Ceramics Exam Review

List the Stages of Clay

1. Slip

2. Plastic

3. Leather Hard

4. Bone Dry

5. Bisqueware

6. Glazeware

Which stage of clay is the most fragile? 

Bone Dry

What stage of clay is best for throwing on the pottery wheel? 

Plastic

What stage of clay is best for carving details and/or designs into a piece?

Leather Hard

What stage is the clay in when it comes out of the kiln for the first time?

Bisqueware

What stage does clay need to be in BEFORE it goes into the kiln for the first time? 

Bone Dry

What is considered the "glue" of the ceramic world? 

Slip

What stage is clay typically in when it comes out of the kiln for the second time with color? 

Glazeware

What stage is the clay in when you typically start a new project? Fresh out of the box. 

Plastic

What stage of clay is mostly water? 

Slip

At what stage is clay no longer recyclable? 

Bisqueware

T or F: Clay is made from minerals naturally found in the earth. 

True

T or F: The kiln we have at school is an electric kiln. 

True

T or F: A ceramic project is usually only fired one time before it is complete. 

False

Approximately what temperature does the kiln fire to?

2000ºF

What is the process used for joining two pieces of clay? 

slipping and scoring

Name two things that happen as a ceramic project dries other than it hardens/becomes stronger/permanent. 

becomes warmer in temperature

becomes lighter in color

Name two things that can cause a project to blow up in the kiln. 

drastic temperature changes

if there were air bubbles in the clay

What is wedging?

the process of kneading out the clay, specifically with recycled/reclaimed clay.

What does wedging do to the clay?/Why is it important? 

We do this to get any air bubbles out the clay and it is important to do so because if we don't wedge the clay properly, there is a chance the project might blow up in the kiln.

Name two different types of kilns we learned about other than electric.  

gas kiln

open pit

Name the tools

1. needle tool

2. ribbon tool

3. loop tool

4. sponge

5. wire tool

6. rib

7. wooden modeling tool

8. sgraffito tool

9. bat

10. banding wheel

11. rolling pin

12. kiln

Name the tools (Cont)

13. pottery wheel

14. fettling knife

What is Glaze?

a layer of glass like substance that is used on a ceramic piece after it is bisque fired, serving a aesthetic and strong functional purpose.

Main Components of Glaze

Colorants

Modifiers

Alumina

Silica

Flux

How many coats of glaze are typically recommended for an even application of glaze?

3-4

When mixing glazes, which of the following is NOT an acceptable approach? 

Mixing directly in the glaze bottle 

T or F: It is acceptable to glaze the bottom of your work. 

False

T or F: You must allow coats of glaze to dry completely before applying another coat. 

True

T or F: If the glaze is opaque you will be able to see through it. 

False

T or F: All glazes consist of one solid color. 

False

T or F: It is safe to glaze the bottom half of the outside of a mug with a glaze that is NOT food safe. 

True

T or F: It is safe to eat/drink while glazing. 

False

T or F: If I wanted to glaze an intricate and detailed portrait on a plate I would ideally want to use traditional/regular glaze. 

False

T or F: Glaze that is matte will appear shiny/glossy after firing. 

False

T or F: Regular glaze often shifts, moves, and runs while in the kiln. 

True

T or F: The color of glaze in the bottle often turns out different once it goes through the kiln and is fired. 

True

T or F: A CL seal identifies a glaze that is non-toxic and containing no materials that are hazardous to humans.  

False

Explain two ways in which glaze is different from acrylic paint. 

Glaze:

• dries instantly and gives off a chalky look

• made to withstand the heat of a kiln

 

Paint:

• dries after a few minutes and gives off a shiny look

• is not made to withstand the heat of the kiln

Explain two ways in which glaze is different from underglaze. 

Glaze:

• runs thicker

• primarily used to cover up larger area

 

Underglaze:

• runs a lot thinner

• primarily used to for smaller intricate details

List three different ways you can apply glaze. 

• slip trailing

• sponging

• stippling

What do you need to do to your bisque fired project before you can apply glaze?

you need to wet it lightly and sand it off before going in with a glaze.

How do you know if a glaze is not food safe?

A glaze is not food safe if it contains harmful materials such as lead or cadmium, or if it is marked with a warning label. Additionally, glazes that are excessively porous or have rough surfaces may harbor bacteria.

Label the parts of a vessel: foot, body, shoulder, neck, lip (Top - Bottom)

• lip

• neck

• shoulder

• body

• foot

Know the three hand-building techniques

Pinch, Coil, Slab

Slab

a hand-building technique in which clay is rolled into thin sheets and manipulated into shapes

Additive

the process of adding layers/pieces of material together to build up the desired form over time

Subtractive

the process of removing pieces of material to achieve the desired design

Relief Sculpture

a type of sculpture where shapes and figures rise out from a flat background

Composite

the practice of combining multiple seperate images, objects, or materials into a single unified piece

Ideation

the creative process of generating, developing, and refining ideas to solve problems or explore new opportunities

Mishima

an east asian method of creating an inlay effect by applying contrasting slip, underglaze, or glaze to a design incised in leather-hard clay

Glaze Wash

a highly diluted mixture of oxides, stains, or glaze used to highlight surface textures, add subtle shading, and create earthy accents on pottery

Art Critique

the discussion/evaluation of visual art to help improve technical skill, deepening the understanding , and fostering creative growth

Coil

a hand-building technique in which clay is rolled into long cylindrical pieces

Sgraffito

a decorative technique which involves scratching through a top layer of slip/underglaze to expose the underlying clay body

Amphora

ancient vessel form used as a storage jar

Black Figure Pottery

a type of ancient greek pottery in which figures and ornaments were drawn on the natural clay surface of a vase in black pigment

Hand Building

a ceramic technique that allows you to create forms without the pottery wheel

Pinch Pot

a simple form of hand-built pottery made by pinching and shaping clay with fingers.

Functional Ceramics

an object designed to be useful and purposeful

Artist Statement

written explanation of the meaning and significance of a piece

Elements & Principles

visual tools/building blocks artist use to create a composition

Beveled Edge

the edge of a structure that is cut at an angle

Conicle

having the shape of a cone

Slip Trailing

a decorating technique in which slip is applied with an applicator to create lines and patterns on ceramics.

Opaque

not able to be seen through; not transparent.

Matte

a finish that is non-reflective and has a dull appearance

Shrinkage

the reduction in size and volume that clay and ceramic bodies undergo

Warpage

the undesirable bending, twisting, or distortion of a ceramic or pottery piece away from its intended flat plane or symmetrical shape

Kiln

a furnace or oven used for firing ceramics, where clay is hardened and glazed.

Reclaiming clay: know what it is, the process of reclaiming

the process of recycling clay

• breaking down bone dry pieces of clay and putting it in the reclaim bucket

Describe typical imagery on ancient Greek vases

abstract patterns to detailed narrative scenes of mythology, daily life, and ritual

Silica

the “glass former”