Vocab• 1. Clay – A blend of material mostly comprised of

crushed granite, silica, alumina, and water.• 2. Lizella clay – This is the name of the red clay

that we use in our class. It is named after the location from which it is dug; Lizella, Georgia.

• 3. Ceramics – A general term applying to any fired clay object.

• 4. Wedging – Smashing and compressing clay to get out air pockets. Clay should be wedged well before you build with it.

vocab

• 5. Ware – A general term for any clay object, fired or not.

• 6. Earthenware – Porous ceramic works made from clays which can be fired at lower temperatures. The clay we use is an Earthenware type clay.

• 7. Greenware – A dry, unfired clay object. AKA: Bone dry. The clay is ready to be fired. This is clay’s most fragile state.

• 8. Bisque or bisque ware – Any undecorated clay object that has been fired one time. It can be recognized because it has turned orange.

vocab• 9. Leather hard – Clay that has dried some, but is

still pliable and tough. Leather hard clay is best for carving.

• 10. Pinch – The oldest method for shaping clay. Lumps of clay can be pinched into simple shapes like bowls. Pinching is not usually the best method for construction of larger pieces because pinching stretches and weakens the clay.

• 11. Coil – A rope-like strand of clay. Coils can be stacked and attached to build projects.

• 12. Slab – A thick, flat sheet of clay. Shapes can be cut from slabs. Slabs can be assembled to create projects.

vocab• 13. Scoring – Scratching the clay to create a rough

surface. When you are connecting pieces of clay you must score them first in order for a firm bond to be created.

• 14. Slip – A mixture of water and clay used as “glue” to hold pieces of clay together. Slip is added to scored surfaces to form a cement-like bond.

• 15. Kiln – The “oven” used to fire clay. Most kilns can fire up to approx. 2500 degrees F. Our kiln is set to fire up to approx. 1850 degrees F.

• 16. Firing – Applying heat to ceramic materials to cause a change in their chemical composition.

vocab• 17. Vitrify – To fully fuse ceramic material by

firing in a kiln. It becomes waterproof.

• 18. Cone – A ceramic term pertaining to kiln temperature.

• 19. Glaze – Finely ground glass, suspended in liquid, applied to ceramic ware to give it a glossy, glass like finish when fired. Glaze is usually painted onto bisque ware in 2-3 coats.

vocab• 20. Dry-footing – Leaving the bottom of a

ceramic piece unglazed to prevent it from sticking to the kiln shelf.

• 21. Stilting – Placing a ceramic piece on a small set of metal prongs called stilts. This is another method for keeping projects from sticking to the kiln shelf.

• 22. Recessing – Technique of putting an indentation in the bottom of pottery to help prevent warpage.

• 23. Cratering – Imperfections in glaze caused by rapid cooling, which freezes bubbles in the glaze.

• 24. Crazing – Hairline cracks which appear in glaze after firing.

• 25. Warpage – Deformation of ware during firing.