Ceramicsistheartofmakingpotteryorworkingwithclay. Clayisnaturallyformedbytheerosionorbreakingdownoftheearth'ssurface.Foundworldwide itisprimarilymadeupofhydratedsilicatesofalumina.Thisiswhyrawclaycanbefoundincreek bedsandwetareas.Clayisplasticinnatureandcaneasilybemoldedintoforms.Blendedclays areknownasclaybodies. Inchoosingaclaybody,therearethreebasicconsiderations: FiringTemperature,Texture,andColor&GlazeResponse. FiringTemperature Thebasicfactorinchoosingaclaybodyisyourkiln.Determinewhattemperatureyoucanfireat andthenchooseaclaybodythatwillmatureatthattemperature.

e.Therearethreebasic temperaturerangesforclaybodies: EarthenwareClaybodiesCone06318502000F/10001160C MidRangeClaybodiesCone4721602260F/11601225C HighFireClaybodiesCone61022002400F/12001300C Texture Texturereferstothefeelortoothoftheclay,whichisachievedbytheadditionofcoarse groundfireclays,sand,orgrog.Pottersusuallyprefertheirwheelthrowingclaytobesmoother thantheirsculptureclay.Thisissimplyamatterofpreference,aswheelandsculptureclaycanbe usedinterchangeablybymanypotters. Color&GlazeResponse TerraCottahasabeautifulnaturalreddishbrowncolor,whichisoftentimesleftunglazed.Other clays,suchasporcelain,canbecoloredbyaddingoxidesorstains.Everycoloredclaywillcausea differentglazeresponse.Ifyouarelookingforthetruestcolorresponsefromaglaze,choosea whitefiringclay.

CeramicsNotes

TYPESOFCLAYBODIES:
Claybodiesaremadeupofmanydifferentkindsofclay,howeversomeofthemostcommonclay bodiesare: Earthenware:Lowfireclaythatisusuallyreddishbrown,gray,orwhiteincolor.Itworkswell withthrowingonthewheelandhandbuildingbecauseitissmoothandporous.Thisiswhatwe willbeusingduringceramics. Stoneware:HigherfiringclaythanEarthenware,inthemiddlerange,porousclaythatcanbe usedforhandbuildingandthrowing.ThisisusuallygroggierthanEarthenwareclay.Itisalittle moreexpensiveandglazesarehardertocontrol.Somestonewareclaybodiesaswellasglazes workbetterfiredinagaskilntoreachhighertemperatures. Porcelain:Middlerangetohighrangeoffiring,smoothintexture,andwhiteincolor.Thistype ofclayworksbetterwithwheelthrownorcastedfromamold,butbecausetheclaybodyissothin itisveryhardtoworkwithonthewheel.Thisclaybodyisalsomuchmoreexpensive.

 FireClay:Highestfiringclaycommonlyusedforinsulatingbrick,hardfirebrick,andkiln furniture.Firingofthisclaytakesaspecialgaskiln.

STAGESOFCLAY:
Beforeyoucanhaveafinishedclayproject,thebodyofclaymustgothroughthefollowing5 stagesslowlytomaturetheclay. STAGE#1GREENWARE:Claythathasnotbeenfired.Inthisstageclaycanalwaysbemelted downandreworkedforusableclay.Inthegreenwarestageasclaybeginstodryoutitgoes through3stagesbeforetheclaybodycanbefired. WetClay:Inthisstageclaycanbeeasilymanipulatedandformed. Leatherhard:Inthisstagetheclaybeginstodryout,leavingthebodyflexibleandtough.Asthe claydriesout,youwillnoticethecolorturnlighter.Youcanteasilysmoothpiecesofclay together,howeveryoumayusetheslipandscoremethod.Itmaybeeasiertoworkwithlarger piecesoncetheyhavedriedoutalittle. BoneDry:Inthisstage,clayismuchmorefragileasthemoistureisdrawnoutoftheclaybody. Piececaneasilybreak,especiallyifnotproperlyattached.Youwillnotbeabletoattachpieces backtogetheroncethepieceiscompletelydriedout.Whentheclaypiecefeelsroomtemperature itisreadyforthefirstfire. Onceyourpieceisbonedryfollowthisprocedure: Sandorsmoothyourpieceaswellassignorinitialit.Placeitonthetablebythekilntobefired. STAGE#2BISQUEFIRE:Thefirstfireyourpiecewillgothrough,roughlyabout1900degrees atthehottestpointitwillmatureandhardentheclaybody.Thisfiretakesroughly24hoursfrom starttofinishasitslowlyheatsandcoolsyourpiece. STAGE#3BISQUEWARE:Warethathasbeenbisquefiredandreadytobepaintedorglazed. Onceyourpiecehasbeenfired,paintitwithacrylicpainttobefinishedorglazeittobefireagain. Acrylicpaintedwaredoesnotgetrefired,thepieceisdoneoncethepaintdries.Besuretofollow allglazingandpaintingprocedures. STAGE#4GLAZEFIRE:Thesecondandlastfireyourglazedpiecewillneedtogothrough. Thisfireisalittlecooler,about1600degreesyetstillhotenoughtomeltandfusetheglass silicatesintheglaze.Thisfirealsotakesabout2daysbeforethewareiscoolenoughtosafely unloadthekiln. STAGE#5GLAZEWARE:Firedglazedware.

