ART 107 Vocabulary Flashcards

Flashcards for key vocabulary terms in ART 107, based on instructor Brad Blair's vocabulary sheet.

Absorption

The amount/rate of water taken in by the clay.

Bisqueware

Durable, fired clay that is ready for glazing and other types of surface decoration.

Bone-Dry

The condition of clay when most all of the water has evaporated before any firing.

Clay

A general term used where minerals are combined with water to form a plastic medium that can be altered and fired in a kiln.

Coils

Used in hand building, these long, skinny pieces of clay are layered on top of one other to build ceramic forms.

Fire

Process in which clay is heated in a kiln to specific temperature.

Glaze

A liquid added to bisqueware in order to create a hard, non-porous coating on the surface of the clay after it is fired.

Greenware

Any clay that has not yet been fired.

Grog

Crushed-up fired clay used in greenware to aid in strength and stabilization of the clay body.

Kiln

A thermally insulated chamber that heats clay to high temperatures in order to produce ceramic ware.

Leather Hard

Semi-dry clay that is hardened enough to be handled and carved, but not dry enough to be fired.

Luster

A thin layer of liquid metal applied to glazed ceramics to create a metallic or opalescent finish.

Plasticity

Refers to how flexible a clay body is.

Pyrometric Cones

Small, triangle shaped pieces of material that are placed in a kiln before firing and indicates when certain temperatures have been reached.

Resist

Any material that prevents underglazes and glazes from adhering to the clay’s surface.

Rib

Flat, handheld tools used for shaping and smoothing clay.

Shrinkage

The loss of mass/size due to the evaporation of water from wet clay during the drying and firing processes.

Slab

A flat, uniform sheet of clay used in hand building

Slab Roller

A mechanical device which is used to create horizontal, flat pieces of clay

Slip

Liquid clay used for joining parts and decorating

Stoneware

A broad term for pottery or other ceramics fired at high temperatures

Throwing

The act of making pottery on the potter's wheel

Underglaze

A liquid used to add color or design to the clay surface and is usually covered with a clear glaze

Viscosity

A term that describes the thickness of a liquid

Wedging

The process used to remove air pockets from clay and create a homogenous consistency