Ceramics

The art and process of making objects from clay

Clay – Decomposed RockBasically, clay is mud

Clay Mine

Clay drying

Prepared & processed clayPowder & plastic

Different types of clay bodies Earthenware Terra Cotta Stoneware Porcelain

Stages of Clay

• Powdered• Slip• Slurry• Plastic• Leatherhard• Greenware

Ceramic Process

1. Wedging ~ the process of mixing the clay by hand by rotating and pressing a clay ball on a surface. The purpose is to thoroughly homogenize the clay and to remove all air bubbles.

2. Construction ~ handbuilding or throwing

Pinch pot

Coil Construction

Slab construction

Carving & Modeling can be done with any construction method

The ceramic process (continued)

3. Leatherhard ~ Clay that is partially dry to be slightly stiff. Some slab construction and carving is best done in this stage.

4. Greenware ~ unfired pottery that is bone dry. In this stage, the clay is most fragile

5. Bisque Fire ~ The process of firing unglazed greenware in order to harden the clay

6. Bisqueware

Unglazed pottery that has been fired to a low temperature in order to harden the clay and make it more durable for glazing.

7. Glaze ~ a mixture of chemicals in a liquid state that when fired to high temperatures fuses to a ceramic surface and creates a glassy coating. The process of applying glaze to a clay surface.

8. Glaze fire ~ The kiln reaches temperatures over 2200F during glaze firing. This causes the powdered glaze to transform into a strong, glassy coating.