Ceramics I Curriculum

Ceramics 1 is an introductory course in ceramics covering the three basic methods of handbuilding.

Students will produce ceramic art work using pinch, slab, and coil techniques. Students

will learn the basic vocabulary of ceramics as well methods of surface treatment, firing, and other

related aspects. Art history, aesthetics, and art criticism will be incorporated throughout the course.

a. Keeps a visual/verbal journal

c. Uses concepts from other disciplines as inspiration for ceramic artwork

d. Produces hand built ceramic works inspired by personal experience, observation of

2. Uses formal qualities of art (elements and principles) to create unified composition and

a. Explores selected formal qualities in thumbnail sketches and visual/verbal notes to

plan ceramic artwork

b. Uses principals of design to organize elements to create unified designs and

communicate meaning

a. Develops proficiency in clay preparation and hand-building techniques including

b. Uses various stages of clay to create desired effects (slip, plastic, short, leatherhard,

c. Recognizes and applies selected surface decoration techniques (stamping, sgraffito,

carving, mishima, slip trailing, piercing, terra sigillata, engobes, wax resist, staining,

d. Demonstrates entry level comprehension of different firing techniques and

atmospheres

4. Self-evaluates art learning and develops habits of excellence.

a. Self-evaluates in-progress and completed work using criteria such as stylistic

b. Sets high standards for craftsmanship and skill mastery in own artwork

c. Discusses how study of ceramics benefits one's future: 1) avocation: making

collecting, volunteering 2) art-related careers 3) non-art careers related to

ceramics 4) life skills such as tolerance for ambiguity, judgment in the absence of

d. Works to find personal artistic voice within compositional guidelines; understands

that creativity is problem solving within given parameters

5. Develops critical and creative thinking skills and perceptual awareness necessary for

a. Writes, reflects upon, revises throughout the course, a personal answer to this

question: Why do humans have an innate need to add beauty and meaning to their

b. Discusses aesthetic issues including fine art versus craft, form vs. function, why

c. Recognizes ceramic art in the world, ceramic art in daily life, visual choices as a

part of life

d. Formulates and interprets an individual criteria used to define personal aesthetic

beliefs

e. Compares viewpoints of tribal and primitive societies for whom ceramic art is part

of daily life with those of Western society in which ceramics are classified as art

f. Gains insights about clay manipulation and appreciate one's ability with clay

a. Compares and contrasts use of formal qualities (elements and principles) to

communicate meaning in ceramic art

b. Analyzes how surface treatment and firing methods communicate meaning or

c. Analyzes the relationship of decorative and functional qualities in artwork from

d. Discusses the connection between artist's intent and viewer's interpretation (active

e. Uses Feldman's method and Visual Thinking Strategies to "read" ceramic art;

f. Verbalizes personal reactions to artwork using adjectives, analogies and metaphors

g. Writes and talks about ceramics from a wide range of perspectives including cultural

a. Recognizes, compares, and contrasts major ceramic artists and styles from varied

b. Traces major periods of art through ceramics and discusses how artists of each

c. Writes about the role of ceramics as a visual record (primary source) of cultural,

d. Discusses how and why ceramics and the role of ceramic artists have changed over

e. Researches, studies, and writes about ceramics from diverse societies via Internet,