Description:

This course is designed to build a conceptual and manual foundation for future ceramics education. Students will study the properties of clay, its preparation, hand and wheel techniques, surface design, firing methods, fundamental ceramic terms, principles of design, introductory ceramic history and orientation to safe practices for the ceramic artist. Emphasis will be on developing skills appropriate to the beginning student for the purpose of creative and technical expression. 6 hrs./wk.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor's course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Prerequisites: NONE

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Distinguish and define the origins, properties and types of various clay bodies, including earthenware and stoneware.
2. Demonstrate a proficiency appropriate to the beginning student of the techniques of clay preparation and handling.
3. Demonstrate a proficiency in the fundamental techniques used in hand-built ceramics such as pinch, coil and slab construct appropriate to the beginning student.
4. Demonstrate a proficiency appropriate to the beginning student of the basic techniques of wheel-thrown ceramics such as centering, opening, pulling up, shaping and trimming, to include a proficiency in basic forms, i.e., cylinder and bowl.
5. Demonstrate a proficiency in the use of various methods to enhance ceramic wares through surface design such as texture and embellishment appropriate to the beginning student.
6. Define the different means and methods used in firing ceramic wares, to include bisque and glaze firings.
7. Demonstrate an ability to use the fundamental vocabulary of ceramic artists that describes ceramic form, function, anatomy, techniques and processes.
8. Demonstrate an ability to use the principles of design to create, develop and describe ceramic forms appropriate to the beginning student.
9. Distinguish and describe historical ceramic wares and firing methods by culture and/or region, i.e., early uses, Mediterranean, Orient, Africa, America and Europe appropriate to the beginning student.
10. Demonstrate the ability to exercise safe practices for the ceramic artist, such as identifying hazardous materials, protective measures and disposal of those materials.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Distinguishing and Defining the Origins, Properties and Various
Types of Clay Bodies, Including Earthenware and Stoneware
   A. Trace the origin of clay, including:
      1. Primary
      2. Residual
      3. Sedimentary
   B. Describe and use the properties of clay in projects, including:
      1. Plasticity
      2. Tooth
      3. Hardness
      4. Porosity
   C. Identify and use appropriate clay bodies in individual projects,
including:
      1. Earthenware
      2. Stoneware
      3. Porcelain

II. Preparation and Handling of Clay
   A. Prepare clay using appropriate techniques for both wheel and
non-wheel methods of
manipulation, including:
      1. Wedging
      2. Storage
      3. Reclaiming
   B. Handle clay using appropriate techniques for both wheel and
non-wheel methods, including:
      1. Wet clay/plastic
      2. Leather-hard
      3. Bone-dry
      4. Bisque-fired
      5. Glazes

III. Hand-Built Ceramics
   A. Use the pinch technique to produce ceramic ware, including:
      1. Pinching open form
      2. Pinching onto form
   B. Use the coil construction technique to produce ceramic ware,
including:
      1. Hand-rolled
      2. Extruded
   C. Use slab construction techniques to produce ceramic ware,
including:
      1. Hand-rolled
      2. Machine-rolled
      3. Methods of joining
   D. Apply molds to slab construction to produce ceramic ware,
including:
      1. Drape-slump and hump
      2. Press molds

IV. Wheel Techniques for Producing Ceramic Ware, Including Cylinders,
Jars, and Bowls
   A. Prepare clay for the throwing process.
      1. Use the kneading process of clay preparation
      2. Use the wedging process of clay preparation
   B. Center clay
   C. Open clay
   D. Spiral pull-up practice
   E. Shape or form clay
   F. Trim clay

V. Surface Design Techniques
   A. Identify the appropriate surface techniques for each stage of the
clay:
      1. Techniques for the plastic stage, including:
         a. Slip marbling, feathering and trailing
         b. Embossing
      2. Techniques for the leather hard stage, including:
         a. Sgraffito
         b. Slip applications
      3. Techniques for bone dry stage, including:
         a. Terra sigillata
         b. Incising
      4. Techniques for bisque fired stage, including:
         a. Stains and Oxides
         b. Glazes
      5. Specific glaze application techniques
         a. Describe the purpose of glazes, including function and
decorative aspects
         b. Describe the characteristics of the various types of glazes,
including glossy, matte,
crackle, transparent and opaque.
         c. Outline the application methods, including spray, dip and
pour.
         d. Explain temperature ranges and the impact on glazes, including
low and high fire
ranges.
   B. Apply appropriate surface techniques, listed above, to enhance a
variety of individual ceramic ware projects in the studio.

