Greek Pottery Research Paper

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Grecian vases were originally painted in only one style, black figure. However eventually they discovered red figure painting as a new option. There are two different kinds of ways decorate your vase either geometric or proto-geometric. Proto-geometric consisting of only circles, semi-circles, and horizontal lines with geometric entailing bold linear designs. Red style pottery came into existence around 530 B.C.E with the height of the popularity being in the 500’s. (“Heilbrunn”) The first place to realize the benefits and begin to use it was Athens. This style lasted for 130 years. It lasted so long because it had many more advantages than the black style of painting. These included allowing the potters to show more detail in their anatomical aspect of the piece of pottery. (“Greek Pottery (c. 3,000)”)They could also show ¾ profiles and began to use linear perspective. (“Greek Pottery (c. 3,000)”) This allowed for more detail and realism. …show more content…

Greek pottery was made on a potter’s wheel and was made in separate pieces. The foot, lower and upper body, neck and the handles are always made separately. Then when they are dried, the pieces will need to be joined together by a clay slip. A clay slip is a layer of clay on the inside of the vase to keep the vase together so it doesn’t fall apart. Then you will need to put your pot back on the wheel to smooth the join marks and add the final shaping. (Greek Pottery) The final shape will depend on your imagination because the vase were made in all shapes. Once you have finished that step comes the decorating. This process will depend on where you live and what the popular style in that area. A popular way to paint is to cover all or most of the pot in a thin layer of black adhesive paint. This paint is made of alkali potash or soda, clay with silicon content, and black ferrous oxide of iron. (Greek

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