Advanced Ceramics 1 builds upon the foundation skills you acquired in the full year beginning ceramics. All projects are problem solving exercises. For first semester you are to complete 4 projects and for second semester you are to complete 4 projects. You are presented with problems that you may solve using any technique or techniques (pinch, coil, slab, wheel or combination)—unless otherwise stated. You are to fill out a grading sheet for each project and conference with me when appropriate. There will be no exams, your grade will be based solely on your work and meeting deadlines. Once required projects are met you will be encouraged and expected to work on additional projects.
Semester 1: Semester 2:
Small Form Teapot or Pitcher
Eclay Bowls Pueblo Redware or Zoomorphic
Contemporary Ceramist Jewelry Box
Your Choice (from list) Your Choice (from list)
**FUNCTIONAL QUALITY STANDARDS (F.Q.S.)**
1. Smooth Glazed interior
2. Well attached handles or lugs
3. No Cracks
4. Even or regular rim, edges rounded to prevent crawling
5. Clean, even glaze line
1. Functional form
2. 6” in height
3. Coiled
4. Footed
5. Decoration or function item(s)
6. FQS
1. 6” inside rim to inside rim
2. 2 matching bowls- one for yourself, one for eclay
3. Convex in form
4. Minium of 2 decoration/ function techniques: handles, carving, sprigging for example
5. Hand-built only- coiled or combination, no wheel
6. FQS
**Student eclay bowls will be sold on our eclay website during second semester**
For this project you will research a contemporary ceramist, one who deals with functional pieces and try to duplicate the form as close as possible. You must chose and work that is complex enough to actually take you beyond the basic clay construction.
1. Complete information handout
2. 6” in one dimension
3. Complexity of form
4. Accurate reproduction of form
5. Decoration
For this problem, you must make a form intended to hold and pour liquid. The standards include a test of these functions.
1. 6” minimum for teapots, 8” minimum for pitchers
2. Teapots must include a lid with a keeper
3. Both teapots and pitchers must include handles or some provision for holding and pouring.
4. F.Q.S.
5. Must be drawn on completed grading sheet and approved by instructor before starting. Drawings must include both shape and decoration plans.
6. Must be decorated using one of the following techniques:
· Sgraffito/ Glaze inlay
· Stamping/ impressing
· Sprigging
· Wax Resist
For this problem, you will learn about one of the world’s most ancient continuous pottery traditions, that of the Anasazi, Pueblo, and Hopi peoples of the American Southwest. HANDOUT
1. Must be made from Quarry Tile (high iron) clay and burnished
2. Decoration and shape must be derived from Pueblo examples. You must do research on designs. Designs must be authentic.
3. 8” minimum for burnished pieces
4. Clear coat of glaze
5. Must be drawn on completed proposal sheet & approved by instructor before starting.
For this problem you will create a functional form in the shape of an animal
1. 8” in height minimum
2. Animal Shape
3. Carving and/or Texture
4. Functional
5. Must be drawn on completed proposal sheet & approved by instructor before starting.
For this problem you will create a functional jewelry box with inside dividers.
1. 8” in length minimum
2. Inside dividers- minimum of 3
3. Lid with keepers
4. Handles or lugs
5. Must be drawn on completed proposal sheet & approved by instructor before starting.
6. Sprigging or glaze inlay
you may chose any project including one that was already covered BUT you need to IMPROVE on the design and or function.
Folder- For this project you will investigate a folder labeled “Turkish Tiles” and try to replicate (copy) 3 tiles. These tiles could be modern or traditional make sure you have references and look at actual examples. You will see that many tiles have a floral motif with intricate designs. Your goal is to replicate this as close as possible.
1. Approval before you begin with drawings
2. 3 Navajo white tiles- flat
3. Each tile measures 4 inches x 6 inches minimum
4. Decorations must fill the tile be authentic
5. Painted with underglazes and a clear coat
For this problem you may create a form that is sculptural or functional and you may use a combination of construction methods.
1. 14” or larger in one dimension (green ware)
2. Any form- sculptural or functional
3. Draw first on grading sheet, get teacher initials before beginning
4. FQS
5. Must be decorated using one of the following techniques:
· Glaze inlay
· Stamping/ impressing
· Sprigging
· Wax Resist
For this problem, you may make a form that has more than one neck or opening.- (No bongs or hookahs please and nothing that could even be misinterpreted as such)
1. Sculptural or functional
2. 8” minimum
3. F.Q.S.—even for sculptural forms!
4. Must be drawn on completed grading sheet and approved by instructor before starting. Drawings must include both shape and decoration plans.
While these are the most basic of serving vessels, students will soon find that they are not so simple to make!
1. 8” minimum each
2. Platters should be oval or oblong, plates round or equal-sided polygons
3. Minimum of 3 plates or platters
4. F.Q.S.—no warps or cracks
5. Large platters (8” and over) should include handles or lugs.
6. Must be decorated using one of the following techniques:
· Glaze inlay
· Stamping/ impressing
· Sprigging
· Wax Resist
For this problem, you must look at examples of roofs, HANDOUT and your dwelling must be based on an actual building.
1. Draw first on grading sheet, get teacher initials before beginning
2. Must use Brown clay
3. Building must have an identity and research: Modern, Victorian, Santa Fe etc.
4. Paper model out of graph paper to scale taped together
5. 10” MAXIMUM in one dimension
6. Tar paper cut to model—measuring by using grids
7. Slab construction—attaching to tar paper
8. Base
9. Exterior decoration—sprigging and carving
For this project you will throw a concave/convex form on the wheel.
