Ceramics

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Ceramics
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Potters create vesselsWhat are vessels?

• Vessel a container
• (as a cask, bottle,
• kettle, cup,
• or bowl)
• for holding
• something

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Clay Stages

• 1. Slip
• A slurry of clay and water,
• used as glue
• or for casting

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Clay Stages

• 1. Slip
• 2. Wet clay
• Plastic enough to wheel throw
• or hand build

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Clay Stages

• 1. Slip
• 2. Wet clay
• 3. Leatherhard
• Slightly dried clay that can be joined and carved

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Clay Stages

• 1. Slip
• 2. Wet clay
• 3. Leatherhard
• 4. Greenware
• Bone-dry clay that is ready to be fired in the
  kiln.

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Clay Stages

• 1. Slip
• 2. Wet clay
• 3. Leatherhard
• 4. Greenware
• 5. Bisqueware
• Fired clay that is ready to glaze and glaze fire.

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Clay Stages

• 1. Slip
• 2. Wet clay
• 3. Leatherhard
• 4. Greenware
• 5. Bisqueware
• 6. Glazeware
• Finished ceramic piece, fired twice in the kiln

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Wedging clay

• Knead clay
• with the palms
• of your hands
• to remove air bubbles which cause ceramics to
  explode
• in the kiln.

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Forming methods

• Pinchpot
• Make a ball in your hands, push your thumbs in
  and then widen the hole with your fingers.

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Forming methods

• Pinchpot
• Coil
• Make coil snakes and layer them to build onto
  pinchpot base.

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Forming methods

• Pinchpot
• Coil
• Slab
• Attaching flat pieces of clay together.

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Forming methods

• Pinchpot
• Coil
• Slab
• Drape Mold
• Flat clay draped over a form

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Forming methods

• Pinchpot
• Coil
• Slab
• Drape Mold
• Slip Cast
• Liquid clay poured into a mold

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Forming methods

• Pinchpot
• Coil
• Slab
• Drape Mold
• Slip Cast
• Wheel Thrown
• Wet clay formed
• On a spinning wheel

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Underglazing Greenware

• Brush on underglaze for
• detailed designs.
• It is dripless
• and does not crack. After bisque firing,
• It remains the color brush on clear
• it appears before firing. glaze to
  waterproof.

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Firing ceramics in the kiln

• A kiln is an oven that heats clay
• to a high temperature
• to remove all moisture from ceramics.
• This makes ceramics more durable
• and stable.

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Glazing Bisqueware

• Brush three layers of glaze onto your bisqueware
  or dip it once.
• When dry, wipe all glaze from the bottom so it
  will not stick the kiln shelf.
• You may etch designs into the glaze so bisqueware
  shows through.
• Add clear glaze as
• a final waterproof coat.

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Reclaiming clay

• Reclaiming clay is the process to make hardened
  clay plastic (wet clay) again.
• It is not possible to reclaim fired clay.
• Clay may be reclaimed indefinitely.
• Just add hardened clay to the reclaim bucket.
• The added water will soften the clay and it can
  be reused after some drying.
• The liquid clay in the reclaim bucket is slip.

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Reclaiming clay
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Joining Clay in the Leatherhard Stage

• Score (make velcro)
• Score (on other piece too)
• Wet (use a little slip)
• Wiggle (push the pieces together)
• Smooth!!! (the join should be invisible)

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Ceramics Quiz

• Define the following terms in your own words.
• Greenware 6. Coil Method
• Wedging 7. Bisqueware
• Kiln 8. Vessel
• Reclaiming 9. Leatherhard
• Wet clay 10. Underglaze