Intro to Clay

Ancient Greek Pottery – 400 BC

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.

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

Casting

Kilns

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

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

Earthenware

Egyptian Paste

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

Reduction Firing

Raku

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

Sgraffito

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

Potter’s Wheel

Terra Cotta

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

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

Handbuilding Techniques Pinching Pulling and molding Coiling Slab building

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

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