1. Intro to Clay

2. Ancient Greek Pottery – 400 BC

3. What’s CLAY?!
Clay is a decomposed granite type rock with fine, flat shaped particles which make it plastic. Plastic means the clay will mold and retain its shape when it is dry.
Ceramics is the art of making pottery. It is an ancient form of transforming clay into beautiful forms and useful objects.

4. Clay Terms Bisque – a first firing of clay without glazes
Bone Dry – unfired clay that is free of water and ready to fire
Burnish – to polish clay while it is in the greenware stage
Casting – to pour clay slip into plaster into plaster molds; allows mass reproduction of one form

5. Casting

6. Kilns

7. Ceramic – clay products that have been ffired for permanence
China – Translucent ware fired at 2,230 degrees F; porcelain
Clay – a moist earth of decomposed rock; used in products such as pottery, bricks, tiles and sculpture
Coiling – a method of creating pots by building bottom and walls with even, ropelike coils

9. Decal – designs that are transferred to ware before firing; often used in china decorating
Earthenware – low-fire pottery, usually red or tan, that has been fired to below 2,000 degrees F
Egyptian Paste – low-fire, self-glazing body fires to a gloss or crackle finish
Engobe – a glaze made of clay diluted with water that is painted on greenware

10. Earthenware

11. Egyptian Paste

12. Firing – making clay products permanent through baking at a high temperature in a kiln
Greenware – clay in an unfired state
Leather Hard – unfired clay that isn’t quite dry, yet firm enough to carve or burnish
Raku – a low fire often done outdoors that produces dark areas of iridescence
Reduction Firing – firing with insufficient oxygen; causes interesting color changes in glazing

13. Reduction Firing

14. Raku

15. Scoring – making marks on the edges of two pieces of clay before joining with slip
Sgraffito – scratching designs through colored slip to allow the body color to show through
Slab – clay evenly rolled and formed by draping or joining
Slip – clay diluted with water to the consistency of cream; used for joining or as an engobe

16. Sgraffito

17. Stoneware – gray, reddish, or tan clay that has been high fired
Talc – a compound added to white clay
Terra Cotta – reddish clay that contains grog, commonly used for ceramic sculpture
Throwing - creating vessels on a potter’s wheel
Turning – completing a piece of ware by rotating on a wheel and trimming with tools

18. Potter’s Wheel

19. Terra Cotta

20. Underglaze – colors that can be painted on greenware that will show through a clear glaze
Wax Resist – the application of melted wax to the foot or body of a clay object to resist the glaze
Wedging – kneading moist clay to eliminate air bubbles and produce a uniform texture

21. Basic Steps in Pottery Making
Preparing the clay – wedging and kneading
Designing, molding and decorating the piece
Bisque firing the greenware
Sanding and glazing
Glaze firing

22. Handbuilding Techniques
Pinching
Pulling and molding
Coiling
Slab building

23. Today’s Assignment
Draw three designs in your sketchbook for your functional clay face jug
You may choose to depict yourself (a self-portrait) or another person, but your vessel MUST contain a face that is showing some emotion
Remember, your vessel must be functional – consider making a mug, flower pot or vase
Your vessel must also contain a handle or lid

26. When you have finished your three sketches, show them to a partner and fill out the planning sheet
This will ask you to decide which design would be best for this project and also how you will construct the design
You MUST complete this sheet before you begin your clay facejug