Ceramics

This course is designed to teach you multiple methods of building items from clay.  You will use knowledge from prior art classes in order to independently build a variety of items.  Along with building items, we will study and experiment with glazing processes.  This class will be physically involved and require out-of-class sketching and researching.

Students are to be responsible for themselves and their work in this class.  All students are required to keep our room and work spaces clean.  If a student does not clean up after themselves they will be required to write a paper each time I or others have to clean up for them.  This paper will ask them to research and write about studio safety issues.

This class will use the same rules and procedures as all other art courses offered at OGHS.  Cell phones will be placed in pockets for the entire class.  You will be issued 4 bathroom passes each semester and those will be the only way you can leave the room. 

Grades:

All minor assignments are due the day they are due, there are no late grades for minor grades.  If you don’t do your minor grades at home you will have to complete the work in class before beginning the assignment.  Minor grades are worth 40% of your grade. 

All major grades will have due dates but can be turned in up to 5 days late.  You will use 10 points off for each day it is late.  Major grades are worth 60% of your final grade. 

Kiln Use:

            We will fire pottery on a firing schedule.  If a student is absent on a firing day they will not be able to fire their work until the next firing day.  The kiln will be fired the 2^nd Monday of each month.  If a Monday is a holiday or inclement weather day we will fire the following day when we return.

Studio Fee:

            Each student will have to pay a $30 studio fee to purchase clay.  This will provide each student with about 25 pounds of wheel-thrown pottery clay, about 10 pounds of hand-building white clay, and about 10 pounds of speckled brown clay.  This will provide students with about 50 pounds of clay for the semester.  This clay will be kept in the room.

Supplies:

I will provide all sculpting tools and glazes.  Students can purchase their own glazes from Amazon.  They need glazes that fire to cone 05-06.  We will have to take turns using the wheel.  Students will sign up for wheels this will be on a first come first serve basis.

 

Units:

1.) Hand Building

Pinch Pots: Make a pinch pot in a shape other than a round bowl

Coil Build Pots: Build a bowl using coils only

Slab Built Boxes: Create a box that looks like something interesting

 

2.) Wheel Thrown

Create a Bowl

Create a Plate

Create a Cup

 

3.) Mixed Hand and Wheel Thrown

Create a tea pot: Hand build lid and handle, wheel throw bottom of body of pot, coil build top of pot

Create a cup and saucer: Throw the cup, slab build the saucer and handle

 

4.) Create your own! Use any method you want:

Create your own wheel-thrown item

Create your own hand-built item

Create a project proposal for future classes.

 

5.) Show off your glaze skills! (every student should help raise $60-$100)

Create a bowl to sell for fundraiser (can be wheel thrown or hand built)

Create a cup to sell for fundraiser (can be wheel thrown or hand built)

Create a Plate for fundraiser (can be wheel thrown or hand built)

 

Glazes Available in Class:

Drip glazes                                                         Flat Gloss Glazes

           

Crystal glazes                                                     Underglazes

                   

Bubble glazes                                

Wax resists