Making a Ceramic Flute

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Making a Ceramic Flute
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• Clay flutes date back 6,000 years to ancient
  civilizations of Egypt, North and South America,
  and Asia
• The earliest European clay flutes dates to the
  17th century, originating in Holland
• Clay flutes were used in religious ceremony,
  celebrations, story telling, and communication
• Often times flutes were made to resemble the
  birds they sounded like

Image used for educational purposes form
http//www.thepotteries.org/features/whistle.htm

• slides of historic flutes from Europe

Clay flute history link
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What Makes a Clay Flute
Image used for educational purposes from
http//www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/2525/w
histles/whistle.html

• Clay Whistles are made from a hollow form
• An angled hole is cut in the wall of the hollow
  form
• Air is blown past the hole through a hole cut
  perpendicular to the first
• The air blows past the hole in the wall causing a
  vibration
• The vibration of the air creates a sound
• The sound can be altered according the size of
  the flute, the opening of the vibration hole, and
  by adding additional holes.

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How to Make Your Own Clay Whistle
Image used for educational purposes from
http//www.sifflets-en-terre-cuite.org/HtmlE/Europ
Ind.html
Step by Step process Info on changing Pitch
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Step OneDecide on a Design

• For this assignment you will pick a design from
  any animal you choose
• Research this animal find as many pictures, from
  as many different angles as possible
• Sketch your initial design
• Plan what techniques you will use to execute each
  part of your design

Be sure to make a design you really like-this way
if somehow your whistle doesnt work, your piece
will still be a cool work of sculpture
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Sculptural Elements

• Form form is the shape of the object. To utilize
  form effectively use interesting shapes and
  angles. A work should be exciting to look at from
  all sides.
• Size the amount of space an object occupies.
  Size depends on the intent of the work of art.
• Our Intent for this projects is to make a
  handheld sculpture that can be used as a flute.

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Sculptural Element (cont.)

• Material sculptures can be made out of nearly
  any material. Materials should lend themselves to
  the intent of the overall work.
• Texture treatment of a sculptures surface.
  Texture can create a visual interest by varying
  new lines and pattern on the surface, either with
  light or direct surface treatment.

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Plans for final product--gt
Plans for body shape--gt
Technical plans------gt
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Step Two

• Begin by making the hollow form which will be the
  body of your animal flute
• Create the form with a the same pinching
  technique use for making a pinch pot
• Pinch pots that will be attached together should
  be as close to the same size as possible
• Be sure to make your pinch pots in a scale which
  is maintains the proportions of your animal
• Your pinch pots should not be made bigger than
  two fists

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---gtMake your pinch pots
Make as many needed to create the hollow body of
your animal
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Step Three

• Connect your pinch pots to create the hollow body
  of your animal
• Remember to use the Slip and Score technique to
  hold the two sides together
• Reinforce and smooth the seams
• If needed, attach any separate forms together to
  make your animals body complete

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--gtSlip and Score each side
--gtReinforce and smooth the seams
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Step FourPrepare to make the holes for the
whistle
It is best to make your holes now, that way if
they do not whistle, you can start over without
wasting any more of your time

• Look at your sketch again
• Determine were a set of two holes would be best
  incorporated into your design
• You may have to make some attachments to disguise
  your holes

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--gtPlan your mouth hole and the angled hole for
vibration
--gtIncorporate each hole to work with your
overall design