Syllabus

Each beginning ceramic art student will be instructed in the proper techniques of hand building pottery. Techniques will include:

1. Basic clay characteristics & handling

2. Hand forming vessels using the pinching method

3. Constructing forms & vessels by coiling

4. Building containers with slabs of clay

5. Aesthetic use of texture and patterns by carving

6. We will also explore some basic sculpting processes.

In addition to working in clay, there will be daily discussions on Art History, culture and current events.

You will be required to keep a Daily Dose Journal !

Concerning grades:

You will be evaluated on your daily efforts as well as self-motivation.

This is not a Crafts class....learning these skills requires both mental and physical effort. If you think something is easy, then you might be doing it wrong.

For the most part you will not be allowed to just make anything you want.

I am expecting you to be open minded and ready to learn........always !

You will probably be frustrated at times; being creative as well as skillful is very demanding, but I will help you.

Respect your work as well as your fellow students. You are all in the same boat, ready to learn new skills. Most students have never really constructed anything from scratch, so be patient ! You can do this !