PARTSOFAPOT:

Lip/Rim:Thetopofyourpiece,sometimesdistinctanddifferentfromtherestofthepiece. Belly:Themainbodyofthepiece,whichcouldbeusedtoholdsomething.

Foot:Thebaseofthepiece,usuallyaringlikebaseonawheelthrownpieceformedbytooling excessclay.

OTHERTOOLSANDSUPPLIES

Kiln: Withoutakiln,potteryishardlypottery.Akilnbakesor"fires"potteryatveryhightemperatures tohardentheclayandmelttheglazeontothesurfaceofthepottery.Kilnsvarygreatlyinsize,and severaltypesareavailable.Somekilnsareintendedtofireonlyverysmalljewelrypieces.These kilnsareonlyseveralincheslargeandarealmostalwayselectricallyoperated.Otherkilnsareas largeasentireroomsandusedforindustrialceramicproducers.Thesehugekilnsareoperated electrically,withfireorwithgas.Occasionally,peoplewillfashionanoutdoorkiln.Theseare inexpensivekilnsthatareplacedoverafireandusedtocreateinterestingpatterningcausedby theunharnessedfire.Otherprimitivefiringmethodssuchaspitfiringarestillinusetodayfor moredecorativepieces. Kiln: WecurrentlyhaveisaSkuttKilnthatiselectricallyoperated.Iwillbefiringeverypieceofwork youcreate.OncetheschoolyearsgetsgoingandartworkiscreatedIusuallyrun1bisquefireand 1glazefireaweek.Becausetherearecertainfiringguidelines,youmustmakesureeachpiece youcreatehasmettheguidelinesinorderformetofireit.Refertosignspostedifyouforget.The firingrangethatweuseincludestemperaturesuptoabout2000degrees.Undernocircumstance isanyindividualtoputanythingthroughthepeepholes,open,orunloadthekilnwithoutmy permissionandhelp. Kilnfurniture,madefromfireclay,isveryfragileandexpensivetoreplace.Theseinclude:kiln posts,kilnshelves,etc. PotteryWheel: Tomakeperfectlysymmetricalpotterypieces,itisimportanttouseapotterywheel.Pottery wheelscomeintwomainvarieties:electricandkickwheel.Electricpotterywheelsarecontrolled withaswitchorapedal,muchlikeasewingmachine.Thisyearyouwillbeusingthepottery wheeltoformmanyofyourpots.Piecesthatarentmadewiththeuseofapotterywheelare calledhandbuiltinsteadofwheelthrownware.Thetermthrowingonthewheelcomesfrom theoldEnglishwordThrawanwhichmeansatwistingorspinningaction,whichcreatesanend product. WedgingBoard: Thismetalframedboxisfilledwithplastertoallowclaytobewedgedon.Theplasterabsorbs someofthemoistureoutoftheclayduringthewedgingprocess,soitisagoodideatowedgeclay thatisalittlemoisterthanyouwouldliketouse.Ononesideacanvasmatcoverstheplasterto allowformoreabsorptionwhilewedgingextrawetclay.Ametalwireisattachedtothebaseand topoftheboardtoallowpotterstocuttheclayinhalftocheckforairbubbles. ClayMixer: Theclaymixerisintendedtoremixclayfromscrapstosaveontime,energyandmoney.Wet scrapsarecombinedwithdrypowderedclaytomixintomoistclayforyoutouse.Thisisanice pieceofequipment,butalsocontainsverysharpbladesthatmixuptheclay.Studentsarenot allowedtooperateorgetclayoutofthemixer.Iwillmixuptheclayandemptythemixer.

