Intro to Ceramics for Beginners.

1. Ceramics-
Brief
Intro

2. Ceramics versus Pottery
What is the difference between
a ceramicist and a potter?
Eva Hild, (1966-) Ceramic artist, Sweden.
Potter in Afghanistan, early 1970s

3. Clay Stages
• 1. Wet clay

4. Clay Stages
• 1. Wet clay
• 2. Leatherhard

5. Clay Stages
• 1. Wet clay
• 2. Leatherhard
• 3. Greenware
(must be bone dry)

6. Clay Stages
• 1. Wet clay
• 2. Leatherhard
• 3. Greenware
• 4. Bisqueware

7. Clay Stages
• 1. Wet clay
• 2. Leatherhard
• 3. Greenware
• 4. Bisqueware
• 5. Glazeware

8. Joining Clay Pieces
1. Score: Tiny lines! 2. Slip: Liquid Clay
3. Press together &
Smooth edges.

9. WATCH! It’s so cool!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=i5iPt-2s_uM

10. Forming methods
• Pinchpot
• Inserting the thumb
of one hand into
the clay and lightly
pinching with the
thumb and fingers
• Slowly rotating the
ball in the palm of
the other hand.

11. Let’s Watch how to make a pinch pot!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS7M77pDuYg

12. Forming methods
• Pinchpot
• Coil
• Rolling out coils,
or ropes, of clay
and joining them
together with the
fingers or a tool.

13. -Roll the coils so
that they are a
little thicker than
a pencil.
-Then stack the
coils one on top
of another.

14. Let’s watch a video on Coil!
• http://www.yout
ube.com/watch?
v=bRPookbxzhI

15. Forming methods
• Pinchpot
• Coil
• Slab

16. What do you have
to do to the walls
before attaching?

17. How to start a slab box
• http://www.youtube
.com/watch?
v=ERMvSHB9xHg

18. Finishing the Ceramic Creation
• Smoothing the
walls of the piece
with a sponge or
just your hands.

19. Finishing the Ceramic Creation
• Adding Details while
the clay is still wet!
• Never work with clay
that is dry! It is very
toxic and the dust
should never be
inhaled!
• This is why we must
clean really well!!

20. Finishing the Ceramic Creation
• Painting Bisqueware
with acrylics or glaze.