Ceramics at BHS
Here at BHS we offer Intro to ceramics, Advanced Ceramics, and Throwing (which is working with clay on the potters wheel.) If students have met the requirements, an independent study in Ceramics is also a possibility. Here at BHS we work with low to mid range fire clay and glazes. Students are taught to use a variety hand-building methods such as pinching, coil construction, slab construction, and slump and lump molding.
Building a vessel using the pinch pot method
The pinch pot method is the first construction process we work with in our beginning ceramics class. Students research a vessel idea and plan out their original design on paper. From here students start their composition with a ball of clay. Using mainly their thumb and the circular rotation of the clay piece, students create a hollow vessel. Additional pieces of clay could be added or subtracted to create the basic structure of their pinch-pot vessel.
Building a vessel using the coil construction method
The coiling method is the second construction process we work with in our beginning ceramics class. Students research and plan out a design for their vessel. 75% of their piece must be constructed of visible (un-luted) coils. The profile of their vessel must have the basic body parts of a vessel (foot, body, shoulders, neck, and lip). Uniform coil sizes and attachment methods should be completed with careful craftsmanship.
Building a vessel using the slab construction method
The slab construction process is the third construction method that we use in our beginning ceramics class. Students research and plan out a design for their slab construction piece. Students have a choice to build a box, birdhouse, or slab vessel. Students are to use rolled out slabs (sheets about 1/4 in thick) of clay to form the basic for of their design. From there, students are to use an additive, subtractive, or impressed design into their clay to add a texture and an overall completed look to their piece. All ideas for assignments should be completed before the building process begins.