Syllabus
Course: Middle School Ceramics 7,8 2015-2016
Location: Ceramics Lab
Instructor: Randolph Silver
Books Required: None
Recommended Reading: Ceramics Monthly magazine, Pottery Making Illustrated magazine, Clay
Times magazine.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This exciting ceramics course introduces students to a variety of hand-building techniques and
familiarizes them with the many stages of the ceramics process. We’ll begin the class by learning
about the ceramic process, including a variety of hand-building and sculpting techniques. After
learning the basics, we’ll quickly create individual functional cups from which we’ll drink tea as we
embark on our next project: sculpting gargoyles and grotesques. Did you know that medieval
monster-like sculptures were originally made of terra cotta clay, not stone? Did you know that if the
sculpture has water passing through it’s throat (like a spout), it’s a gargoyle. If the sculpture doesn’t
“gargle” water, it’s called a grotesque. Also, did you know that grotesques don’t have to be grosssome can be cute and are combined with plant and animal imagery? After completing our
sculptures, we’ll embark on a third project that will involve different hand-building techniques and
greater artistic freedom. Let's get started!
ATTENDANCE
 Be on time to all classes (Turn off and stash all electronic devices)
STUDIO EXPECTATIONS
 Clean up 5-10 minutes before the end of class, when your area is clean (and you’ve cleaned
and returned any tools or brushes you’ve used) return to your seat.
 If you have cleaned up early, ask instructor for suggestions for general studio maintenance.
Do not hover by the door.
 Put your name, initials or identifying marks on anything you’d like fired.
ENCOURAGED
 Earnest effort
 Self-challenge and artistic growth
 Successful craftsmanship
 Unique and creative interpretation of assignment
 Use of appropriate terms and artistic language
 Full attention during all demonstrations, lectures and critiques
 Participation and follow-through with general studio maintenance beyond cleaning up after
yourself
DISCOURAGED
 Not removing your artwork from the studio promptly. All artwork must be removed from
studio within two weeks of final firing or repair
 Distracting others who are focusing
 Providing unwelcomed critiques of others artwork
 Not cleaning and then replacing tools and brushes to their place
 Not cleaning up after yourself is disrespectful to the next student
TEACHER PAGE USAGE:
Teacher page can be used to contact teacher and review syllabus. If the teacher page is to
be used for other purposes (assigning homework, sharing ceramic images, creating an on-line class
portfolio) we will discuss it in class and review how to access the teacher page.