Ceramics are objects made from clay that permanently retain their shape after being fired at high temperatures. Clay becomes ceramic after being shaped and hardened through heating in a kiln. There are several handbuilding techniques for shaping clay, including pinch, coil, and slab methods which involve squeezing, rolling, or flattening clay respectively. Clay goes through stages from wet to leatherhard to bone dry and is fired at lower bisqueware then higher glazeware temperatures. Common tools used include knives and loops for shaping and joining involves scratching, applying slip, and pressing pieces together.

1. Ceramics
Creating Pinch
Pots

2. Clay
 Made from earth,
water and fire.
 Clay is different
from mud, since it
has plasticity. This
gives it the ability
to hold together
while its being
shaped.

3. Basic Terms
 Ceramics – Clay objects that
permanently retain their shape after
they have been heated to specific
temperatures.
 Pottery – Functional Ware,
such as vases, pots, bowls
or plates, shaped from
moist clay and hardened by heat.

4. Basic Terms cont.
 Wedge – A way of improving
the workability of clay by
reforming the mixture to make
it homogeneous and
even in texture while
eliminating air
bubbles.

5. Basic Terms cont.
 Kiln – A structure built to fire
clay at high temperatures.

6. Basic Terms cont.
 Fire – Heating pottery or clay
sculpture to a temperature high
enough to render it hard and
durable.

7. Construction
 Pinch method: Handbuilding
Technique that involves squeezing
the clay, usually between thumb
and fingers.

8. Construction
 Coil method:
Handbuilding technique
where rolls of clay are
attached together to form
pottery.

9. Construction
 Slab method: Handbuilding
Technique that involves shaping
ceramics from broad, flat, thick
pieces.

10. Clay Stages
 Greenware – Unfired
pottery or ceramic
sculpture.
 Leatherhard – The stage
between plastic and bone
dry when clay is dried, but
may still be carved or
joined to other pieces.
 Bone dry – Stage of drying
when moisture in the clay
body has evaporated so the
clay surface no longer feels
cold.

11. Clay Stages cont.
 Bisqueware – Ceramic
ware that has gone
through the first firing
at a relatively low
temperature and still
maintains its porous
state.
 Glazeware – Ceramic
ware that has been
fired at a high
temperature with glaze,
which forms a coating
of glass onto the
surface.

12. Tools
 Fettling knife – A long tapered knife
used for cutting and trimming clay.
 Loop tool – A small loop with a handle
used to carve clay away.

13. Joining Techniques
 Score – Scratching the edges of
clay before joining them
together.
 Slip – A fluid suspension of clay
in water used in joining clay
pieces and for surface
decoration.
 Bond – when two pieces of clay
are pressed together to hold
their connection