Ceramics Terms

Ceramics: Greek word for keramos, meaning “potter’s clay.”

Dates back to c. 25,000 BC.

Kiln: Oven in which to fire clay.

Terms/Definitions

Kneading/wedging: Process of preparing clay before use to mix clay and expel air pockets.

*If you are NOT using new clay, then clay MUST be kneaded and wedged before use.

*If you do not do so, the clay may explode or chip off in large chucks during the firing stage due to air pockets.

“Gluing”

Slip: Liquid clay; clay with water.Score: To lightly cut lines into surface of clay.Slipping and scoring: Method of applying or “gluing” clay

to the surface of a piece of work.

*You MUST slip and score every piece of clay that will be attached to another piece of clay.

*If you do not, those clay pieces will fall off or explode during the firing stage due to air in between pieces.

Building Stages (3)

1. Plastic: Stage of clay where it is flexible and capable of being molded and shaped. New clay.

2. Leather-hard: Stage of clay where it is fairly stiff and capable of being incised, pierced, etc.

3. Bone-dry: Stage of clay where it is ready to be fired; appears white like bone. Very fragile at this stage. Cannot be decorated, etc.

Firing Stages (2)

Firing: Process of applying controlled and sustained heat to clay or glazed clay in a kiln (1st stage, 2nd stage).

Greenware: Clay that is ready to be fired. When clay is bone-dry, it is ready to be fired. It is then called greenware by ceramicists.

2. Bisque: Clay that has been fired only once and is not glazed. At this point, it is now considered to be “ceramic.” It is called bisque-ware by ceramicists.

Glazing

Glazing: Process by which glaze is applied to bisque-fired clay before firing.

*Glaze must be applied evenly and neatly with a clean brush.

*3 coats are recommended.

*Do NOT glaze any area that is considered to be the “bottom” of a ceramic object. The glaze will melt, stick to the inside of the kiln, and ultimately ruin both the kiln and the ceramic piece.

Types of Building (6)

1.Pinching: Simplest and most direct of hand-forming clay where it is “pinched” with the fingers and thumb.

2.Slab building/slabbing: Method of forming pottery objects using flat sheets or “slabs” that are slipped and scored together.*Slab building will be used for the luminary project.

3. Press molding/molding: Method of forming pottery objects by pressing sheets of clay over a surface of a mold.

Types of Building (cont’d)

4.Coil building/coiling: Method of building clay forms from ropes of clay or “coils” that are placed directly on top of one another.

5.Throwing: Process of hand-forming a mass of soft plastic clay on a rotating wheel.

6. Reducing (reduction): Process of molding clay by removing or “reducing” excess clay in order to form.

Types of Decorating (5)

1.Applied decoration/applying: Process of adding or “applying” clay to the surface of a piece of work up until it becomes leather-hard.

2.Impressing: Process of making marks by impressing objects into a clay surface while clay is somewhat soft but not too hard.

3. Incising: Process of decorating clay by cutting into or “incising” the surface of the clay.

Types of Decorating (cont’d)

4.Rolled decoration/rolling: Process of decorating the surface of plastic clay by using simple textured rollers.

5.Pierced decoration/piercing: Process of cutting through or “piercing” holes in the clay once it is leather-hard.

*Piercing will be used for the luminary project.

*One other form of decoration will also be required.

And lastly…

Sculpture: Art of carving wood, chiseling stone, casting or welding metal, molding clay or wax, etc., into 3-D representations.

Utilitarian: Of or having to do with usefulness over “beauty.” Applied art is art that is meant to be functional as well as visually pleasing.

Project Criteria• Create an 6x6" ceramic tile dedicated to an

artist or culture

• Tile design will use symbols, marks and colors that represent your artist or culture

• Tile design includes incised, impressed, applied and reductive techniques

• Ceramic tile uses a gloss and matte glaze finish and at least two (2) colors or tones