ART 121: Ceramics I

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Class Program
Art
Distribution
Humanities Performance/Skill
Credits 5 Lecture Hours 44 Lab Hours 22

Experiments and design in clay applied to pottery and sculpture. Work in various hand construction methods, glazing and kiln firing.

Quarters Offered
Fall,
Winter,
Spring
Course Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate the following knowledge or skills:

  1. The students will demonstrate basic processes involved in making raw clay into finished sculpture.
  2. The students will be able to wedge, form clay by the pinch, coil, and slab methods and apply glaze.
  3. The students will create 6-12 well conceived and executed pieces by the end of the class.
Course Content Outline
  1. Preparation for ceramics
    1. Exercise in clay - stoneware
    2. Wedging the clay
    3. Tools and equipment
    4. Clay bodies - stoneware, porcelain and earthenware
  2. Clay construction
    1. Pinch method building with coils
    2. Building with soft slabs
    3. Leather hard slab building
    4. Modeling and hollowing solid pieces of clay
  3. Decorative processes and glazes
    1. Slip decoration - (engobes)
    2. Glaze color
    3. Overglaze
    4. Glaze mixing and application
  4. Firing the kiln
    1. Lecture for pottery firing
  5. Critique after each project
Department Guidelines
PO5 should be assessed: Students will be able to solve problems by gathering, interpreting, combining and/or applying information from multiple sources.