Bisque Pottery which has been fired once, without glaze (you will find the bisque projects outside to the left once I take them out of the kiln)
Bisque Fire First firing, without glaze. (I typically do a Bisque fire once a week. You will place your projects outside to the right in the kiln shed on the shelves and I will fire them once they are bone dry).
Bone Dry Completely air dried. (your clay will turn white color and be super fragile, this is when I will Bisque fire them)
Coil
A piece of clay rolled like a rope. (we will use coils a lot, you can roll them in all different sizes) Support Coil A small coil used to wrap around added pieces of clay to support the connecting joints.
Fire To heat a clay object in a kiln to a specific temperature. (this is the official term when using the kilns, its like baking in the oven. Firing takes 2-3 days so you have to be patient)
Glaze A glassy coating on ceramics that seals your project. You need to do 2-3 coats minimum. (The glazes are not paint so the consistency is different. All of the glazes are on the shelfs in the front of the classroom)
Glaze firing The final firing, with glaze. Wipe the bottoms of all projects with a sponge and water before putting outside to be glaze fired. (After we do the first fire you will glaze your projects. Once you finish glazing them you will put them outside on the right in the kiln shed and I will fire them a second time, making the dull glaze shiny). Gloss Glaze A shiny reflective gloss.
Greenware Unfired pottery. Ready to be bisque fired. (that you will put outside on the shelves to the RIGHT) Inlay Line Drawing Mark making on wet surface with a needle tool creating an intentional design.
Kiln A special kind of oven for firing things like pottery. (we have 3 outside in the shed, do not touch them they get extremely hot)
Potters Wheel A device with a rotating wheel head used to make pottery forms.
Pug Mill A machine for mixing clay and recycling clay. (it is the large machine right when you walk into the classroom to the left. Everyday when you are done with your clay you will put it in a bucket on top of the Pug Mill so I can recycle it).
Slab Pressed or rolled flat sections of clay used in hand building. (you can make slabs with the slab roller or with a rolling pin)
Slab Roller-rolls out perfect slabs of clay for hand-building pottery. (you pre roll out the clay with a rolling pin, place the clay between the 2 canvas sheets and the use the big wheels to move the clay back and fourth creating a flay slab)
Sgraffito decorative technique that involves cutting away parts of the surface layer.
Slip Clay mixed with water with a mayonnaise consistency.
Wedging Kneading Clay to remove air pockets (the wedging tables are the big limestone slabs by the Pug Mill. NEVER cut on that surface, its for wedging clay or rolling slabs only)
CERAMIC TOOLS
Pottery tools are a necessity for making pottery.
Pin Tools: are one of the most versatile tools used in making pottery. Needle Tools are used for cutting, piercing, incising, measuring depth, scoring, and finishing fine details.
Rib tools and Scrapers: are used to smooth wet or soft leather hard clay and are generally made of wood or rubber.
Fettling Knife: Used for trimming, cutting and carving clay.
Ribbon Tools: A looped ribbon tool made of iron that can be used for trimming as well as carving. Great for adding texture.
Wooden Knife: Good for blending small edges or pieces, as well as cutting and carving.