Advanced Ceramics

Alex Case
abcase@olatheschools.org
mrcaseclassroom.weebly.com
@mrcaseclassroom
#onhsceramics

Overview

This class will build on the foundational skills

students developed in the Introductory Ceramics
Spin by Tina Vlassopulos
course. In this class, we will make messes, clean
up from them, and sometimes end up with a
bowl or vase.

Goals

Throughout this class, students will learn about the history and contemporary art practice of
ceramics. They will also learn about themselves, their peers, and their world by engaging in
thoughtful conversation about the creative process and the art of creating ceramic vessels. Students
will create their own body of ceramic artwork based on various themes and ideas in the same manner
as contemporary artists.

Objectives

In this class students will learn, among other things:

 Advanced skills building upon those learned in the intro course, such as throwing on
the wheel, hand building techniques, proper use of tools, equipment and materials in
the studio, glazing
 How to effectively use a sketchbook
 Reflective mental processes
 How to give and receive positive criticism
 How to create a cohesive body of work
 How to readdress a previous work or concept

Absences
Be in my class. If you are gone, it is your responsibility to make up missed work on your own time.
Remember: YOU CAN'T TAKE A WHEEL HOME. Absences are not an excuse for not having work
done. If you are in this class, it is because you want to make ceramics, so be here!
Grading
Grades will be kept on a running record throughout the semester. Therefore, if you end the first
quarter with an A, and the second quarter with a B, you will have a B for the semester. THEY WILL
NOT BE AVERAGED. Whatever your grade shows is what your grade is.

Grades will be based on the following percentages:

A+ 100-98 B+ 89-88 C+ 79-78 D+ 69-68 F+ 59-58

A 98-93 B 88-83 C 78-73 D 68-63 F 58-53
A- 93-90 B- 83-80 C- 73-70 D- 63-60 F- 53-0

On the day a project is due, I will give a grade to each project. If you are not finished, that is OK, but
I will still put a grade in the grade book for wherever you are at. I will allow you to resubmit projects
later on for full credit as long as you have a photo turned in on the due date. It is your responsibility
to notify me of a project that needs to be regraded. However, if you have nothing on the due date, it
will be a 10% penalty when the late project is turned in.

General Guidelines

 Come to class prepared to get down and dirty! (Bring extra clothes and get to work.)
 Check yourself before you wreck yourself. (Do what you are supposed to do.)
 Don't eat mud. (Literally and metaphorically)
 Get real. (Expect to give and receive authentic criticism from peers and Mr. Case.)
 Don't be a horrible person. (Respect the materials, others, yourself and your work.)
 Expect to make art. (Ceramics is about more than just bowls; we will talk about big art
concepts.)
 What you put in is what you get out (attitude and kiln)
 Talk to me! (I can’t help you if I don’t know there’s a problem)

Supplies

You will have a cabinet that you will share with a partner. Don't put communal supplies in the
cabinet. But, if you want to get your own you can keep them there! You can buy a kit of basic
ceramic tools on Amazon for about $7. This should include: synthetic sponge, wire tool, needle tool,
wooden rib, metal rib, fettling knife, wooden knife, big loop tool and small loop tool. I would also
recommend an apron or your own big, long-sleeve shirt to wear over your clothes to keep clean. Or
you can use the ones supplied.

https://www.amazon.com/SE-4PT8-8-Piece-Pottery-Tool/dp/B0006VWRMW/ref=sr_1_1/146-7044456-
4301833?ie=UTF8&qid=1502826119&sr=8-1&keywords=ceramic+tool+kits
Class Format
All students will create a research based project at the beginning of the year and 15 of one object (cup,
bowl, etc) by the end of the semester.

In addition to these two projects, students will work in an independent manner to complete projects
of their choice. Each student must pick additional projects from the following lists to create
throughout the semester. At least one project must use hand building in some regard and at least one
project must use the wheel in some regard.

Students must utilize their sketchbook to record ideas, designs, glazes, and references for their works.

