Catalog Description
- Transfer Status
- CSU/UC
- Prerequisite
- ART 52
- Unit(s)
- 3.00
- Lecture: 34.00 Contact hours/68.00 Out of class hours/102.00 Total hours/2.00 Unit(s)
- Lab: 51.00 Contact hours/0.00 Out of class hours/51.00 Total hours/1.00 Unit(s)
- Total: 85.00 Contact hours/68.00 Out of class hours/153.00 Total hours/3.00 Unit(s)
Course Description: 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.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
- Describe and explain the uses of various types of clays, glazes, firing techniques, and elements of kiln design.
- Design and create sophisticated clay forms using a variety of forming techniques, such as coil, slab, wheel-throwing, extrusions, and combination methods.
- Utilize glaze calculation and advanced techniques of application to successfully achieve finished surfaces with desired colors, textures, and design elements.
- Describe, explain, and utilize the influences of historical, as well as contemporary precedents, in the creation of original sculpture and pottery.
- Create a portfolio of finished work that and demonstrates technical proficiency, originality, creative problem-solving, and personal self-expression.
Course Content
Topic Titles / Suggested Time Topic
Lecture
| Topics | Lec Hrs |
|---|---|
Portfolio Development: Photo-documentation of artwork for professional quality presentation; development of resume, and curriculum vitae to secure admission to 4-year programs, scholarships, gallery representation, and/or direct sales | 4.00 |
Special firings | 2.00 |
Glaze testing | 5.00 |
Ceramic relief sculpture | 2.00 |
Ceramic figurative sculpture | 2.00 |
Development of individual style and personal vocabulary of form and content | 2.00 |
Advanced wheel-throwing techniques | 6.00 |
Advanced hand-building techniques | 6.00 |
Historical and contemporary precedents in ceramics | 4.00 |
Introduction and orientation | 1.00 |
| Total Hours: | 34.00 |
Lab
| Topics | Lab Hrs |
|---|---|
Visual problem solving exercises that develop ceramic work and require self-exploration, as well as the manipulation of materials used to create ceramic works. | 6.00 |
Studio projects that explore advanced techniques and creatve processes of creating ceramic artworks, including but not limited to, coil, soft slab, hard slab, sgraffito, mishima, modeling, carving, wheel work, keeping a sketchbook and journaling. | 21.00 |
Development of advanced skills and processes using a variety of surface and firing techniques appropriate to an advanced study in ceramics, which may include but are not limited to slips, engobe, terra sigilata, glaze, burnishing, in various firing atmospheres and temperatures. | 10.00 |
Portfolio Development: Photo-documentation of artwork and developent of curriculum vitae and resume for professional quality presentation to secure admission to 4-Year programs, scholarships, gallery representation, and/or direct sales. | 4.00 |
Critical evaluation and critique of class projects. | 10.00 |
| Total Hours: | 51.00 |
Methods of Instruction
- Class Activities
- Demonstrations
- Homework: Students are required to complete two hours of outside-of-class homework for each hour of lecture
- Instructor Demonstrations
- Lecture
- Reading Assignments
Methods of Evaluation
- Quizzes
- Portfolios
- Projects
- Journal
- Class participation
- Short papers
Examples of Assignments
Reading Assignments
- Prior to attending class during which we examine the development of individual expression and personal voice, read "The Artist's Vision" in the textbook "The Ceramics Bible". Come to class prepared to discuss "The Creative Process", "Social Concerns", and "Personal Imagery".
- Read the chapter on "Worldwide Interaction" in the textbook "The Ceramics Bible". Come to class prepared to discuss 20th century ceramic artists and their works.
Writing Assignments
- Keep a journal in which you sketch and write entries describing the evolution of form and concept for all assigned clay projects.
- Pick two ceramic artists whose work you find especially intriguing. Write a 1-2-page paper describing, interpreting, and evaluating the artists' best works in comparison. What are the elements of their personal style?
Out-of-Class Assignments
- Attend a local or regional art show, an exhibition at an art museum, or visit online collections available through large museum websites (like the Asian Art Museum) to get ideas for sculptural forms. Take photographs (where permitted) or make sketches of forms you are interested in for future reference. Alternative options to complete this assignment will be identified in the instructions.
- Look for interesting architectural elements, that could be made out of ceramics, on older buildings in one or more of our local communities or research online. Photograph these and bring to class to share and to generate ideas.
Recommended Materials of Instruction
Kline, G. & Britt, J. (2018). Amazing Glaze: Techniques, Recipes, Finishing, and Firing. Voyageur Press, 1st. 9780143102427.
Taylor, L. (2022). The Ceramic Bible. Chronicle Books, Revised Edition. 9781797215143.
Other Learning Materials
Students will purchase their own clay and tools.
Minimum Qualifications
Art (Masters Required)
Ceramic Technology