1. Clay Vocab
Vocab Answers

2. The stages of clay
1. Slip- A suspension of clay in water. (liquid clay is used to join two pieces of clay together like glue or for decoration.)
2. Plastic stage- clay that is easily manipulated and shaped.
3. Leather-hard: clay that has lost most of its moisture, but can still be joined together with slip. It is too firm to bend yet can still be carved.
4. Greenware-  Clay that is completely dry, but unfired. (Bone Dry = no moisture left in clay.) It is very fragile in this state.

3. The stages of clay continued…
5. Bisqueware (biscuit)-  Clay that has been fired once to harden the clay body. It can no longer be turned back into workable clay.
6. Glazeware- Ceramic piece that has been fired a second time with glaze on it.

4. Other clay terms:
Clay-  A variety of earthy materials formed by the weathering of rocks, such as granite. (composed of alumina, silica, and chemically combined water)
Ceramics-  Objects made from earthy materials with the aid of heat, or the process of making these objects.
Score- To scratch the surface of the clay; aids in joining two pieces together with slip.

5. Reclaiming- reusing/recycling dry clay by adding water back into it.
Wedging- kneading a mass of clay to get rid of air bubbles and to make it homogenous (uniform).

6. Kiln- A furnace or oven built of heat resistant materials for firing clay.
Firing-  Heating to a high temperature to harden the clay and fuse the clay particles.

7. Underglaze- colored clay; used for designs and precise details
Glaze- A coating of material that forms a hard, glass-like surface after firing. Glazes can be colored, opaque, translucent or matte. Only applied to bisque ware.

8. The Ten Golden Rules of Ceramics
· Clay must be thoroughly covered up with a plastic bag to keep it from drying out.  This applies to works in progress and moist clay.
· Clay dust can be harmful if you are exposed to it for long periods of time, so keep your area clean, clay scraps off the floor and clean with water and a sponge.
· Clay can be no thicker than your thumb.
· In order for clay to stick together it MUST be scored and slipped together while the clay is moist or leather hard.
· Wedge clay to remove air bubbles, to achieve uniform consistency, and to line up the particles of clay.
· Trapped air can cause clay to explode.  So hollow out sculptural forms and put needle holes from the bottom so air can escape.
· Don't glaze the bottom of a piece. 
 ·Always “wash” the piece before glazing.
· Always handle your project with two hands at all times.  In other words BE CAREFUL, it’s your hard work.
 · NEVER HANDLE ANOTHER PERSON’S WORK EVEN IF IT LOOKS COOL!