Ceramics I

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This is a beginning ceramics-pottery class for individual students who are interested in acquiring knowledge and skills in clay. Students will be introduced to all basic aspects of sculptural and functional pottery.

WI State Standards:

AA Cr10h
Investigate: Engage in critical thinking, problem solving, and research through elements and principles of art and design studio practices and processes.
(aesthetics / problem solving)
AA Cr12h
Make: Create works of art that introduce students to media, care of tools, and basic craftsmanship skills.
(skills)
AA Pr10h
Develop meaning: Create s body of work incorporating personal, historical, and contemporary art to communicate one or more points of view.
(aesthetics / communication)

Course outcomes:

Students will understand the procedures of working with clay
Students will understand the process of pinch pot method
Students will understand the process of coil pot method
Students will understand the process of slab method
Students will understand how to use ceramic tools properly.
Students will understand what glazing is and how to use glazes appropriately
Students will understand the process kiln firing
Students will understand the basic elements and principles of design in creating a 3-D object (texture, shape/form/, contrast, variety, texture, etc.)
Students will be able to produce decorative and functional ceramic pieces utilizing the understanding of the Art Theory.
Students will understand and use art vocabulary pertaining to ceramics media.

timeline

semester 1

week 1	weeks 2-5	weeks 6-10	weeks 11-18
Intro to ceramics.	Pinch pots	Coil vessels	Slab box Slab lantern

week 1

weeks 2-5

weeks 6-10

weeks 11-18

Intro to ceramics.

Pinch pots

Coil vessels

Slab box

Slab lantern

the 10 golden rules of ceramics

Clay must be thoroughly covered up with a plastic bag to keep it from drying out. This applies to works in process and moist clay.
Clay dust can be harmful if you are exposed to it for long periods of time, so keep your area clean, clay scraps off the floor and clean with water and sponge.
Clay should be no thicker than your thumb.
In order for clay to stick together it must be scored and and slipped together while the clay is moist (plastic) or leather hard.
Wedge clay to remove air bubbles, achieve uniform consistency, and to line up the clay particles.
Trapped air can cause clay to explode. So hollow out sculptural forms and put needle holes through enclosed forms for air to escape.
Don’t glaze the bottom of the piece.
Wash the piece before glazing.
Handle your project with two hands at all times. In other words – be careful! – it’s your hard work.
NEVER handle another person’s work even if it looks cool!