How to Make a Clay Tile Backdrop For a Sculpture
Symmetrical Tiles Adhered in Formation Create a Patterned Background
Nov 11, 2008
Although the background for the sculpture of the Miracle of The Roses looks complicated, it is relatively easy to make and the process only requires the simplest of materials. The design comes from the life story of Elizabeth of Hungary.
The painting is the design for a sculpture, which will have a background constructed from meticulously planned symmetrical tile work. These instructions are for making the tiles.
Materials List
To get started on the basic tile production artists will need
- sufficient sculptor’s clay to make enough tiles to cover the area behind the sculpture. When measuring that clay, remember that it can shrink from anywhere from 10% to 30% when fired. To be sure you have enough – over estimate. Extra tiles can be used to make souvenirs such as coasters or a tea pot stand
- a bag of casting plaster
- plenty of bench space
- a simple black and white master of a rose
- simple clay tools and a cutting wire
Drawing up the Design
Download a very simple black master of a rose from the internet, such as this one from About.com - Homeschooling, and cut it into quarters. Photocopy one of the quarters four times. Centre and glue these together around an axis point. Once the four pieces have been glued together, go back to the design and see where it does not quite match. Match and manipulate this design until the four quarters match perfectly. Once the students are sure that the quarters will centre perfectly, they can transfer the design onto a slab of clay.
Perseverance When Making Rose Pieces
The drawing and design stage may take quite a while for some students. Persevering until the rose pieces match exactly is not always easy. To make this pattern work a leaf was extended and modified. To bring rhythm to the design, one of the leaves was manipulated so that it would overlap the leaf beside it. The design must be kept very simple so that it can be etched onto the clay. Once the design can be assembled into the four cornered pattern with ease, begin the preparation of the clay.
Making the Tiles
Use a very sharp clean skewer to trace the design onto a slab of clay cut to size.
- carve the rose and the leaves out of the clay as a relief pattern
- neatened the pattern with clay tools
- once the tile is finished make a plaster cast of it
- if the exercise is to be done with many students, make several casts of the tile
- make as many tiles as needed by pressing the cast onto neatly cut slabs of clay
- fire the tiles
Assembling the Clay Tile Design
Once the tiles have been made, they can be adhered to the sculpture backing board. Assemble each quartet design one at a time. As the pieces are assembled a bigger picture pattern will emerge.
Here you see the tiles placed in front of the painting. Once the tiles are created and fired, decide with the class whether to glaze or to paint and varnish the tiles.
This way of making a clay tiled wall is simple, easy and effective. Because the process can be broken into steps and stages many students can be involved, whilst at the same time the success of the project is ensured.
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