my ceramics module

My Ceramics ModuleTEA BOWLS, FIGURES, TROPHIES AND OTHER RANDOM STUFF...

f.i.g.u.r.i.n.e.s

* In this lesson we made rather unflattering* clay models of each other from red modelling clay that we would glaze and fire later on.

* We experimented with different tools to add texture and detail, and got a general feel for making things from clay. *maybe not quite this

unflattering

t.e.a b.o.w.l.s

*We were taught to ‘throw’ things from smoother clay on the potting wheels. *Learnt a little about the tradition of Japanese tea ceremonies/*Threw some very basic tea bowls on the potting wheels.*I made mine seem less wonky by adding little pouring lips to the rims.

t.r.o.p.h.i.e.s

*We were given the task of making ‘ceramic trophies’ on the wheel. *We made ridiculous shapes and joined other pieces of thrown work together.*Mine all fell to bits, so in the end I cheated and added a few pretty bits and some handles to a tea bowl.

r.a.n.d.o.m o.b.j.e.c.t.s

*We were given the challenge of making something totally ‘unceramic’, such as tubes of toothpaste, or pocket watches.*This was a cool experiment in how clay can imitate so many materials.

f.i.r.i.n.g

*We fired our projects in huge ovens called kilns that heat up to around 100 degrees.*The figures were fired in a little, low heat kiln called the raku kiln.*Firing cooks the clay and keeps it from breaking easily or being damaged by water. It also changes the colour.

g.l.a.z.i.n.g

*We experimented with different sorts of glaze.*The glazes all turned out very different to how we imagined.*We did colour experiments on our trophies but the clear protective glaze that we put over top didn’t really... Go clear so we ended up with cracked white glaze.

t..h..e e..n..d