Verde ART 120 / 121 – Spring 2011

Ceramics
Instructor – Virginia Pates
virginia.pates@yc.edu
649-5466 – Office – F111

Course Description: Introduction to ceramics. Includes primary use of glazes, glaze applications, kiln firing
processes and kiln atmospheres. Application of design principles. Ceramics II students revisit techniques and
refine abilities.

Course Content: Learning Outcomes:

Lecture and Discussion Topics
· Introduction to Ceramics Studio
· Composition of Clays and Glazes
· Understanding the Nature of Clay
· Hand-building Techniques
· Introduction to Wheel-throwing
· Surface Decoration
· Glaze Testing and Application
· Introduction to Kilns
· Firing Kilns
· Ceramic Vocabulary
· Ceramic History
· Principles and Elements of Design
· Group and Individual Critique
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
· Understand and safely use studio equipment.
· Define the basic chemistry of clay and glazes.
· Make, wedge and discuss clay bodies.
· Form clay by hand using several methods.
· Form clay on the potter’s wheel, using several
methods.
· Use several techniques to affect the clay’s surface.
· Apply glaze with control and consciousness.
Ceramics II - Make glaze from a recipe.
· Describe a variety of types of kilns and firings.
· Load and fire kilns.
· Use correct terminology in discussing ceramics.
· Recognize traditional, historical or contemporary
examples of art.
· Recognize the formal aspects of a ceramic work.
· Participate as both artist and critic in discussions
of ceramic work.

Assessment: You may take this course for a pass/fail grade if you are taking it for personal interest. If you
are taking the course for credit in a degree program you should request a letter grade. Please see the Self-
Assessment Form for grading rubric.

Student Exhibition: All students should be prepared to submit a piece of work into the Annual Student Exhibition
and participate in the hanging of the exhibition.

Attendance: Please sign in whenever you use the studio – for lectures or open studios. Attendence is necessary
for lectures, demonstrations and critiques. Please be on time for organized activities.
If you wish to drop the course, please make a student-initiated withdrawal or ask me to make a faculty-initiated
withdrawal. I will not automatically drop you for missing classes.

Open Studio: The Open Studio hours will be posted on the door to the studio and on the wiki. In general,
college students are expected to spend two hours of studying outside of class for every one hour spent in the
classroom. This course already has open studio time built into the schedule, but you should plan to spend a
minimum of an additional three hours in the studio or working on your own every week. Please be aware that
learning to handle clay is a lot like learning to play a musical instrument, and you will need to spend a lot of time
practicing your new skills to be successful.
Fees:
$25 Studio Fee (Paid with tuition.) - This money is for equipment maintenance, repair and replacement.
$50 Materials Fee (Payable in the Business Office) - Covers clay, glazes and other consumable materials, as
well as kiln shelves, small tools, buckets, sponges, sandpaper, etc.

Tools and Supplies: Old credit cards, toothpicks, a piece of chamois leather - all these make great tools.
However, there are some basics that you will need, and we do have tools available for sale if you want some
pretty ones. On the other hand, the internet is a great source of information if you want to make your own.

• Sketchbook - Plain paper, minimum size 8.5” x 11”.

• Lined Notebook - For keeping glaze records.
• Apron - Get one that covers as much of you as possible.
• Sponges - Synthetic or natural, but not cellulose. Large sponges can be cut into several smaller ones.
• Pencils - Sharp pencils make great tools. And you can draw with them!
• Knives - Paring and table.
• Needle Tool, sometimes called a Pin Tool
• Wooden Rib
• Cutting Wire
• One Gallon Bucket
• Five Gallon Bucket with a Lid

Online Information

www.verdeceramics.wikispaces.com

Verde Ceramics Wiki: All course documents and schedules will be available online. The wiki also contains
supplemental information about ceramics, a discussion board, ceramics links, and can be added to and edited
by any ceramics student. Instructions and support will be available to help set up student pages and blogs.

www.verdefineartsclub.wikispaces.com

Verde Fine Arts Club Wiki: Information about all the art events on campus and in the community, including the
weekly Art Club Window - a time for art students and friends to get together for some social time off-campus. If
you join the Art Club, you can add pages and links for yourself.

www.virginiapates.com

Instructor’s Website: My professional website. You can also find links here to the student wikis, as well as
information about upcoming courses.

www.virginiapates.blogspot.com

Instructor’s Blog: I (heart) Dirt, about making ceramics and teaching on the Verde Campus.
 Institutional Policies
Student E-Mail & YC Portal:
Yavapai College requires enrolled students to have an e-mail address to which official College communications
can be sent called ‘Scholar’.. In the best interest of effective communications management, this address will reside on the
College maintained e-mail system. The new student email system at Yavapai College is based on Microsoft Outlook Web
Access (OWA), accessed the system by clicking on the email icon in the myYC portal.
Students are expected to check their Yavapai College e-mail account as directed by their instructor. If you need
assistance, go to http://www.yc.edu/content/myyc/emailinfo.htm
Students may elect to forward their e-mail to an address different from their official Yavapai College account (see
instructions on website), but assume full responsibility for reading e-mail at the forwarded location.
All YC students will be required to use the myYC Portal to register, add, or drop classes online at http://my.yc.edu/.
First-time students will create a log-on username and password. Returning students will register and use the myYC Portal
as well.

Course Withdrawal:
A student-initiated drop date is established by the College [insert appropriate calendar date] Students are responsible
to drop a class through the Self-Service option on the YC Portal. If you have not withdrawn from a class by the student-
initiated drop date, you will receive the letter grade earned in the course at the end of the semester. An instructor may
withdraw students from class after the student-initiated date. If a student does not follow official procedures for withdrawing
from a course, failing grades may be posted on the student’s permanent record.

Academic Integrity:
Honesty in academic work is a central element of the learning environment. The presentation of another individual’s
work as one’s own or the act of seeking unfair academic advantage through cheating, plagiarism or other dishonest means
are violations of the College’s Student Code of Conduct.
Definitions of plagiarism, cheating, and violation of copyright and penalties for violation are available in the Yavapai
College Student Code of Conduct.

Student Code of Conduct:

Respect for the rights of others and for the College and its property are fundamental expectations for every student.
The “Code of Conduct” outlines behavioral expectations, and explains the process for responding to allegations of student
misconduct.
Students are expected to respond and write in a professional and appropriate manner when activities are assigned
to create scenarios, discuss opinions, present on a selected subject, or post to the web board. Inappropriate language or
objectionable material will not be tolerated and could result in disciplinary measures and/or a failing grade for the class.
Web link for the Student Code of Conduct – http://www.yc.edu/content/studentaffairs/scc/default.htm.

Internet Downloading:
Yavapai College technological equipment and resources must be used in accordance with the Copyright Guidelines.
Use of Yavapai College equipment and resources to illegally copy, download, access, print or store copyrighted material or
download pornographic material is strictly prohibited. For example, file swapping of copyrighted material such as music or
movies is strictly prohibited. Users found to violate this policy will have their privileges to use Yavapai College technological
equipment and resources revoked.

Course mentoring:
Contact the course instructor during office hours, through e-mail or phone, or at the beginning/ending of a class
session to arrange for additional course assistance. Many student support services are also available to assist students in
successful course completion.

Disability Resources:
Yavapai College is committed to providing educational support services to students with documented disabilities.
Accommodations for a student must be arranged by the student through the Disability Resources Coordinator:
928.634.6563).