This course is an independent study. It is your responsibility to come into the studio to complete your work. There is no official meeting time. It is designed as a way for a student who has a very demanding academic load the ability to continue to build their skills, work on a specific technique and/or idea, and have access to the studio and participate in the ceramics area community with a minimum of credit hours.

Resource Materials (textbooks and journals)

• Functional Pottery, by Robin Hopper
• Creative Pottery: Innovative Techniques and Experimental Designs in Thrown and Handbuilt Ceramics, by Deb Schwartzkopf
• The Complete Guide to Mid-Range Glazes: Glazing and Firing at Cones 4-7, by John Brit
• The Ceramics Bible Revised Edition, by Louisa Taylor
• The Mold Making Manual, by Jonathan Kaplin
• The Essential Guide to Moldmaking and Slipcasting, by Andrew Martin
• Mold Making for Ceramics, by Donald E. FrithP
• Extra / Ordinary: Craft and Contemporary Art, Edited by Maris Elena Buszek

Ceramic Journals:

• CERAMIC REVIEW
• CERAMICS ART AND PERCEPTION
• CERAMICS MONTHLY
• CERAMICS TECHNICAL
• NEW CERAMICS

Sketchbook and a drawing implement. Always bring these to class.

Clay. Clay is available in the ceramic studio, but you must acquire a receipt from the cashier’s office in the student center. The price is listed on the board in the studio. You may expect to use at minimum two bags of clay.

Basic ceramic tool kit found at the SUU Bookstore or online.

Items not available in the basic kit that you will need include:

• A dust mask with cartridges (mandatory)
• A serrated rib
• Various watercolor or Chinese calligraphy paint brushes
• A small plastic container with a lid, such as a recycled yogurt or ice cream container.
• A large container for throwing (such as a one-gallon bucket).
• A small towel.
• An apron (if you do not want to get clay on your clothes)
• Various carving tools
• An x-acto Knife

Recommended supplementary tools: Surform tool, small carving tools. Online sources to order tools are: Mudtools, Tacoma Clay Art Center, Georgie’s Ceramic Supply. There are many.

This class emphasizes clay as a creative art material. Students learning outcomes are:

1. Students will demonstrate their own artistic vision and methodology through a highly focused course of study.
2. Students will practice integrative, critical and creative thinking skills by articulating their intentions and ideas in critiques and written form with their artist statement.
3. They will demonstrate their understanding of the creative process and how to apply it to future bodies of work.
4. They are expected to participate in end of term clean-up

Projects

You are responsible for designing your own course work. You must submit a written proposal of the content and a calendar of due dates of completion of each project. Your proposal must be approved by the instructor. You will be required to meet with the instructor at the beginning of the semester to have your proposal approved. A calendar has been attached to the home page for you to fill out with your proposal. You will be required to participate in the end of semester final with the Advanced courses.

Homework

As you will be the designer of your study and projects, you will be responsible ‘getting everything finished’. As this is an independent study course, you will be required to work outside of class time.

Participation

Each student is required to participate in critiques, kiln loading and the end of term clean up as part of the curriculum. Completing or not completing these tasks will impact your grade.

Assessment/Grading

Grades are based on specific assignment criteria regarding technique, craftsmanship, design and conceptual development, explained in written and verbal form at the introduction of each assignment. Supplementary slide shows and technical demonstrations will help further your idea development and working skills.

Grading will be based on the quality of your work. This includes effort, technical skill, creativity, progress, and completion of all assigned projects. Other factors that affect your grade are attendance, participation in class critiques cleaning your area after each day and the end of term clean-up. For the exact grading breakdown please refer to the assignment page of the emphasis you have chosen.

Grades are to be awarded under the following criteria: A-Superior work, initiative and originality (A+ =100) (A =93-99) (A- =90-92) B-Highly Satisfactory performance of assigned work (B+ =87-89) (B =83-86) (B- =80-82) C-Adequate/average performance of assigned work (C+ =77-79) (C = 73-76) (C- =70-72) D-Barely passing work (D+ = 67-69) (D = 63-66) (D- =60-62) F-Failing work (Below 60)

Work is equally graded for quality (craftsmanship, design, technical ability). The only way to qualitatively improve your work is through practice. Ceramics is a technical pursuit, with certain bumps along the road that a student may not always foresee. Like learning a musical instrument, it is only practice that contributes to improvement. Make as much as you can, regardless if it satisfies an assignment or not. Simply going through the process of handling clay, observing drying and firing changes, seeing how glaze melts on the surface, and rote muscle memory of various handling skills all go a long way towards success in ceramics. Working through your frustrations also opens you up to learning from the inevitable failures along this road.

It is expected that all pieces will be finished and glazed at the end for your final critique. Unglazed pieces constitute unfinished work and can receive no better than a “D”. It is expected that students will pay attention to glaze demos and invest as much in design and craftsmanship in the finishing as in the building.

Notebook

Bring a notebook or sketchbook for note taking during lectures and demonstrations, it should contain idea development, drawings and images of inspirations. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to meet the criteria for this class. Failure to do so could result in a failing grade which can result in a lower over-all grade point and suspension of student financing.

If a piece gets lost or broken or dries out too much to work on it is your responsibility and you may have to re-make the piece.

Last wet clay day April 3rd !!! Because you are responsible for your own firings, this date may or may not apply. Just note, that kilns will be prioritized according to the instructors needs.

Just note, that kilns will be prioritized according to the instructors needs.

The final Exam for this course is scheduled for: Wednesday, Aprill 22nd from 7 am to 8:50am. Attendance at the final exam time is mandatory. Schedule any departures after this date!!!

Apri 15th is MANDATORY STUDIO CLEAN-UP DAY: The last day of regularly scheduled class.

All work to be fired must be FINISHED AND SIGNED or it will get tossed.

ALL WORK MUST BE CLAIMED BY LAST DAY OF EACH TERM, AFTER THIS DAY IT WILL BE THROWN AWAY. WE SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE ROOM TO STORE WORK. LOCKERS MUST BE EMPTIED BY THE LAST DAY OF THE TERM.

Meeting deadlines is crucial to a successful outcome, failure to do so will affect your grade negatively.

As this is an independent study there is no attendance policy.

Your course fees cover the cost of glaze, slips, firing and studio tools and upkeep.

The Ceramics studio will be open outside of scheduled class times. The door is unlocked from 8am to 5pm. After which, students can access the room with their ID cards and can work until 11:30. To stay longer you need to acquire an after-hours permit.

If you wish to use the studio during a regular class session, you must seek the permission of the instructor. Work time during another class is a privilege, not a right; it is based on available space and the prerogative of the instructor. If you are disruptive, you may be asked to leave.

Work in clay is demanding of your attention and your time. Therefore, we do everything in our power to provide you with as much access to the studio as possible. You should expect to spend time outside of the scheduled class to succeed in this ceramics course.