 Scrapbuckets: ScrapsofUnfiredclayonlygointothescrapbuckets.Donotputanyothermaterials(paper towels,pencils,claytools,etc)intothescrapbucket,asscrapswillbemadeintoworkableclay. Bonedryclaywillmeltdowninthewateryslip.Ifyoueverneedanyclayslip,thiswouldbea goodplacetogetsome. ClayBarrel Weusethisratherlargegarbagecantoholdgood,useableclaytoworkwithforCeramicsclass. Toinsurethattheclaystaysmoist,putthegarbagesacksbackinthebucketontopandmakesure thelidisontight.Onlyputsoftmoistclaybackinthisbucketifyouwantgoodclaytoworkwith. Ifclayscrapsaretoodryortoowetfromwheelthrowing,puttheminthescrapbuckets.

SmallerClayTools
NeedleTool:Thesharpneedleisfirmlysetinaluminumhandle,whichisfinelytexturedto provideafirmgripforwethands.Thistoolmaybeusedtocutheavyclaystrips,tocutdesignsin clay,andtoputholesinclay. CutoffwiresorToggleCutters: Thistoolisusedforslicingandcuttinglumpclay.Italsoworkswellforcuttingpotsandother itemsoffofthebatafterthrownonthewheel.Harwood3togglehandlesarefirmlyfastenedto approximately18offinequalitystainlesssteel. MetalScraperorRib: Thistoolisusedforshaping,smoothing,andtrimmingpotteryshapes.Thesearemadefromthin, flexiblespringstainlesssteel. RubberScraperorRib: Thiskidneyshapedrubbertoolisusedforsmoothing,shaping,andfinishingpotterypieces. WoodenRib: Thistoolismadefromsmoothfinished,importedhardwood.Thistypeoftoolisusedtoemploy thebasicshapesrequiredforopening,shaping,curving,smoothing,andtrimmingwetclayonthe potterswheel. ModelingTools: Handcraftedtoolsaremadefromwoodwhereasmoldedonesaremadeoutofplastic.Theyare usedforcutting,slicing,smoothing,contouringandpatterndecoratinginsoftclay. RibbonTools: Thesetoolscomeindifferentshapesandsizesforlightcuttingtrimming,andslicing.Theendsare formedfromclockspringsteelandarefirmlyattachedtothehandleswithbrassferrules. RibbonSculptingToolSet: Theseminiaturesculptingtoolsaremadeoffineribbonsteeltreatedformaximumstrengthand arejusttheanswerforfinesculpting,detailing,andtrimming.

LoopTools: Thesetoolsareusedtoremovelargercontrolledamountsandshapesofclayfromwheelthrown piecesandclaysculpturepieces.Theshapedcuttingheadsaremadefromheavystainlesssteel ribbonwithsharpenededges.Ruggedhardwoodhandlesprovideasuregripandalloweasy manipulationofthesetoolsinwetclayorleatherhardclay. DoubleWireEndTool: Adoublewiretoolthatismadefromhighstrengthstainlesssteelisfirmlyattachedtohardwood handleswithbrassferrules.Designedformediumdutycuttingandslicingofclayastheedgesare moreroundedandblunt. Eraser/WipeOutTool: Softrubbertipatbothendsmakesthistooleasytosmoothandgetintotinyspacesonyourwet clayorleatherhardclaypiece. RollingPinorClayRollers: Clayisquicklyandeasilyrolledtotheproperthicknesswiththistool.Madewitheither2wooden handlesonbothsidesoronemetalhandle,bothrollersaremadefromsmoothhardwood. DecorativeRollingPins: Woodenrollingpintool,thatworkswellforimprintingdesignsintoclayprojects. BisqueFiredClayStamps: Thesefiredclaystampsworkwellforimprintingdesignsintoyourclaypieces.Youcaneasily designyourownbycarving,pressing,moldingclayintosomething.Oncefiredthenyoucaneither pressclayintothestampandpullouttoaddtoapieceorusethestamptopressitontoalarger piece. WoodStrips: Claythicknessstripsforrollinguniformthicknessslabsofclay.Stripsmadefromkilndriedwood. 24incheslongstripsvaryinsizethicknessfrom1/8,1/43/8,and1/2. GreenwareFile: Alightweight,flexibleandwashablefileisaneasilyheldtoolforcleaningceramicandporcelain greenwareaswellaswetcleaninglowfireporcelain.Itsflexibilityallowsthetooltofollowthe contourofthegreenwareforcleanlyfinishedpiecesandthecoarsesideofthetoolwilltakedown seamlines.Itwillalsoremovemostgougesandpits. DrywallSandpaper: Siliconcarbidemeshclothnotonlyworkswellforsandingdrywallbutforclayaswell.Theopen wholesquaredesignmakesittoughforevenclaytoclog.Forbestresultsuseonlyonboneday warewithalighttouch. JewelersFile: Thismetalfileallowsceramiststofilesmallareasofabisquefiredorglazedfiredpiece.For ceramics,thistoolworksbestforwideningholesofbisquefiredware.Becarefulwhenusingthis tool,asabisquefiredpieceisveryfragileandshardsofbrokenwarecanbesharp.

