CeramicsCertificate of AchievementAA Degree

This course is an introduction to principles, elements, and practices of drawing, employing a wide range of subject matter and drawing media. Focus on perceptually based drawing, observational skills, technical abilities, and creative responses is placed on materials and subject matter. (C-ID ARTS 110).

This course is an introduction to ceramics materials, concepts, and processes, including basic design principles, creative development, hand-building, throwing (potter's wheel), glaze techniques, firing and ceramic terminology. Students will experiment with a variety of forms, glazes, and other surface treatments, and will be introduced to historical as well as contemporary ceramic artworks.

This course is an exploration of clay as a medium of expression, using the potter's wheel and/or hand-building techniques to create sculptural and functional forms. Students will continue to develop techniques in basic wheel-throwing and/or hand-building, clay body formulation, surface enrichment techniques, and kiln firing. Students will also become familiar with historical as well as contemporary ceramic artworks.

This course will deal with the various aspects of operating an educationally directed art gallery including scheduling, lighting, publicity, security, budget, receptions, show themes and reviews. The Butte College Coyote Gallery will function as the class laboratory, and approximately two to three shows will be organized and installed each semester. (Annual student show in Spring semester). In addition, students will learn the business of art in order to be able to successfully compete in the professional market place.

Work experience is an experiential course where students apply what they have learned in the classroom to a work environment. The course offers students the opportunity to develop technical skills, explore possible career choices, build confidence, network with people in the field, and transition into the world of work. Work experience may include paid or unpaid employment. Students may earn one semester unit of college credit in this course for every fifty-one hours of work experience. Students may enroll in this course up to 8 unit(s) to complete the entire curriculum of the course. A maximum of sixteen units can be earned in work experience courses during a student’s enrollment with Butte College.

Prerequisite: Permission of Work Experience Education instructor and employment supervisor

This course expands on the hand-building and wheel-throwing skills learned in the introductory class, with an emphasis on a variety of low-fire glaze and surface techniques, setting up additional possibilities for creative expression.

This course is an in-depth exploration of clay as a medium of expression, with emphasis on individual ideas and directions. Students will concentrate on creating a personal vocabulary of imagery, construction methods, and surface treatments, and will develop and draw upon a broad awareness of historical as well as contemporary ceramic artworks.