1. 8” in height
2. Any functional form
3. Convex and concave curves
4. Footed, trimmed for profile and weight
5. F.Q.S.
6. Must be decorated using one of the following techniques:
· Glaze inlay
· Stamping/ impressing
· Sprigging—handles or lugs
· Wax Resist
A wide variety of forms and styles might be used for this problem. You need to do some research on pottery from Europe (including Egypt and the Middle East) or Asia (Japan, China, Korea—Southeast Asia- Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia).
1. 8” Minimum (in any dimension)
2. Shape and decoration must be derived from Greek Chinese/Japanese/Korean/ Thai/ Vietnamese or Islamic examples. Research documented- sources and drawings
3. Decoration technique should be appropriate for culture chosen
4. F.Q.S.
5. Must be drawn on completed grading sheet and approved by instructor before starting. Drawings must include both shape and decoration plans.
For this project, you need to demonstrate what you have learned this year in pottery. The project you select may be anything, including a repeat of a previous project, but it should be challenging.
1. Project must be drawn on a proposal sheet and include details of decoration and cross-sections.
2. You should come up with your own Quality Standards (minimum of 4). These standards will be used to evaluate and grade the project.
3. Instructor must approve project before starting.
For this project you will create a slab lidded box without a top and pierce designs on all for sides. The idea is eventually you will place a candle in it to view shadow designs as well.
1. 4 sided slab (include a bottom) 5 inches tall x 4 inches wide minimum
2. Footed
3. Design piercing all 4 sides
4. F.Q.S
Create a 3-dimensional work of art that is based on a fantasy theme or has elements of fantasy. Some examples: mythological beasts, warriors or wizards, surreal images or dream images
1. Functional or sculptural
2. Must be 6” minimum in height
3. Must have 4 different surface treatments
4. Write a 1 page artist’s statement that explains the work, your working processes, creative inspiration for the work and/or considerations.
For this project you will create a functional ceramic piece that is based on Disney theme. Let’s call this Disney, but this can include any school appropriate animation from Pixar, DreamWorks, etc., Ask if you have a question. How will you incorporate this idea in your piece? How do you get the message across? This is not a repeat of a project you might have already worked on in class. You create 4 quality standards- this does not include your F.Q.S
1. 4 Quality Standards including F.Q.S.
2. Functional
3. Drawing with details approved before beginning.
In the 1800s African slaves in the Southern United States created face jugs as grave markers. These jugs depicted a scary expression to ward off any evil spirits and allow the deceased souls to go to heaven. Typically, these jugs were made by slaves and for slaves. While you were alive you would use a face jug to store water, food or medicine—sometimes even poison- the face was to scare small children to stay away. A famous slave potter was Dave Drake known and “Dave the potter” was a slave who created face jugs.
1. Research face jugs, look at some youtube videos as well
2. Create 4-5 Quality standards for this project, separate from F.Q.S.
3. Drawing with details before beginning
Both Egyptian and Greeks have an ancient culture and mythology, both produced phenomenal forms of art and more importantly to us, both cultures produced ceramics. When you investigate both cultures’ ceramic pieces you will see similarities and differences. Their stories and legends are depicted on their art.
1. You will need to research and list 3 differences, and 3 similarities when comparing ceramic forms, methods, uses and depictions on the pieces on your grade sheet.
2. Create 4-5 Quality standards for this project separate from F.Q.S
3. Detailed drawing approved before beginning
Your choice: mug, bowl, concave/ convex, teapot, that has an ocean theme. You are welcome to research on the web for ideas concerning this project. How would you include images such as starfish, mermaids, waves, fish, dolphins, seaweed, ships, coral or other nautical themed images to your piece? I am only listing a few ocean ideas for you to incorporate—the possibilities and combination are limitless.
1. Create 4-5 quality standards, separate from F.Q.S
2. Detailed drawing approved before beginning
For this project you will create a slab lidded box in the shape of a skull.
1. Slab lidded box 5 inches in height by 4 inches across at the widest point minimum
2. Lid with keepers
3. Skull decoration on lid- Eyes, nose socket and mouth
4. Skull design must be symmetrical
5. Glaze inlay
Choice-- A PIECE OF CAKE (OR PIE)
For this project you will create a functional slab lidded box in the shape of a piece of cake or pie. You will need to research deserts in order to make this look realistic.
1. Functional- lid with keepers
2. Well seamed slabs
3. Dessert research for realism
4. 8” Length x 5” Height x 4” depth- greenware
5. Sprigging
6. Carving
7. Underglazes
Folder—a folder must be kept and contain the following
· Notes from lectures & discussions in class
· All class handouts (including this one)
· All grading sheets for projects- class is largely self evaluated and you keep records
· Pattern and decoration worksheets
· Any other notebook assignments made during the term
It is important that you remember that the class is largely self-evaluated. Therefore, you need to be responsible for your own performance and keep your own records of performance. As long as you evaluate yourself in accordance with the grading standard and work to the quality standards for each project, you will become highly competent in the creation of ceramics and you will earn a decent grade.
I will work to help you reach your potential. If you have the same goal, then we can’t do anything but succeed!
GRADING STANDARD:
· A= Work exceeds standards. Work shows evidence of skills and effort beyond what is required for the project or activity. Exceptional craftsmanship and creativity.
· B= Work meets standards. Mastery of all required skills and techniques. Good craftsmanship and evidence of effort.
· C= Work is below standards in one or more required elements of standards, but project has been completed. Student can provide evidence of effort.
· F= Failure to complete work, lack of effort
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE?
Syllabus revised Fall 2025