Ceramics Final

Clay

A composition of minerals resulting from the erosion of the earth's crust, primarily derived from the breakdown of feldspar.

Ceramic

Clay that has been chemically and physically altered through high temperatures to become a hard, brittle, and heat resistant material.

Slip

Clay mixed with water, which can be used in various consistencies depending on the water content.

Leatherhard

A state of clay that resembles leather or hard cheese, allowing it to be handled, carved, and joined.

Greenware

Unfired, bone dry pottery that is the most fragile state of clay forms.

Bisqueware

Unglazed clay that has undergone the first firing process, becoming more durable as ceramic.

Glazeware

Ceramic that has glaze applied and has gone through a second firing to create a glass coating.

Incising

The process of carving a design or pattern into leather hard clay.

Sgraffito

A technique involving applying colored slip to leather hard clay and then carving a design through it.

Wedging

The method of kneading clay to remove air bubbles and make it more workable.

Joining

A crucial technique in ceramics that involves scoring and applying slip to bond pieces of clay together.

Pinch Method

A basic method of handbuilding where clay is pinched between fingers to form shapes.

Coil Method

A construction method that involves rolling out coils of clay and stacking them using score and slip.

Slab Method

Creating flat slabs of clay that can be cut and joined to form various shapes.

Wheel Throwing

A method involving a potter's wheel to create symmetrical functional pieces by shaping and trimming plastic clay.