What are the two basic fierings called and why are they different?*

What are the basic kinds of kilns and why are they different?**

What are some basic glaze firing techniques we can do here?***


* bisque - first fire cone 04 aprox. 1800 degrees F
glaze - second fire for us cone 5-6 aprox 2100 degrees F

**kilns are either electric or fuel fired - they burn gas, wood, charcoal or other.

***One can get clay and glazes to use specifically at a variety of temperatures - see chart below
low fire - often used in elementary school or bright colored table ware cone 04-02.
mid range 3-6 ---this is where we normally fire - can use as dishes
high fire 8-10. -- we can fire this hot in the gas kiln with specific clay for specific needs. Available for A.P. and continuing advanced students.

This is looking in a glaze kiln in process -- when it gets 'high yellow' the glaze is melted and the clay body gets 'soft'  -- it can subtly change in form one of the reasons to fire lids on their base pots.

Please find your progress scale and make sure it is filled out...
Everyone should have four 'yellow sheets' weekly tool kits that have been returned to you in your folder. You will need to turn these in at the quarter. Make sure you are checking the scale and rubrics for each project -- that is something you need to do... :)
List on your tool kit what you've gotten done -
also, please put your number on the top left corner. :)

I can keep clay wet and workable as long as I like as long as the plastic bag is sealed.

When I  make something before a week-end or break I will MAKE SURE it is wrapped up in plastic because if it dries out I will have to put it in the bucket to get recycled.

I will put my class list number in the upper left hand corner of the paper so Ms. H can alphatize them more better easily. :)  
Hint -- listen as Ms. H tells you your class roster #
Note Beginners put a B in front of the the #, Intermediate put an I and Advanced put an A in front of the number. Thank you very much!!!

the mixer is basically a big box with  blades on a central auger - much like a large drill. It pulls the clay back and should spin it into a 'shell' of clay on the right side.
I WILL make sure the clay mixer is turned on when we are working - turn it off when you put your hand in!!!!
 I must turn the red handle toward the wall to keep it mixing the correct way.
DO NOT BLOCK up the right side with clay.
also --- see below pics for firm slab information

Why is a firm slab different than a soft slab?

- for a firm slab one cuts out the shapes and then lets them get firm before putting them together.
​-the project should have straight flat walls.

demo here
and here

If I get something out, or if Ms. H gets it for me, I will put it back. I will make sure my brushes are brush end up so they don't get ruined.

When I write about my work to turn in -- I will write  paragraph in this order ---
what is it - the media - in this case describe the project
form - surface - color --- in that order
how we made it - the skills
how it uses art elements - focus on one or two
to create design elements that create a composition that
shape the viewer's experience of it is -
in other words how it makes them feel, react or  how it makes them think.  - remember the 3 parts of the brain. :)
here is an example

Get our your progress scale and mark down what you've gotten done. make sure it is up to date; I will check for a grade on Monday

on your tool kit notes write down what you've gotten done. Then put it in the basket.    :)

​glaze is the layer of 'glass' we fire onto clay to make it impervious to water and other substances.

glaze is made largely of silica, alumina, and clay as well as a metal compounds, for color. For instance  copper oxide will make green, iron oxide can make black or deep reds.

Glaze particles are suspended in water, put on the project and then fused into the clay surface in the kiln.

​please see - how to glaze here.

​for your first pinch and coil projects you will do a base color that will show texture - then add clear and detail colors as desired. 

​Beginners start individual coil projects today - instructions are here

please find the rubric and scale under the rubric and scales tab

some examples  
​http://rachaelsart.weebly.com/ceramics.html

​- over all form
 - surface decoration - this can be part of the form or added or subtracted 'area' from the surface
 -creating negative space by carving into the surface and creating 'transparency'
- changing the top edge so that it does not describe a plane