Kiln Design will begin with the history of kiln development leading to students understanding how to design a kiln for specific needs including temperature, atmosphere, size, fuel and available materials.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $100.00

Elective

This course will involve learning about the history and types of atmospheric kilns. Students will then build a kiln, make work for the specific type of atmosphere of the kiln, fire the kiln and conclude the workshop with a critique of the work.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $50.00

Elective

Ceramics and printmaking have a shared ethos in the production of multiples and process-driven technical methods. This is reflected in industry but is not often explored in an academic context. This course would be the first at RISD to explore the rich resources of the Ceramics and Printmaking Departments to promote research into innovative ways to combine the disciplines. For almost three centuries ceramics have been enhanced by printed elements. The combination of ceramic and print technologies have tremendous potential for new applications in functional and sculptural approaches to ceramic multiples and printed editions. RISD has all the facilities in ceramics and printmaking required to pursue research in this field. Students will learn ceramic techniques such as hand-building and slip casting to create forms to hold screen printed, intaglio, relief, and digital images. Historical techniques will be presented and new methods and combinations will be developed.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $200.00

Elective

This course will explore digital design and production methods of ceramic objects within the context of contemporary art and design. Students will undertake a series of projects utilizing 3D modeling applications to produce forms that can be fabricated by additive technologies including direct extrusion of clay. Students will also build an open source printer to gain a better understanding of the adaptability and control of the tools they will be using. Rhino will be used as the primary CAD tool and students will need to provide their own laptop with Rhino installed. Experience with both ceramics and 3D modeling preferred.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $100.00

Elective

The course explores an extensive range of sculptural possibilities for ceramics through the theme of sampling. Students learn basic ceramic construction including handbuilding and moldmaking. Projects include: transformation of found shapes, images or objects, abstraction and introduction to contemporary ceramic sculpture. The emphasis is on experimentation and development of personal ideas.

Elective

In this class we will utilize an industrial approach and integrate it with a fine art sensibility. Students will learn how to make molds and prototypes; produce porcelain casting slip; strategies in casting; traditional and non-traditional surface applications. Course projects will focus on non-functional concepts. Many tools are supplied, however, students are required to purchase a tool kit to supplement those already on hand.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Ceramics Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Ceramics

In this class you will find a site, a venue, a place from which your investigations will spring. Working from the tradition and need of tableware; or architectural ornamentation; or public art, you will attach your personal expressive needs and vision to uses outside of the studio. Creative and inventive individual solutions are stressed. All ceramic techniques and processes appropriate may be used. Collaboration is encouraged. Designed for students at an advanced level, using clay as a primary material and involving a variety of processes and forming methods.

Elective

Students explore the pottery making processes of throwing, jiggering, extruding, casting, and pressing. They test and experiment creating the ceramic surfaces from a variety of high temperature glaze and firing techniques. They establish and challenge the creative and expressive potentials of utility.

Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Ceramics Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Ceramics

In the first semester, graduate students begin their investigation and produce clay works that allow the faculty to assess their approach and capabilities. Students are available and pursue active contact with the faculty. Students also attend supplemental department presentations.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Ceramics Students.

Major Requirement | MFA Ceramics

A seminar exploring ceramic idea, method, and expression in ceramic art from the technical perspective. Raw materials, clay bodies, glazes and glaze calculation are studied. The potential connection between technical understanding and the fulfillment of your vision and aesthetic expression is examined. Independent research is required.

Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Junior Ceramics Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Ceramics

A seminar exploring idea, method, and expression as found in the history of ceramic art. The focus is the potential connection between historical awareness and the development of your own work. Independent research is required.

Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Ceramics Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Ceramics

In the beginning of your fourth year you work independently with a ceramic faculty tutor to develop your individual degree project. Your project is expected to be a body of ceramic work that is unified in direction, significant in its degree of growth, innovative in its resolution, and personal in its expression.

Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Senior Ceramics Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Ceramics

Drawing is explored through ceramic techniques. This class serves to enhance the artist's perceptions relative to what drawing can become through the exploration of surface becoming form, and form mediated by surface. Drawing can be premeditation and drawing can be realization.

Elective

The second semester is a development of the ideas and work begun in the first. Students are available and pursue active contact with the faculty. Students also attend supplemental department presentations.

Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Ceramics Students.

Major Requirement | MFA Ceramics

An exploration and development of personal ideas and vision with their materialization in clay. An introduction to the techniques of handbuilding focusing on clay as a sculptural medium.

Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Ceramics Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Ceramics

Ceramic Sculpture will cover a range of concepts, traditions and techniques that are specific to the disciplines of both ceramics and sculpture. Projects will revolve around the topics of space, structure and form and the development of ideas. Techniques and processes including hand building, surface treatment and glazes will be covered. Clay is a subtle material allowing an exchange between the medium and the self. Through making, your skills and confidence will develop giving you more control over the objects you wish to realize. Students will approach these dynamics through installation, large construction and small-scale object making. Designed for students at an advanced level, using clay as a primary material and involving a variety of processes and forming methods.

Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Junior Ceramics Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Ceramics

Continued exploration begun during the first year leads to the presentation of a thesis project. Students work during class hours to ensure daily contact with faculty.

Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Ceramics Students.

Major Requirement | MFA Ceramics

A posed model will serve as the visual base from which students will compose and articulate 3-dimensional form in clay. Class projects include a series of small standing figures, a portrait, and a series of larger figures or large fragments of figures. Students will learn to build armatures and use clay modeling tools effectively. Outside assignments include skull study, a hand study and drawings from figurative sculpture found in and around Providence. Strong emphasis is given both to whole sight and to abstraction of essentials - proportion, spatial relationship, and axial orientation.

Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Ceramics Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Ceramics

This course helps the Ceramics Graduate Student develop a vocabulary of concepts concerning their works in clay. A slide presentation is made by each student concerning the relationship between an artist's resources, historical precedent and works in clay for class discussion.

Offered as CER-413G and GRAD-413G.

Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Ceramics Students.
 

Major Requirement | MFA Ceramics

Continued exploration begun during the first year leads to the presentation of a thesis project. Students work during class hours to ensure daily contact with faculty.

Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Ceramics Students.

Major Requirement | MFA Ceramics