ceramics

Ceramics is pots and other articles made from clay, hardened by heat.

EXPERIMENT! "The outcome of experimentation is knowledge, and failure is just as valuable as success, because one has expanded one's awareness of one's own abilities, one's deeper ideas, the potential of a media, a process, a genre, an art-form. ... Artists must experiment in order to find their way around themselves." Why Artists Must Experiment

What is Purposeful practice ? In all our arts classes, students are given time to learn techniques & practice skills before being asked to make finished work. Make & remake it until your work is well-crafted. You want to make work you are proud of, work to take home.

RULES TO LIVE BY IN CERAMICS

Clay clogs the drain, never put clay in the sink.

Don't touch other student work because it could break.

Bone dry / unfired work is very fragile & breaks easily. Clay must be properly wedged before making objects. Score and slip to attach parts. If parts are not attached well, your work will fall apart.

Only A & B work will be fired in the kiln.

Unfired clay can be recycled endlessly. Once fired, clay cannot be recycled.

Conserve materials & reclaim your clay - since unfired clay can be recycled, students are taught to reprocess their clay by collecting it in a zip bag and adding water. Once your clay is moist, you will integrate and wedge it.

While the clay piece is still damp, etch your name on the bottom.

Underglaze is painted on unfired work (greenware), then it is bisque-fired. Apply underglaze to greenware after Ms. Fitzpatrick sees it & gives approval.

Glaze is painted on bisque-ware (fired once) then re-fired.

Each kiln firing takes up to 2 days.

Proper clean-up is required by students. Clay dust is hazardous. You will be taught how to safely clean up.

INVESTIGATION & SKILL-BUILDING -

CERAMICS INTRODUCTION Ceramics tools

What does an A or a B look like?

Ms. Fitzpatrick's ceramics demonstrations

pinch pots Pottery Wheel

slab construction teapot lesson

how to roll a slab and give it texture teapot tutorial (slab)

Underglaze and Glaze glaze directions & color charts

Ceramic Decorating Techniques

The Complete Guide on How To Glaze Pottery

VIDEOS TO WATCH:

Joining 2 pinch pots. make a box w a lid from a slab.

Cream and sugar using a template & slab technique

Experimental coil pots. Pinch pots.

THROWING Sgraffito

how to make coil pots. Paper stencils.

Stamping underglaze Experimental coil vessel video.

Lakeside Pottery's site answers many of your questions.

Ceramic Arts Daily video series.

Ceramics Tutorials on YouTube

Ms. Fitzpatrick's demos for all media

history: ceramics timeline Ceramics through history

CHOICE assignment STEPS - choice assignments are an opportunity for students to challenge themselves & further develop craft

1. FIND INSPIRATION

draw what inspires you - 3 or more thumbnails / write about it -document facts learned / explain why this inspires you & how you'll use this in your work

Pinterest (all boards) ceramics sculpture

figurative sculpture tea bowls

ceramics timeline traditional ceramics forms

Contemporary ceramicists These 13 Ceramic Artists are Reshaping the Medium

polyhedron

2. IDENTIFY SPECIFIC, CHALLENGING GOALS

Describe what you want to accomplish.

What will you make?

What ceramics skills do you want to improve?

Set a learning target - learning Targets

3. PLAN - make models / maquettes

After brainstorming, plan - make 3 sketches before settling on your idea.

Make a small model or maquette to help you resolve technical & design questions before beginning your final piece.

4. PRODUCE WORK

Your work should show effort and be well-crafted / Strive to improve your skills and show growth / In order to be fired, work must be well-crafted (A or B work) / Work represents sustained time on task / Get feedback from 2 peers.

5. REFLECT

Reflective writing includes responding thoughtfully to 4 or more reflection prompts in your sketchbook or typed on your slides.

Refer to the Studio Habits of Mind as you work and reflect.

SELF ASSESSMENT/RUBRIC

This was the first week of Ceramics class when we returned to buildings after working remotely for a year. Here, students experiment with pinch pots. (9/21)

Photo transfer plate Ms. F made for Mr. Q.