Wide World of Clay Basic Terminology to Get

Wide World of Clay Basic Terminology to Get You Started

Ceramics: Pottery or hollow clay sculpture fired at high temperatures in a kiln to make them harder and stronger.

Vessel: A hollow container for holding something. Can also be “pottery”

Pinch Pot: Vessel created with basic pinching technique. Walls of vessel should be thin and smooth

Wedge: Clay is thoroughly kneaded before used to remove air pockets.

Coil Construction: Coils are long, snake-like ropes of clay that are used in making pottery.

Slab Construction: A pottery technique in which a form is built up by joining shapes cut from thick sheets of damp clay.

Scoring: To make scratches or creases in pieces of clay to be joined together.

Slip: Liquid made by mixing finely ground clay with water.

Bisque ware: Clay that has been fired once but not glazed.

Glaze: Thin coating of minerals which produces a glassy transparent or colored coating on bisque ware.

Kiln: Oven that can reach very high temperatures and is used to fire clay until it hardens

First Clay Project: • Abstract NATURAL FORMS • You will learn the basic techniques of hand building with clay • Each technique will be repeated in various ways for you to create a unique and curious sculpture

Artists to inspire you…

Karl Blossfeldt • 1865 -1932 • German photographer • Designed his own special camera so he could zoom in very closely to natural objects • Achieved whimsical, abstract forms with great detail

Georgia O’Keeffe • 1887 -1986 • American painter • Famous for her zoomedin paintings of flowers, rocks, shells, bones and landscapes