CamelhairBrush: Thistoolismadeoutofnaturalfinecamelhairandusedfortheapplicationofglazeonabisque firedclaypiece. MultistemJapaneseHakeBrush: Thisbrushallowsyoutoputalotofglazeonevenlyonyourpieceatonetimebeforeitdries. SliporGlazeTrailingBottle: Thiseasytosqueezecontainerisusedbypottersandceramiststotrailslipsandglazesintotiny areas. PlasticBag: Usedtowrapyourprojectintoavoiddryingoutortoputyourfinishedwareintotakehome. Drapelooselyaroundyourpiecetoallowwetprojectstoslowlydryout.Wrapprojectstightlyto insurewarefromdryingoutandtoallowforfutureworktobedoneonthepiece. PaperTowels: Theseworkwellforcleaningupmessesaswellasusefultokeepapiecemoist.Topreventapiece fromdryingoutoveralongerweekenddampenpapertowelsandwraparoundyourproject beforeyouwrapaplasticbagaround. WaterSprayBottle Thisisausefultooltohelpkeepyourprojectmoist.Topreventyourprojectfromdryingoutorto addextramoisturetoyourpiece,sprayyourprojectwithwater,wrapwetpapertowelsaround thepiece,andputaplasticbagtightlyaroundthepiece. CanvasMat Usethistohelpkeepyourprojectfromstickingtothetablewhenrollingoutaslabortokeepfrom cuttingthetablewhencuttingclay. Sponges: Therearemanydifferenttypesofspongesfrommanmadesyntheticspongestonaturalsponges grownintheocean.WewillusedifferenttypesofspongesinCeramicsclass.Somewillmore usefulinhelpingwithcleaningup,othersforwheelthrowingorapplyingglaze. Apron: Tokeepfromgettingyourclothesdirty,putthisonoverthem.Itservesmultiplepurposes. Bat: Thisroundplatefitsonthewheelheadtoallowforthepottertothrowapotandeasilyremove thepiecewithoutdistortingit. AluminumModelingWheel: Allaluminumwheelisexcellentformodeling,finishinganddecorating.7"headmovessmoothly onaballbearing.Accuratelymarkedwithcirclesforsizing.

GeneralClayTechniques:

Joiningpiecestogether:Whenjoiningpiecestogetherintheleatherhardclaystagealways remembertoscore(scratchupthesurface)andapplyslip(wateryclay).Piecesmayfalloffitnot properlyattached.Makesuretosmoothclayallaroundjoinedpieces. Whenapieceiscomplete,letthepieceslowlydryouttoavoidcracking.Youmaywanttocover thepiecewithalooseplasticbagforadayorsofirst.Thenremovethebagtoletitfinishdrying out. Topreventwarpingandpiecesfromblowinguptrytogetallareasthesamethicknessofnomore thaninch.Trytokeepfrommakingairpocketsasyouputclaypiecestogether.Ifyouare wheelthrowingwedgeclayfirsttogetairbubblesout. Ifapiecedriesoutmorethanyouwanteditto,youhaveacoupleoptions:Eitherspraytheproject withwaterandwraplotsofwetpapertowelsaroundthepiecefor13daysorscraptheproject andstartagainifyoudonthavedaystowait.Makesureyouplanahead,ifyouwanttokeep workingonaproject,keepitwetandwrappedup.

