Ceramics: Ugly Face Jugs

Students will learn about the history of ugly face jugs in African American culture.  After learning how to make pinch pots, students attach 2 pinch pots together to create a head.  Focusing on emphasis, texture, and expression, students add features to the head to sculpt a dynamic and exciting ugly face.  They have the option of making it into a vessel by adding a spout or a lid.

How to make an Ugly Face Jug

Make 2 pinch pots equal in size

Score both pinch pots

Apply slip to one pinch pot

Place on pinch pot on top of the other

Blend the clay so there is no seam

Push into the head where you want the eye sockets and cheek bones

Roll 2 pieces of clay in your hands to form eye balls

Score & slip the eyeballs in the eye sockets

Roll out 4 coils

Score & slip the 4 coils around the eyes for eye lids

Blend the coils into the face

Play with the shape of the eyelids to create different expressions

Roll 2 more balls and 1 triangle

Score & slip the 2 balls on either side of the triangle to create the nose

Score & slip the nose onto the face

Blend the nose into the face to erase the seams

Pick his nose to create nostrils!

Form teeth

Score & slip the teeth onto the face

Roll out 2 coils for the lips

Score & slip the lips over the teeth

Blend the lips to erase the seam

Use the other end of the needle tool to make indents in the eyes for irises

To make the spout: 

Roll out a slab

With a ruler and a knife...

Cut it into a long rectangle

Form it into a tube and blend the seam

Decide where you want the spout and cut a hole

Score & slip the spout to the head

Add a coil to reinforce the spout

Blend the seam

Using a paintbrush and water, smooth out the surface of the jug

Add texture!

For the complete lesson plan: Ugly Face Jugs