1. Clay Tile Designs
Clay tiles can be made using various surface design techniques like incising, impressing, and relief.

2. This tile uses impressing, incising and relief to create an exciting composition.

3. This tile has a border which helps to encase the artwork.

4. This tile design
goes right to the
edge, filling the composition
and making it appear
more dynamic.

5. Layering one on top of another and going in different directions is a way to create visual interest! The fish extend beyond the tile edge to suggest movement that continues beyond the tile.

6. Tile Set Theme: Nature

7. Tile Set Theme: Abstract Shapes

8. Tile Set Theme: Ocean

9. be in the front needs to be the highest layer popping out
Anything that is to
be in the front needs to be the highest layer popping out
on the tile. All other layers should be lower so they will be set back In space.

10. The foreground pops out furthest in the front, the background is the lowest or bottom layer and the middle ground is the middle layer.

11. Can you locate the foreground, middle ground and background layers on this tile?

12. Possible Tile Themes Nature Ocean/Sea life Holidays Seasons Artists
Dreams/Surrealism
Food
Gardens/Floral
Landscapes/Places
Music

13. Steps to Creating Your Tile Design
DRAW SKETCHES
(to create a composition that relates to your chosen theme)
DECIDE ON SIZE
(everyone in your group will make the same size tile)
MEASURE AND CUT
(to create a template the right size)
DRAW IMAGE
(on the template)
ROLL/SMOOTH A SLAB
(using rubber rib)
CUT SLAB TO SIZE
(using template placed on top of slab, using fettling knife
or needle tool).

14. Steps to Creating Your Tile Design
REMOVE PAPER TEMPLATE FROM SLAB
MAKE A SERIES OF DOTS
(by using the needle tool to make a series of tiny holes all
along your drawn image lines)
DECIDE ON YOUR FOREGROUND, MIDDLEGROUND & BACKGROUND (front=FOREGROUND, middle=MIDDLE GROUND, back=BACKGROUND)
START BUILDING
(add clay to slab to make foreground areas highest,
middle ground areas closer to tile surface)
REMOVE SOME AREAS OF TILE
(to create the areas which are in the background and therefor lowest)
Pay close attention to the teacher demonstration on this!