VI. Firing Ceramic Ware
   A. Define and use a variety of glazes, including:
      1. Low fire glazes
      2. High fire glazes
   B. Describe and demonstrate various types of firing fuels and methods,
including:
      1. Electric
      2. Gas
    
VII. General Principles of Design
   A. Define form and its elements, including:
      1. Contrast
      2. Gesture, including rhythm and movement
      3. Unity
   B. Define surface quality and describe its elements, including:
      1. Texture
      2. Decoration
   C. Apply appropriate design principles to enhance a variety of
individual ceramic projects in the studio.

VIII. Ceramic Form and Design
   A. Describe the various elements of form in ceramic ware, including
formal and informal analysis.
   B. Define and describe the anatomy of form as its relates to vessels
and non-vessels, including:
      1. The vessel lip, neck, shoulder, belly and foot
      2. The sculptural elements of organic/geometric, mass/void and
surface
      3. The role of profile and volume in vessel forms

IX. Historical Ceramics
   A. Describe and identify historical ceramic ware and their firing
methods by culture and/or
regions, including:
      1. Early uses/prehistory
      2. Mediterranean
         a. Egypt
         b. Asia
         c. Greece
      3. Orient
         a. China
         b. Korea
         c. Japan
         d. Persia
      4. Africa
      5. Americas
         a. Mesoamerican
         b. Isthmus
         c. South
         d. North
      6. Europe
   B. Describe and identify historical ceramic ware and their firing
methods for contemporary
America, including:
      1. United States
         a. Early pottery
         b. 1920 through 1940
         c. Contemporary, 1950 to present
   C. Describe specific cultural and technological influences for each era
and locale.

X. Safe Studio Practices
   A. Identify hazardous materials and processes common to the ceramics
studio.
   B. Safely handle hazardous materials, including their disposal, and
apply safe processes in the
ceramic studio setting.
   C. Describe and follow protective measures for:
      a. Inhalation
      b. Direct contact/absorption
      c. Ingestion

XI. Attitudes and Work Habits
   A. Identify and develop positive attitudes toward tasks and fellow
students appropriate for the
studio, including giving and accepting criticism and praise.
   B. Identify and develop productive work habits, including attending to
detail, completing tasks, maintaining the work setting and recording
data.
   C. Identify and develop collaborative/teamwork skills, including
solving problems in groups, building consensus and responding to
supervision.

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

   Examinations           20-40% of grade
   Projects/Assignments   60-80% of grade
                            100%

Attendance: 21 or more unexcused studio/lecture hours will result in
receiving a grade of failure in the course; 10 to 20 unexcused
studio/lecture hours will result in the reduction of the final grade.

Attitude and Work Habits: Although attendance is essential, productive
attitudes and work habits affect morale, efficiency, accuracy and safety
in the studio and will be a factor in determining grades.  In addition,
collaboration and teamwork will be expected and evaluated.

Participation: Students will be assessed on their degree of participation
in the following collaborative activities: Critiques, Demonstrations,
Class discussions, Studio maintenance, Safe practices

General Competencies: Students will be evaluated through testing or studio
behavior in the following areas: Fundamental ceramic vocabulary, Ceramic
history, Ceramic materials, Techniques/processes

Studio Project Skills: Students will be evaluated in the following skills:
Clay preparation, Building techniques (pinching, coiling, slab, wheel),
Decoration techniques

Studio Project Problem Solving: Students will be evaluated on the
following components of the problem solving process: Ability to analyze
the problem’s requirements, Development of a range of possible
solutions, Exploration of possible solutions in a two- to
three-dimensional medium, Implementation leading to a final result,
Evaluation of the result.

Caveats:

1. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor of any disability, which will require special accommodation in this course.
2. Although care will be taken with individual student work, the process of drying, firing and glazing may sometimes result in loss of that work.

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.