CERAMIC (hands-on technical skills)

Exhibit patience and persistence.

Per participant (or per 2):1 rolling pin1 plastic card1 knife or pin toolSome water

3.      Try to keep a thickness of 2 cm.

4.      Smooth both sides with a plastic card.

5.      Decide the form and size of the plate and cut it with a knife or pin tool accordingly. You can use another object as mold by putting it on the top of the clay sheet and cut it around it.

6.      Cut slits to help remove the clay smoothly.

7.      Use the rest of the clay to build up the edges of the plate.

8.      While turning the plate around, build up the edges. By placing the plate on a paper sheet, it will make it easier to turn it around.

9.      Curve the edges up.

10.   Smooth the edges by using a small piece of wet clay.

Experiment decoration techniques on clay.

Wooden modelling toolsLoop toolPotter’s Needles

3.      Decorate or draw the surface of the tile with any tool. (You may suggest a specific subject e.g. retrieved from local traditions)

4.     In case of installing the tile on the wall make sure to carve in some lines on the back surface if the tile is thick or scratch the surface if the tile is thin. In case of hanging the tile on the wall with a mechanism, with the use of a modelling tool press down and forward to create a notch hole.

Express artistically by designing a unique geometrical ceramic piece.Demonstrate appropriate use of art materials and supplies.

Slab rollerSpray bottleScoring tool

3.      Start with your palm on top of the cube or cylinder. Then, lean on top of the clay slowly to compress or flatten.

4.      Flip the clay to the other side and repeat the process (approx. 4 times).

5.      The clay will start taking the form of a slab. Work the body of the clay until it is about 2-3 cm.

6.      Even the thickness with a slab roller.

7.      Create as many slabs needed for the project.

8.      Prop the slab into what will be its final resting place.

9.      Slip and score the edges of the slabs with some water to join the parts together.

10.   Attach the bottom

11.   Cut out the excess clay from the bottom slab.

Create a simple structure with clay.

3.      Revolve the ball while pressing the walls out evenly with the other hand.

The walls can be as thick as you’d like them. However, make sure you don’t make them any thinner than 1 cm or they will collapse.

Practice coil pot technique and learn it through the required repetition of the process.

Wooden trimming toolModelling tool

2.      Keeping the fingers flat, form clay into sausage shapes. Roll them into ropes (coils). (0.5-1.5 cm thick).

3.      Coils are pressed together starting from pressing the first one on the base.

4.      Use a modelling tool to smooth the surface.

5.      Gaps are filled with small balls of clay.

The number of ropes depends on how tall the pot would be.Coils should be made quickly to avoid losing too much moisture in the clay.

Express artistically by creating unique forms.

Tell the differences of glazes.

Wax resistBrushes

3.      Apply wax to the base of your object, and wherever two removable parts meets.

4.      Stir each pre-mixed glaze thoroughly. Follow the instructions on the packaging and stir until there is no sludge on the bottom or watery layer on top. You may want to deflocculate your glaze with Epsom salt. This simple process will keep the sludge forming particles in suspension. Fill a small clear cup with 1/4 cup or 60ml of water per 5-gallon bucket of glaze, slowly sprinkle Epsom salt into the water and stir, add the salt until it is saturated (when you have enough salt in the water it will no longer dissolve), when you see salt on the bottom of your cup you have reached the appropriate suspension. Add this liquid to your glaze and stir completely.

5.      Pour each glaze into a small dish with its own brush. Keep each color separate and use different brushes to avoid mixing them.

6.      Apply the underglaze with your brushes. Decorate the object however you wish using brushes dipped in the underglazes. This is an open-ended process, and you may choose to get creative and drip, flick, or even spray the glaze on if you want a different effect than detailed brushwork. It is also completely acceptable to cover the entire surface with a single underglaze if you want a simple, solid color.

7.      Scrape off undesired glaze with a metal object that you only use for clay workshops. If you apply glaze in the wrong place, or if it begins to drip, scrape it off with a knife or other metal object. Wipe with a damp sponge afterward.

8.      Glaze the inside of hollow containers with narrow openings. If you are glazing a ceramic pot, mug, or other object with an inside surface, it may be difficult to see inside or reach in with the brush. Instead, you could pour a small amount of glaze inside and roll the object around in your gloved hands to apply it evenly.

9.      Let each layer of glaze dry before applying the next.

10.   Finish the underglaze process by applying an overglaze. Overglaze creates a glossy, protective finish over the surface of the object.

11.   Fire the glaze according to instructions. Glazes are either low temperature or high temperature, and firing them at the wrong setting may cause the ceramic to break or the glaze fails to set.

Intentional drips are often used to great effect by ceramic artists but be aware that thick drips may alter the texture of the pottery and could cause improper firing.For participants with minimum ability to recognize colors, you may relate the colors with smells and other senses.