Ceramics are beautiful pieces made from a class of materials that humans have used for thousands of years.
Applications range from pottery to advanced aerospace components.
They are valued for their hardness, strength, wear resistance, electrical and thermal insulation, and chemical stability.
It’s pretty cool how ceramics can be shaped into all sorts of things like pottery, dishes, and even sculptures!
Definition of Ceramics
The word “ceramics” comes from the Greek word “keramos,” which means “potter’s clay”.
Ceramics are a type of material made from clay and then fired at high temperatures.
Ceramics are referred to as any material that is made from non-metallic and inorganic materials that have been subjected to high temperatures, that are essential to our daily lifestyle.
Types of Ceramics
Ceramics can generally be divided into three main categories: earthenware, stoneware and porcelain.
Each category has its unique characteristics and uses.
1. Earthenware ceramics
Earthenware ceramics are a type of ceramic known for their porous nature and reddish-brown colour. They are made from clay fired at lower temperatures than other ceramics.
This lower firing temperature allows the clay to retain some of its natural porosity, making earthenware more permeable to water and air.
It’s commonly used for pottery, dishes, and decorative objects. Earthenware has been used for centuries and is valued for its rustic and earthy aesthetic.
2. Stoneware ceramics
Stoneware ceramics are a type of ceramic that are denser and more durable compared to earthenware.
They are fired at higher temperatures, which transforms the clay and makes it less porous. This results in stoneware having a stronger and more water-resistant quality.
Stoneware is often used for dinnerware, baking dishes, and other functional items due to its durability. It can come in various colours and finishes, making it versatile for everyday and decorative purposes.
3. Porcelain Ceramics
Porcelain is a type of ceramic that is known for its delicate and translucent appearance. It is made from a specific type of clay called kaolin, which is fired at very high temperatures.
This high firing temperature results in the clay becoming vitrified, meaning it turns into a glass-like material.
Porcelain is highly valued for its beauty and is often used to create fine dinnerware, decorative objects, and even dental and medical supplies. Its smooth and elegant surface makes it a popular choice in the world of fashion and design.
Technique of making ceramics
There are several techniques for making pots, each with its unique process and results. Some common techniques include:
Hand building
This involves shaping clay by hand, using techniques like pinch pots, coil building, and slab construction. It allows for more organic and expressive forms.
Pinch pottery
It is a hand-building technique that involves using your fingers to shape and mould clay.
To create a pinch pot, you start with a ball of clay and use your thumb and fingers to pinch and push the clay from the centre outwards.
This method allows you to create various shapes, such as bowls or vases, by manipulating the clay with your hands. It’s a simple and intuitive technique that can produce unique and organic forms.
You can also add texture or decorative elements by pressing tools or objects onto the surface.
Pinch pottery is a great way to express your creativity and connect with the clay on a tactile level.
Coil building
It’s a fantastic hand-building technique in pottery. With coil building, you create pottery by rolling out long, snake-like shapes from clay and stacking them on each other.
By smoothing and blending the coils, you can build up the walls of your pottery piece. It’s a versatile technique that allows you to create various shapes and sizes, from small cups to large vases.
The resulting texture from the coils can also add an interesting visual element to the finished piece. Coil building is a fun and creative way to work with clay, and it offers a lot of possibilities for expressing your artistic ideas.
Throwing:
This is a classic pottery technique! It involves using a pottery wheel to shape clay into symmetrical forms also called wheel throwing.
The potter uses their hands and tools to shape the spinning clay into various shapes and sizes. It requires skill and practice to control the wheel’s speed and pressure to create the desired form.
Throwing allows for precise and consistent shapes, making it a popular technique for creating bowls, cups, and other vessels. It’s a dynamic and hands-on process that potters often find meditative and rewarding.
Slip casting
This technique involves creating a mould of the desired pot shape and pouring liquid clay, known as slip, into the mould.
The slip solidifies and takes the shape of the mould, resulting in a uniform and precise form.
Press molding
This technique involves pressing clay into a mould to create a specific shape. It is often used for creating flat or shallow forms, such as plates or tiles.
Glazing:
When it comes to pottery, glazing is the process of applying a liquid mixture of minerals and pigments onto the surface of a clay object.
The glaze is then fired at high temperatures, causing it to melt and form a glassy coating.
Glazes serve multiple purposes such as adding color, enhancing appearance and providing a protective layer to the pottery. They can create a glossy, matte, or textured finish, depending on the desired effect.
Glazing allows potters to add depth, vibrancy, and visual interest to their creations. It’s a fascinating part of the pottery process that can truly transform a piece.
These are just a few examples, Each technique offers unique possibilities for creating pots with different textures, shapes, and finishes.
Ceramics Terms
Here are a few common ceramic terms you might find interesting:
- Bisque: Refers to pottery that has been fired once, but not yet glazed.
- Kiln: A furnace or oven used to fire ceramics at high temperatures.
- Wedging: The process of kneading and preparing clay to remove air bubbles and ensure uniform consistency.
- Slip: A liquid clay mixture used for joining clay pieces together or for surface decoration.
- Glaze: A glass-like coating applied to pottery before firing to add colour, texture, and a protective layer.
- Sgraffito: A technique where a design is scratched into the surface of the clay before firing, revealing the contrasting colour underneath.
- Underglaze: Colored pigments are applied to the clay surface before glazing to create intricate designs and patterns.
- Wabi-Sabi: It’s a beautiful concept rooted in Japanese aesthetics. Wabi-sabi appreciates the beauty of imperfection, impermanence and the natural cycle of life. It values simplicity, asymmetry, and the authenticity of materials. In pottery, wabi-sabi can be seen in pieces that embrace organic forms, irregular textures and subtle variations in glaze.
Conclusion
Ceramics offer a unique medium for artists and craftsmen to express their creativity and bring their ideas to life. The process of working with clay allows for endless possibilities – from shaping and sculpting to experimenting with glazes and surface treatments.
When creating ceramics, artists often draw inspiration from various sources such as nature, culture, history and personal experiences.
Ceramics can be functional like bowls and vases, or purely artistic, like sculptures and installations. The beauty of ceramics lies not only in the final piece but also in the process itself.
Ultimately, ceramics provide a wonderful platform for artists to explore their thoughts, emotions, different themes, concepts, and creativity in a tangible and visually captivating way. It’s a medium that allows for endless exploration and innovation.
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Researcher: Iloh Chioma Sandra
