Nature Inspired

Low Relief Tile

Ceramics Course

What is Relief?
Relief is a sculptural technique where the

sculpted elements remain attached to a solid

background of the same material.
The term relief is from the Latin verb relevo, to
raise.
To create a sculpture in relief is to give the
impression that the sculpted material has been
raised above the background plane.
A Persian mid-relief made in Iran,
his is relief carved into a rock on a
clif

What is Bas Relief?

A low relief or bas-relief
A French term from the Italian basso-relievo
is a projecting image with a shallow overall depth, for

example used on coins.

Bas relief is created either by carving away material (wood,

stone, ivory, jade, etc.) or adding material to the top of an

otherwise smooth surface (say, strips of clay to stone).
This is a technique as old as humankind's artistic
explorations

Famous Historical Relief

Lorenzo Ghiberti (Italian, 13781455). Creation of Adam and Eve,
ca. 1435. East Doors, Baptistery
of San Giovanni. Florence, Italy
Bronze relief
This is one of the panels from the
doors of the Baptistery known as
the Gates of Paradise

Gates of Paradise

Ghiberti was an Italian artist of the

Early Renaissance best known as the
creator of the bronze doors of the
Florence Baptistery. These doors were
called by Michelangelo Gates of
Paradise

How do Bronze doors- relate to

clay?
The potential of using clay to reproduce
devotional images was first recognized by two
of the leading sculptors in early 15th-century
Florence. Lorenzo Ghiberti ran a large
workshop while making bronze doors for the
Florence Baptistery. He trained most of the
leading sculptors, and the young Donatello,
who became the most influential sculptor of
the period, also spent time there.

How do Bronze doors- relate to

clay?
The use of clay was
central to the
production of
bronzes and Ghiberti
recognized its
versatility. Clay could
be molded to
replicate images
which were then
fired, painted and
gilded later in bronze.

Relief, by Lorenzo Ghiberti, 15th

century, terracotta clay , Florence,

What will we make in clay

tile?

A Nature Inspired Clay Relief Tile

Nature Inspired Low Relief

Tile
5.1/2 x 6. size rolled out
by hand that is inch thick
Craved into
With a nature Inspired
design that will be traced on
to the clay
Then delicately carved into.

How to Begin
1.Create two sketches
on newspaper that
are 5.1/2 x 6.
2.Be inspired by
something that
interests you.
3.Think of what would
go background,
middle ground
foreground. Ask your
self How will that
be Carved
4.Dont make it too
small- because small
things are very hard

How to Begin
Continued
1.Think of this
assignment as
creating a drawing on
the clay.
2.In a small group
critique select the
best design.
3.Transfer it to tracing
paper.
4.Label + positive
negative
1.The will be
carved
2.The + will not be
carved