ceramics final

five stages of clay

slip, plastic, leather hard, bone dry, bisque

slip

clay but with water added to it to give it a paste-like consistency.

plastic

it is still too wet to really hold more than a basic form

leather hard

it is a great time for slab construction, carving, and adding fine details and finishing touches

bone dry

The majority of the water in the clay has evaporated from it and should no longer be handled / handled carefully. Ready for kiln.

greenwhere

This refers to any clay body that has not yet been fired

bisquare

This refers to any clay that has been fired once but has not been glazed yet

three handling techinqies

pinch, slab, coil

coil building

a forming method that uses ropelike coils of plastic clay, assembled in successive courses to build up a wall of a vessel or sculpture

slab techinque

starts with smooth slabs of clay that are then formed around molds or shaped by hand

incising

Whenever you are pressing into green ware with a tool to create a design

excising

When you use a loop tool to ‘draw’ on or create a design in your clay but the clay is being removed

stamping

When you use a premade stamp or any item with texture to press into your clay and leave an imprint.

sprigging

a technique for decorating pottery with low relief shapes made separately from the main body and applied to it before firing

piercing

Using a tool (such as a needle tool, small knife, or piercing tool) to cut fully through the clay.

burnishing

to compress it and give it a high sheen

slip trailing

 A decorative technique that is the application of slip or underglaze to a clay surface using a bottle or other flexible vessel with a pointed tip

brushing

The process of brushing paint onto clay just as one might paint

sgraffito

The process of painting underglaze into greenware and then carving or excising through the colored underglaze

layerd sgraffito

The process of painting multiple layers of variously colored underglazes into greenware and carving or insizing through the underglazes

mishima

this is a process in which one carves, incises, or excises the clay and then fills the carved space with a colored slip or underglaze

underglaze transfer

designs that can be bought in many different colors and designs. It is underglaze that is printed onto thin paper that you can apply to smooth, flat surfaces and press with a damp sponge allowing the underglaze to be transferred from the paper to your artwork

underglaze stain

A technique used to help bring out / emphasize texture.

kiln

a type of furnace or insulated chamber that can produce a lot of heat.

bisque

first fire CONO 4 (hotter)

glaze

a mixture of powdered minerals with water mixed into it to make it a liquid that can be applied to ceramics using various techniques

glaze fire

firing after being glazed CONO 5

clear glaze

Pink when applied but clear after fired. If applied too thick it will have a ‘cloudy’ appearance.

crystal glaze

a kind of specialty glaze that have bits of ground up glass in them that cause the effect of bursts of color when fired.

glazing techinques

brushing, dipping, pouring,sponging, spraying, trailing

bruhsing

Same technique as painting where you use a paint brush to apply the glaze but the color will not be accurate until the glaze is fired.

dipping

When you use tongs to fully submerge the ceramic piece in glaze in a large bucket.

pouring

When you fill a small cup with glaze and pour it over the ceramic piece.

trailling

Using a squeeze bottle to apply glaze to create various designs

underglaze

a medium that can be used on greenware or bisqueware to apply color to a piece of pottery.

rib tool

Can be metal, wood, or rubber. Used for wheel throwing and hand building

incising tool

Looks similar to a needle tool but has a ball on the tip.

loop tool

Used for exercising clay, usually a wooden handle with a metal loop on the end. Also called a ribbon tool.

banding wheel

A metal wheel that elevates your work off of the table and turns so that you don’t have to handle your work as much.

needle tool

A tool with a handle and needle attached to the end.

fettling knife

A very thin knife used for cutting clay.

functional work

Something you might use regularly like a cup, mug, plate, or bowl. It serves a purpose in everyday life

non-functional

Something that is purely decorative like a painting. It is not meant to be handled regularly. Does not serve a purpose

compress

Pushing
 the clay down and together, forcing
the particles
of clay closer together.