Ceramics

Ceramics courses provide the opportunity to become familiar with the physical characteristics and creative potentials of plastic clay materials.  Functional and sculptural assignments provide a vehicle for the development of handbuilding and wheelthrowing techniques.

The ceramics studio includes all of the necessary materials and equipment for quality instruction in handbuilding and wheelthrowing classes.  It has multiple kilns including electric, natural gas, raku, soda vapor, and wood fired. The studio also has pottery wheels, a slabroller, canvas covered worktables, a humidity controlled damproom, and separate rooms for storage and glazing. The ceramics studio is located in Building 5, Room 104.

 

For examples of student work, see the Student Gallery

 

ART154 Pottery 1-Handbuilding

3 credit hours, 6 Lab hours

Introduces handbuilding ceramic objects. Includesbasic form and design considerations as well as pinch, coil, slab, press mold, decoration, and glazing techniques. F, W, Sp, Su

ART155 Pottery 2-Beginning Wheel Throwing

3 credit hours, 6 Lab hours

Introduces producing pottery using the potter's wheel. Emphasizes forming, trimming, decorating, glazing, and firing of projects, as well as visual and functional form considerations. F, W, Sp, Su

ART156 Pottery 3-Intermediate Techniques

3 credit hours, 6 Lab hours

Expands on basic wheel throwing skills through a series of intermediate projects. Includes producing and testing glazes, lidded containers, teapots, combined forms, altered forms, kiln theory and design, and alternative firing techniques. Prerequisite: ART154 and ART155, or consent of instructor. Sp

ART199H1 Ceramic Surface Decoration

3 credit hours, 6 Lab hours

Introduces ceramic surface decoration. Includes a variety of prefired processes and techniques to decorate and embellish clay surfaces. Prerequisite: ART154, ART155, and ART156 or consent of instructor. Offered as needed.

ART254 Pottery 4 Low-Fire Ceramics

3 credit hours, 5 Lecture/Lab hours

Introduces low-fire ceramic materials, including both low-tech and high-tech application and processes. Prerequisite: ART154, ART155, ART156, or consent of instructor. Offered as needed.

ART292 Ceramic Sculpture

3 credit hours, 6 Lab hours

Introduces the characteristics and potential of clay as a sculptural material. ART117 recommended. W