out 1-inch-thick coils and pressing them into the side of the vase before you start smoothing it out.

References

• Metropolitan Museum of Art: Athenian Vase Painting: Black- and Red-Figure Techniques