Ceramics 2

Course Description:

After passing Ceramics 1, students can take this one semester course to earn 2 credits. Working in a collaborative, studio environment, students will build upon their existing foundation of a variety of hand-building techniques and the potter's wheel. Everyone is expected to know the properties and stages of clay, safe and proper use of a variety of tools and equipment, proper form building strategies, surface texture techniques, and glazing techniques. Through this course, students will work toward envisioning and developing personally meaningful pieces which are conceptually developed as well as skillfully crafted. Students will be given a broader range of project choices and themes from which to choose in this class, and be responsible for self-pacing throughout long-term projects. Students will push their envisioning skills further through developing detailed, thoughtful design plans before each project. Clay pieces should be designed with a concept in mind to express. Students will be challenged to solve more complex visual, thematic and constructional challenges throughout the development of each piece. Students will learn how to carefully reflect upon and critique professional, peer and personal work using the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. Please note that this course will require persistence, a consistent work ethic, and participation in a rotating studio maintenance system. Students should be prepared to get dirty in this class and may not want to wear valued clothing or accessories that may either get in the way of working with clay or be ruined. Students should bring a spiral-bound sketchbook to class for notes and design plans. Students must take a final written exam at the end of the semester.