Intermediate Class

Fireborn Intermediate Class

Prospectus

So you can center and pull, now what?! The intermediate class, taught by Garick Tai-Lee (MFA, BS of Industrial Design), is here to take your throwing skills to the next level. With weekly in person demonstrations and critical discussions about pottery, students will learn what goes into making aesthetically strong and well functioning ceramics. Great pots don’t just look good, but also function better than commercial wares, but what makes a great pot?

Syllabus (variations are to be expected!)

• Week One, Alterations on the Wheel,
  • What else can you do to your pots? Techniques such as carving, fluting, faceting and rib work will be demonstrated with the emphasis of adding value to your work. The main focus will be on making drinking and pouring vessels.
• Week Two, Handles and Handles and Handles
  • Good handles are tricky! Pulled, coiled, and “slap-stretched” handles will be demonstrated and the ergonomics of good handles will be discussed. Pots from week one will be trimmed with the goal of attaching handles by end of class. 
• Week Three, Galleries or Flanges or Canister Lids
  • Lidded objects, when done well, are a thing of beauty! A flanged lid, a galleried lid for a jar and a canister lid will be demonstrated. Examples of finished pieces will be discussed.
• Week Four, Knobs and Lugs
  • Adding knobs and lugs are a great way to add value to your work. Throwing and handmade knobs will be demonstrated as well as attaching lugs (side handles) to pots we made the previous week. 
• Week Five, Bowls, Bowls, Bowls
  • Rice bowl or soup bowl? Serving bowl or mixing bowl? Different varieties of bowls and the variety of techniques to make them will be demonstrated. We will also discuss methods on how to replicate forms on the wheel.
• Week Six, Getting More Involved
  • With the skills we have developed and practiced, we will now start thinking about how multiple pieces come together to form new objects. Wheel thrown and hand made spouts will be demonstrated and more complicated objects such as ewers, teapots and butter bells will be discussed.
• Week Seven, Getting Glazed
  • Glaze techniques will be reviewed, glaze theory and aesthetics will be discussed. With student examples, we will discuss what “works” and what “doesn’t” on finished pots. 
• Week Eight, Recap and Pot Luck
  • Students will be asked to bring in previous work, Garick will also bring in finished pieces and we will pull from Fireborn galleries to have a class discussion about ceramics. We can end the term with a small potluck, students are encouraged to bring in snacks or drinks.

Throughout the term, we will look at and discuss finished examples of the ceramics we are working on. We highly encourage the book “Functional Pottery” by Robin Hopper as a reference. Ceramics Arts Network, ceramicartsnetwork.org is also a great week to week reference and offers lots of examples of finished pieces, techniques and critical theory about pottery and ceramic sculpture. Fireborn’s website also has a wealth of information and links to examine in your downtime.

Tools

Lid calipers are a great tool and are highly encourage for the students to purchase. Rubber ribs by mud tools as well as different size trimming tools are also encouraged for students to purchase. A variety of tools will be available at the beginning of the term for students to experiment with.

Finishing Thoughts

While we will be focusing on concrete examples on a week to week basis, it is highly encouraged that students bring in photos of finished pots or the finished pots themselves that they enjoy using, looking at or want to make. Beginning classes are focused on technique, what we hope to provide with this intermediate class, is a foundation for you to begin making informed, critical decisions in the pursuit of making great pots!