12/26/2024 5:52:06 PM	ART 131 Course Outline as of Fall 2008	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  ART 131	Title:  RAKU/LOW FIRE CERAMICS
Full Title:  Raku/Low Fire Ceramics
Last Reviewed:11/21/2005

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	1.50	Lecture Scheduled	1.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	17.50
Minimum	1.50	Lab Scheduled	2.00		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	35.00
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  35.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 87.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  34 - 4 Enrollments Total
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

This course focuses on the art of Raku and low fire ceramics to develop wheel, hand-building, glaze decoration and firing skills.  

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This course focuses on the art of Raku and low fire ceramics to develop wheel, hand-building, glaze decoration and firing skills.  

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:34 - 4 Enrollments Total

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Certificate Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Identify and evaluate visual elements of ceramics.

2. Use clay, glaze, tools, materials and equipment for Raku and low fire

ceramics.

3. Employ basic wheel and hand-building techniques.

4. Apply both glaze application and decoration techniques for both Raku

and low fire ceramics.

5. Employ a vocabulary of Raku and low fire ceramics to describe ceramic

forms and firing processes.

6. Demonstrate a creative process for both disciplined work habits and

risk-taking experimentation.

7. Examine and analyze examples of historical and contemporary Raku and

low fire ceramics to arrive at aesthetic and technical judgments.

8. Describe health and safety issues that arise from the use of materials

and equipment.

9. Repeating students will apply techniques to:

  a. Create new Raku glazes.

  b. Complex and larger ceramics objects.

  c. Organize firing.

  d. Complex decoration and firing issues.  

Topics and Scope

I.   Visual Elements of Ceramics

    A. Scale

    B. Positive/negative shape

    C. Volume

    D. Texture

    E. Color

II.  Basic Throwing Forms on the Potter's Wheel

    A. Cylinder

    B. Bowl

    C. Cup

III. Hand-built Ceramic Forms

    A. Pinching technique

    B. Coiling technique

    C. Slab technique

IV.  Decoration

    A. Raku glaze

    B. Low fire glazes

    C. Color slip

V.   Glaze Application

    A. Dip/pour

    B. Spray

    C. Brush

VI.  Use and Care of Materials, Tools and Equipment

    A. Clay and glaze formulation

    B. Color slip and terra-sigillata formulation

    C. Hand tools

    D. Potter's wheel

    E. Slab roller

    F. Safety

VII. Fire Processes

    A. Raku fire

    B. Pit fire

    C. Post reduction

    D. Safety

VIII. Aesthetics

    A. History of Raku

    B. Low fire ceramics

    C. Sculptural ceramics

    D. Functional ceramics

IX.  Techniques with Subsequent Repeat

    A. Mixing Raku glaze

    B. Base terra-sigillata with color stains

    C. Loading and unloading kiln

    D. Contemporary Raku decoration

    E. Contemporary Raku firing  

Assignments:

1. Use the potter's wheel to make cylinders, bowls, and cups.

2. Utilize soft slabs and firm slabs to make geometric shapes.

3. Utilize coils and pinched clay to make organic shapes.

4. Decorate ceramic forms with inlay, sgraffito, and polishing technique.

5. Examine books and magazines devoted to Raku and low fire ceramics

techniques. Utilize terminology and concepts in in-class critiques of

student work.

6. Basic terminology quiz.

7. Final project: Exhibit of completed work.

8. Repeating students will accomplish the above assignments applying the

following criteria:

  a. Make Raku glazes

  b. Make larger and complex objects

  c. More complex Raku decoration and firing

  d. Terra-sigillata decoration  

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 0 - 0%
None
This is a degree applicable course but assessment tools based on writing are not included because skill demonstrations are more appropriate for this course.
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 65 - 80%
Ceramics assignments; final exhibit.
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 10 - 15%
Terminology quiz.
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 10 - 20%
Attendance, participation in critiques, effort and artistic growth.

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Nelson, Glen C. and Richard Burkett. Ceramics, 6th edition. Wordsworth

Thomson Learning Inc., 2002.  

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