Descriptor Details

  • Descriptor Title
    Introduction to Ceramics (Archived - for reference only)
  • C-ID Number
    230
  • Units
    3.0
  • Hours
    0000
  • Date of Last Revision
    10/12/2017 04:44:01 PM PDT

General Description

Introduction to ceramics materials, concepts, and processes including basic design principles, creative development, hand-building, throwing, glaze techniques, firing and ceramic terminology. The course covers aesthetics and creative development of clay objects examining historical, contemporary, and personal modes of expression across cultures.

Prerequisites

No information provided

Corequisites

No information provided

Advisories

No information provided

Content

  1. Clay types and their relative advantages and limitations.
  2. The elements of art and ceramic terminology.
  3. Surface and firing techniques appropriate to an introductory study in ceramics, which may include but are not limited to slips, engobe, terra sigilata, glaze, burnishing, in various firing atmospheres and temperatures. 
  4. Visual problem solving exercises that develop ceramic work and require exploration and manipulation of the basic materials used to create ceramic works.
  5. Elements and organizing principles of ceramics including but not limited to pinch, coil, soft slab, hard slab, sgraffito, mishima, additive and subtractive techniques, and wheel work.
  6. Overview of ceramics as a major medium of artistic expression, including the history of clay and its role in historical and contemporary cultures as both artistic form and functional craft.
  7. Critical evaluation and critique of class projects using correct terminology in oral or written formats. 
  8. Studio, equipment, and material use and safety.  

Lab Activities

  1. Visual problem solving exercises that develop ceramic work and require exploration and manipulation of the basic materials used to create ceramic works.
  2. Studio projects that explore the elements and organizing principles of ceramics including but not limited to pinch, coil, soft slab, hard slab, sgraffito, mishima, modeling, carving, and wheel work.
  3. Development of skills and processes using a variety of surface and firing techniques appropriate to an introductory study in ceramics, which may include but are not limited to slips, engobe, terra sigilata, glaze, burnishing, in various firing atmospheres and temperatures. 
  4. Safe use of tools and specialized equipment.
  5. Critical evaluation and critique of class projects. 

Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

  1.  Differentiate clay varieties and ceramic processes;
  2. Create ceramic forms utilizing pinch, coil, soft slab, hard slab and throwing techniques;
  3. Analyze and demonstrate existing ceramic pieces and distinguish the forming processes used in creating them throughout history;
  4. Produce and apply surface treatment to a variety of different forms;
  5. Examine and describe historical and contemporary developments, trends, materials, and approaches in ceramics;
  6. Assess and critique ceramics in group, individual, and written contexts using relevant critique formats, concepts and terminology;
  7. Safely handle and use all studio equipment, tools, and materials.

Evaluation Methods

Portfolio of completed work;

Group and individual critiques in oral or written formats;

Written assignments, which may include quizzes, essays, exams, or reports.    

Textbooks

Speight, Charlotte and Toki, John, Hands in Clay: An Introduction to Ceramics.

Peterson, Susan and Peterson, Jan, Working with Clay.

Descriptor Administration

  • Public Review Needed
    No
  • Next Descriptor Review
    No information provided
  • Resubmission Requirements for Courses
    Descriptor changes were administrative only
  • Resubmission Deadline
    No information provided
  • Comments

    No information provided

  • Notes

     In Spring 2016 the Studio Arts FDRG revised the manner in which certain descriptors are included in the Studio Arts TMC by allowing for Articulation Agreement by Major (AAM) for the following descriptors: ARTS 220, ARTS 230,  ARTS 240,  ARTS 260,  ARTS 280,  ARTS 281,  and ARTS 282. Colleges that already received C-ID approval can continue to use the descriptors on their ADT degree, while allowing for AAM on the TMC for those without C-ID approval. As a result of this revision C-ID no longer accepts submissions for the descriptors. 

  • Keywords

    No information provided