Cautions

DryClayinPowderform: Longtermexposuretothesilicatesinthedryclayformcansettleinyourlungsandcancause multiplehealthproblemssuchascancer.Takecautiontonotstiruptheclaydustintheair, includingblowingclaydustoffyourbonedryclayprojectandshakingclaymats. BroomandDustPan: Cleanupofclaydustorbrokenprojectscanbeabreeze,dontforgettousethesetools.Oncedone makesuretoalsousethepinkspraycleanerandpapertowelstocleanyourtableareatokeepall claydustundercontrol.

Glaze:

Aliquidsuspensionoffinelygroundmaterialsthatisappliedbybrushing,dipping,pouring, sponging,orsprayingthesurfaceofabisquefiredceramicpiece.Oncedonethepieceneedstobe firedtothetemperatureatwhichtheglazeingredientswillmelttogethertoformaglassysurface coating.Glazingthesurfacemakesitwatertight,addscolor,andcreatesafunctionalpieceyou caneatoutof.AlloftheglazedyouwillbeusinginCeramicsareleadfree.

GlazingProceduresforbrushingmethod:

1.Afteryourpiecehasbeenbisquefiredspongecleanwaterontoyour pieceorrinseout. 2.Shakeorstirtheglazeyouwanttouse(makesurethelidisontight). 3.Usingapaintbrushorspongeaddglazetoyourpiece.Usuallyyouwill needamin.of1thickcoatortwothincoats,dependingontheglaze.Do NOTpaintthebottomofthepieceoranypiecethatwillberestingonthe

kilnshelfwhenfiring. 4.Whendonetakeacleanspongeandwipeoffthebottomtoensurethat thereisntanyglazeonthebottom. 5.CleanupYourareaandsupplies.Putmaterialsbackwhereyougot themfrom.Rinseoutallglazecupsandbrushes.

Paintingasurface:

Ifyouwouldratherpaintasurfaceofapieceinsteadofglazingmakesurethepaintyouareusing saysacrylic.Acrylicpaintwillbewaterresistant,butmaynotwithstandheatsuchasa dishwasher.Acrylicpaintworksbestappliedtowarethatwillbeusedfordecorationpurposes suchasChristmastreeornamentsorfigurines.Youwillnotbeabletoeatordrinkoutofapiece thathasbeenpaintedwithacrylicpaint. Theadvantageofacrylicpaintisthatyoucanmixpaintcoloreasierandbeabletocontroltheend resultmore.Howeveronceapiecehasbeenglazedyoumaynotpaintoveritwithacrylicpaint,it willjustpeeloff.Planaccordingly,ifyouwantapiecetobeglazedandpainted,glazedtheareas youwanttobeglazedfirst,thenoncethepiecehasbeenfiredpainttheareasyouwanttopaint last.Donotplaceaacrylicpaintedpieceinthetobefiredarea.Paintwillburnandmakeamess alloveryourpiece.

WheelThrowingTools:
Whenthrowingonthewheeltomakeasymmetricalpotyoucanuseavarietyoftools.Themost commontoolsyouwillneedwillbekeptinawhitebucket:sponge,woodenribtool,andmodeling stick.Inadditiontothesetools,dontforgettouseabatonthewheelhead.

Throwingonthewheel:

#1Wedgeupaballofclay,beginnersstartwithaniceclayballabout1lb. #2Getyoursuppliesout:bat,bucketofwater,andwheelthrowingtools. #3Placetheballofclayfirmlyinthecenterofthewheelbat. #4Addsomewatertothetopofyourpiecesoitslideswellyourhands.Use waterasneededthroughthewholeprocess. #5Turnonthewheelorstartkicking. #6Centertheclayonthewheel,squeezingitintothecenteranddowntowards thebat.Compressanyairbubbles. #7Openuptheinsidewithyourthumbs,makingawell.Compresstheclay towardsthebottomuntilyougetaboutinchfromthebat.Donotgo throughyourpiece. #8Compressthesidesslowlywithyourfingersandmakeseveralpullsupward. #9Usingthesponge,smooththeformandcompressthelipofthepiece. #10Usethemodelingsticktotrimoffexcessclayaroundthefootofthepiece. #11Writeyourinitialsintheclaysliponthebatandplacetodryoutslowly. #12Cleanupyourmess!Pourwateroutofyourbucketandclayscrapsgoin scrapthebucket. #13Wipedownyourwheel,toolsandbucket.Putbackforthenextpersontouse.