UNIT 1: PROPERTIES OF CLAY

  • Origin of clay
  • Types of clay
  • Plasticity and shrinkage
  • Maturity temperature and porosity

UNIT 2: PROCEDURES

  • The role of our hands
  • Wedging/kneading clay
  • Appropriate and safe uses of pottery tools and equipment
  • Scoring and applying slip
  • How to log class notes, thumbnails and glazes used per project
  • Techniques of texture and design
  • Glazing techniques
  • Kiln firing

UNIT 3:  PINCH POT METHOD

(Complete 6 clay projects)

  • Proper wedging of clay
  • Working a single lump of clay to form various organic functional shapes with an even ¼” wall thickness

UNIT 4:  COIL METHOD

(Complete 6 clay pieces)

  • Proper wedging of clay
  • Creating coils of even thickness
  • Working different coil shapes and lines to make open and closed clay pieces
  • Scoring and slipping each layer of coil.

UNIT 5: SLAB METHOD

(Complete 6 clay pieces)

  • Proper wedging of clay
  • Proper use of rolling pin to make slabs with an even thickness
  • Scoring and slipping each layer of coil
  • Securing all joints

UNIT 6: INTRODUCTION TO WHEEL THROWING

(Complete 6 clay pieces)

  • Proper wedging of clay
  • Centering clay on the potter’s wheel
  • Throwing a symmetrical cylindrical form on the potter’s wheel
  • Trimming a thrown piece