Though we use the term “clay” when
talking about any material that can
readily be molded and shaped, the term
really refers to a very specific material.
CLAY actually refers to a sticky, fine-grained
earth that becomes pliable and can be molded
when wet and that hardens when baked.
Natural EARTH CLAY comes in two
different colors
RED clay looks
brown when it is
wet but is reddish-brown
after it is fired
WHITE clay is
gray when wet and
white after firing
Clay is used to create artworks such as
sculptures and pottery.
POTTERY is a noun that refers
to ceramic ware made from clay
and baked in a kiln.
Ø “Ware” is any piece made out of clay
Ø We often use the terms clay, ceramics,
and pottery to mean the same thing
Clay Stages
Ø Slip - A creamlike mixture of clay and
water that acts as glue to join scored
pieces of clay. It is made from 50% water/
50% clay.
Ø Plastic - Refers to the workability of clay.
Ø Leatherhard - is when a clay piece has
just started to dry and there is still a little
moisture left in the clay. The clay will feel
cool in temperature.
Clay Stages - Continued
Ø
Bone dry - is when all moisture has left
the clay. It will be ready to fire in the kiln.
Ø
Bisque Ware - Clay that has been fired in
a kiln once (ware is any piece made out
of clay).
Ø
Glaze Ware- Clay that has been glazed
and fired in a kiln for the second time.
Clay Forming Methods
Ø
Pinch - A method of shaping a ball of clay
into a simple pottery bowl by pinching,
pressing and pulling it with the hands.
Ø
Coil building - a technique of creating
clay forms using rolled, elongated pieces
(kind of like snakes) of clay wound on top
the other.
Clay Forming Methods - Continued
Ø
Slab building - a method where you roll
clay into thin flat sheets, cut them to
shape, and attach (assemble) them to
create artwork.
Ø
Modeling - Is a method where you take a
lump of clay and push and mold into the
shape you want.
No matter which
forming method you
use, whenever you join
(or connect) pieces of
clay you need to
prepare them by
scoring – making little
scratch marks on the
edges you want to
connect. Then brush
on slip to act as “glue.”
Brushing on SLIP
Kiln
Ø
An oven used to fire (bake) artworks
made of clay, such as pottery.
Ø
Note: When a kiln is in operation it is
called fire, or firing a load.
Glaze
A mixture of mostly oxides – basically
“liquid glass” – that is applied to clay and
then fired in a kiln to create a thin, usually
glossy coating.
Ø This is also another name for the final
firing (after applying glaze).
Ø
Pottery Wheel
Ø A device that allows a potter (person that
makes pottery) to spin clay on a circular
disk. This can be called throwing.
NOTE: WE do not EVER literally throw clay
(like a baseball) in the art room. If you do,
will lose all clay privileges!