Additionally, at the end of the semester each student must give a presentation of the work that they
have created to the rest of the class. In the presentation, the students should talk about inspiration
and themes for their work, references used, choices for surface texture or design, struggles that they
encountered and/or successes from the semester.

Theme: Each work must be based on a theme of the students choosing. Ideas for themes include, but
are not limited to: exploring one of the elements of art or principles of design in clay, nature, dreams,
heroism, time, any emotion, childhood, celebration, culture, earth, mechanics,
change/transformation/metamorphosis, power, energy, hope, humor, redemption, identity, places,
growth, fantasy vs reality, dark vs light, chaos vs order, wholeness, victory, failure, belonging,
community, concepts of beauty, distorted reality, actual reality, mundane life, modernity,
technology.

Project Options List (Pick 5 of these): Potential Research Options (Pick 1 of these)

Large Teapot Greek Amphora

Small Teapot with 2 accompanying tea cups Greek Krater
Lidded Vessel Nazca or Mochica Stirrup Pot
Lidded Box Athenian Lekythos
Decorative Planter with Drain Persian Ewer
Hanging Planter (Thrown upside down) Navajo Wedding Vase
Chip and Dip Platter Pre-Dynastic Egyptian Jar
Large Serving Platter Minoan Bottle
Joined Bowl Serving Dish Etruscan Oinochoe
Large Decorative Bowl Nala Dynasty Pot
Bust Sculpture Tang Dynasty Vase with Twin Dragon Handles
Set of 4 Hanging Wall Tiles A Classic Ceramic Artist
Set of 4 Matching Plates A Contemporary Ceramic Artist
Set of 4 Matching Bowls Something from one of the Ceramic Books
Set of 4 Matching Mugs
Set of 3 Nesting Bowls
Set of 3 Spice Containers (Thrown Closed Form)
Ceramic Animal
Ceramic Figure
Choice Project- Talk to me about this first
Choice Project ________________ Name___________________ Class __________
Students will create an art piece of their choice. They will explore a theme in their sketchbook,
which will guide the appearance of their project, then they will develop an approach and create
the art piece.
Rubric 100%-80% (10-8) 80%-60% (8-6) 60%-0% (6-0)

Overall Design Uses elements and Design lacks either No use of elements and
(__/ 10 points) principles of design in an consideration of principles in design
E & P of Design aesthetically pleasing elements and principles considerations, and no
Intended Design manner, and overall of design, OR overall consideration of overall
design is appealing and design could be design.
artistic. improved.
In what ways have I used or considered the elements of art and the principles of design? How was
my piece intended to look as a whole?
Craftsmanship Product is finished in a Product is finished. Obvious flaws that
(__/ 10 points) way that is intentional Minor flaws begin to detract from the
Finished effectively and considered. No distract from the overall message of the piece, or
Breakage obvious flaws that aesthetic. piece is unfinished
Flaws distract from the design.
Does my project look finished? Are there ways that I could make this project look better without
altering the design? Have any breaks or mistakes become the focus of the piece?
Theme Piece is based on a Sculpture has vague No aspect of a theme is
(__/ 10 points) theme, and this clearly references to a theme, apparent in the vessel.
Use of Theme shows in the work in an but they are not clear or
Creative Expression interesting and unique are not well thought
way. out.
What theme have I chosen to represent in this piece? How does the piece convey that theme?
What choices have I made to reveal that theme?
Effort Student worked to grow Student used some No effort was taken to
(__/10 points) their own skill set and effort, but product is complete project, and
Work ethic took risks to develop unfinished, or finished in piece is non-existent.
Risk Taking artistic understanding. a way that does not
meet student’s potential
Was I engaged while I was in class? Could I have worked harder to create a better art piece?

Sketchbook Theme (__/2)- Theme is chosen to explore

(__/10 pts) Sketches (__/6)- One point per sketch, up to 6 total
Theme Reference Materials (__/2)- Personal Pictures, online sources, books, etc.
6 Sketches List them here:
Reference Materials
Student Comments-

Teacher Comments (__/ 50)-