{Ceramics 2} Focus for Monday, 9/30

{Ceramics 2}

9/30/13

Kicking it into high gear--

Firing of your two Raku pieces will be done no later than next Friday (but you are pushing it if you want to do any fancy glaze techniques).  Raku firing is on October 15th.

Make sure that you are using new clay for the Raku firing.  Feel free to grab a box in the back.

Grading Sketchbooks today, since I was out on Friday.

We will continue our weekly wheel work, after you have made two pieces for the Raku firing.

{Ceramics 1} Focus/Closure for Monday, 9/30

{Ceramics 1}

9/30/13

Focus:  How many fires does a ceramic piece go through before it is completed?

Objectives:

*Sketchbooks will be graded today since I was out sick on Friday.

*Remember to put your first name and last initial on the bottom of your pot.

*Continue working on theme lidded pinch pot.

*Demonstrations on lid making and flanges.

Closure:

Glaze has the same characteristic as glass when it melts and fuses onto a clay surface.  There are three basic ingredients in glaze: silica (the glass former), flux (temperature reducer), and alumina (the stabilizer).

{Ceramics 2} Focus for Thursday, 9/26

{Ceramics 2}

9/26/13

If your sketches have been approved by me, you may begin to work on your Raku pieces.

When working on your Raku pieces, think about how you can use negative space.  Any area in your design that you do not cover in glaze will become a smoky color because of the smoke from the firing.  

How are you going to use negative space in your design?

Examples:

Bowl shows negative space through the leaves.  The leaves are left without any white glaze so that they become a smokey color after firing.

Plate shows a nice design that leaves open space for the smoke of the Raku firing to make its mark.