Ceramics Course

Lesson 1 • Types of Clay Bodies

Examine earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain properties and firing ranges. Understanding clay bodies guides material selection for every project in the course.

Lesson 2 • Clay Preparation and Wedging

Teaches reclaiming, conditioning, and wedging clay to remove air pockets. Properly prepared clay prevents cracking and structural failure in all forming techniques.

Lesson 3 • History and Overview of Ceramics

Survey ceramics from ancient earthenware to contemporary studio practice. Establishes cultural context that informs material and design choices throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Pinch Pot Technique

Introduces the pinch method as the most direct way to form clay by hand. Develops tactile sensitivity to wall thickness that supports all other hand-building methods.

Lesson 2 • Coil Building Methods

Covers rolling uniform coils and blending them to build tall, complex forms. Coil technique enables large-scale work beyond the limits of pinch construction.

Lesson 3 • Surface Refinement and Drying

Addresses smoothing, compressing, and controlled drying to prevent warping and cracking. Proper drying management is essential before any bisque firing.

Lesson 1 • Understanding the Potter's Wheel

Introduces wheel mechanics, body posture, and hand positioning for effective throwing. Correct ergonomics prevent injury and establish control from the first session.

Lesson 2 • Pulling Walls to Height

Develops the coordinated inside-outside pressure needed to raise thin, even walls. Consistent pulling technique is the core skill for all wheel-thrown forms.

Lesson 3 • Centering Clay on the Wheel

Teaches the pressure sequences needed to center clay without wobble. Centered clay is the non-negotiable foundation for every thrown form.

Lesson 4 • Opening and Flooring the Form

Covers creating the interior cavity and establishing a level floor. A well-opened form determines the final height and wall uniformity of the piece.

Lesson 1 • Spouts, Lids, and Knobs

Introduces throwing and attaching spouts, fitting lids, and forming knobs. These elements require precise measurement and fit for functional success.

Lesson 2 • Trimming Foot Rings

Covers centering leather-hard pieces and using trimming tools to carve foot rings. A well-trimmed foot ring improves stability, aesthetics, and glaze application.

Lesson 3 • Joining Thrown and Hand-Built Elements

Addresses combining wheel-thrown and hand-built components into a single piece. Matching clay moisture levels and using proper scoring prevents joint failure.

Lesson 1 • Stamping and Texture Application

Covers pressing found objects, bisque stamps, and texture mats into soft clay. Texture adds visual interest and can disguise surface imperfections effectively.

Lesson 2 • Underglaze Painting

Covers applying underglazes to greenware and bisqueware for detailed painted surfaces. Underglazes fire stable under a clear glaze, enabling precise color control.

Lesson 3 • Carving and Incising Clay

Teaches cutting patterns into leather-hard clay using loop tools and knives. Carving depth and timing directly affect the crispness of the final fired surface.

Lesson 4 • Slip and Engobe Decoration

Introduces colored slips and engobes applied by brush, dip, and trailing methods. Slip decoration must be applied at the correct clay stage to bond without flaking.

Lesson 1 • Layering and Combining Glazes

Explores overlapping glaze layers to create depth, movement, and color interaction. Controlled layering expands the visual range beyond single-glaze application.

Lesson 2 • Preparing and Testing Glazes

Covers measuring, mixing, and sieving glazes to achieve correct specific gravity. Test tiles fired before production work prevent costly glaze failures.

Lesson 3 • Glaze Chemistry Fundamentals

Introduces flux, silica, and alumina roles in glaze formation and surface quality. Understanding the glaze recipe triangle prevents most application and firing defects.

Lesson 4 • Glaze Application Methods

Teaches dipping, pouring, brushing, and spraying glazes for different coverage effects. Each method suits specific form types and desired surface qualities.

Lesson 1 • Kiln Types and Components

Surveys electric, gas, and wood kiln designs and their key mechanical components. Knowing kiln anatomy enables safe operation and effective troubleshooting.

Lesson 2 • Bisque Firing Process

Covers loading greenware, setting a bisque firing schedule, and interpreting results. Bisque firing burns out organics and creates a porous surface ready for glazing.

Lesson 3 • Kiln Loading for Glaze Firing

Addresses spacing, stacking, and kiln wash application to prevent glaze drips and fusing. Proper loading protects kiln furniture and maximizes firing efficiency.

Lesson 4 • Glaze Firing Schedules

Teaches programming firing curves for low-fire, mid-fire, and high-fire glazes. Correct firing schedules determine glaze surface quality and clay body maturity.

Lesson 1 • Critique, Reflection, and Portfolio

Structures peer critique sessions and guides students in documenting work for a portfolio. Critical reflection consolidates learning and prepares students for professional presentation.

Lesson 2 • Designing a Functional Ceramic Series

Guides students through sketching, prototyping, and refining a set of related functional pieces. Series thinking builds consistency in proportion, surface, and glaze across multiple works.

Lesson 3 • Throwing Large and Altered Forms

Covers throwing with larger clay amounts and altering thrown forms while still soft. Alteration expands the formal vocabulary beyond symmetrical wheel-thrown shapes.

Lesson 4 • Sculptural and Conceptual Approaches

Introduces non-functional ceramic sculpture and concept-driven making strategies. Students explore how material, form, and surface can communicate ideas beyond utility.