Courses

Students in this class will learn to use a variety of ceramic production methods techniques including; molding, pressing, extruding, and giggering, to design and make small pottery editions. The focus is the design and perfection of the objects made and methods used. This class will also serve as a platform for inviting visiting artists to make small editions using our production facilities. Open to non-major juniors and above pending seat availability and permission of Department Head.

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 Materials Cost: $200.00 Open non-majors juniors and above pending seat availability and permission of the Department Head.

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. Major requirement; Ceramics majors Open to non-majors as an elective pending seat availability and permission of Instructor. Registration by Ceramics Department, course not available via web registration.

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 arestressed. 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. Open to non-major juniors and above pending seat availability and permission of Department Head.

A Collaborative Study Project (CSP) allows two students to work collaboratively to complete a faculty supervised project of independent study. Usually, a CSP is supervised by two faculty members, but with approval it may be supervised by one faculty member. Its purpose is to meet individual student needs by providing an alternative to regularly offered courses, though it is not a substitute for a course if that course is regularly offered.

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. Open to seniors and graduate-level students in all majors.

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. Graduate major requirement; Ceramics majors only Registration by Ceramics Department, course not available via web registration.

The Independent Study Project (ISP) allows students to supplement the established curriculum by completing a faculty supervised project for credit in a specific area of interest. Its purpose is to meet individual student needs by providing an alternative to regularly offered courses. Permission of Instructor and GPA of 3.0 or higher is required. Register by completing the Independent Study Application available on the Registrar's website; the course is not available via web registration.

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. This course is open to all students when offered during Wintersession. Major requirement; Ceramics sophomores Open to sophomore non-majors pending seat availability and permission of Department Head.

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. Major requirement; Ceramics sophomores only. Open to sophomore non-majors pending seat availability and permission of the Department Head.

The professional Internship provides valuable exposure to a professional setting, enabling students to better establish a career path and define practical aspirations. Internship proposals are carefully vetted to determine legitimacy and must meet the contact hour requirements listed in the RISD Course Announcement.

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. Graduate major requirement; Ceramics majors only Registration by Ceramics Department, course not available via web registration.

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. Graduate major requirement; Ceramics majors Open to non-majors pending seat availability and permission of department required. Also offered as GRAD-413G; Register in the course for which credit is desired. Registration by Ceramics Department, course not available via web registration.

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. Major requirement; Ceramics majors only Registration by Ceramics Department, course not available via web registration.

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. Major requirement; Ceramics sophomores Open to non-majors as an elective pending seat availability and permission of Instructor. Registration by Ceramics Department, course not available via web registration.

A seminar exploring ceramic method and expression from technical perspectives. A study of raw materials including clay, clay bodies, and glaze calculation. The focus is the connection between technical development, and aesthetic expression. In-depth independent research required. A materials diary kept. Graduate major requirement; Ceramics majors Registration by Ceramics Department, course not available via web registration. Open to non-majors pending seat availability and permission of department required.

The professional Internship provides valuable exposure to a professional setting, enabling students to better establish a career path and define practical aspirations. Internship proposals are carefully vetted to determine legitimacy and must meet the contact hour requirements listed in the RISD Course Announcement.

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. Open to freshmen and sophomore undergraduate students.

Since antiquity, ceramics has used as raw materials to express artistic themes related to human ontology. Students will explore the relationship between ceramic art and human body, perception and emotion, whether physical or mental, using clay as a base material to create works based on personal interest. The class will begin with showing students the history and images of the artworks which are related to clay, the body and emotion. And then, students will be introduced to fundamental hand building techniques in clay including but not limited to slab, pinch and coil building, also will include introductions to ceramic chemistry and process, the material's various contexts. Students need to complete several assignment to practice hand building, glazing testing and topic presentation to help in finishing the final iteration of the well-considered project. During the class, demonstrations, individual critique, lecture and group discussion also specific technique help will be provided. Estimated Materials Cost: $50.00 Open to seniors and graduate-level students.

The Independent Study Project (ISP) allows students to supplement the established curriculum by completing a faculty supervised project for credit in a specific area of interest. Its purpose is to meet individual student needs by providing an alternative to regularly offered courses. Permission of Instructor and GPA of 3.0 or higher is required. Register by completing the Independent Study Application available on the Registrar's website; the course is not available via web registration.

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. 2022WS restricted to Freshmen

The purpose of this course is to prepare a written thesis. You will be required to develop an outline, bibliography, and first and second drafts. Completion and presentation will be during the following spring semester. This course is reserved for and required of second-year MFA Ceramics majors. Schedule individually arranged with instructor.

This course registers an outgoing exchange student into a pre-approved cER studio course which is taken at the exchange school. Successful completion of the course will result in a "T" grade once receipt of the official transcript from the partner school has arrived at Registrar's Office.

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. Major requirement; Ceramics majors Open to non-major swith permission of Department Head. Registration by Ceramic Department, course not available via web registration.

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 arestressed. 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. Open to non-major juniors and above pending seat availability and permission of Department Head.

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 Materials Cost: $100.00 Open to non-major juniors and above pending seat availability and permission of instructor. Permission of Instructor required.

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. Open to non-major sophomores pending seat availability and permission of Department Head.

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. Graduate major requirement; Ceramics majors only Registration by Ceramics Department, course not available via web registration.

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. Graduate major requirement; Ceramics majors only Registration by Ceramics Department, course not available via web registration.

Introduction to Ceramics for Design Majors would condense the sophomore ceramics curriculum so that design students can enroll in other ceramics-based courses, insuring that the sequence builds on prior knowledge. After this introductory course design majors will be better equipped to take Slip Casting, Advanced Pottery and Production, and Tableware. Interested students could take the science course for a more in depth understanding of the material. Information to be covered in Introduction to Ceramics for Design Majors . Basic hand building techniques . Basic mold making for slip casting and pressing. Proper use of plaster and the plaster room . Basic clay and glaze formulation - proper use of the glaze room and clay making facilities. . Basic firing processes and understanding the effects of different kiln temperatures and atmospheres. . Use of 3d design technology and ceramics - marriage of traditional techniques and new technology Permission of Department Head required.

As Graduate Design students we will consider how ceramics processes could inform your design work. Through demonstrations, discussions, projects, critiques, and much hands-on work, you should arrive at a fundamental understanding of ceramic hand building as a means to make art. You'll begin to understand what clay can and cannot do in its various stages. Unlike wood or metal - ceramics does not have an inherent structure - it must be built into the form and be made to withhold the stress of shrinkage and crack-age during the drying and firing stages. Hand building is the first step to understanding ceramics and the tools, materials and equipment in ceramic production used by designers. Along with hand building students will be introduced to mold-making, digital ceramics, simple clay and glaze chemistry and the various firing processes. Open to Architecture + Design graduate-level students only. Also offered as GRAD-425G.

The Independent Study Project (ISP) allows students to supplement the established curriculum by completing a faculty supervised project for credit in a specific area of interest. Its purpose is to meet individual student needs by providing an alternative to regularly offered courses. Permission of Instructor and GPA of 3.0 or higher is required. Register by completing the Independent Study Application available on the Registrar's website; the course is not available via web registration.

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. Major requirement; Ceramics sophomores only. Open to non-majors as an elective pending seat availability and permission of Department. Registration by Ceramics Department, course not available via web registration.

The second semester is a continuation of the senior degree project begun in the Fall. The work and ideas are further developed and refined for final presentation at the Woods-Gerry Gallery. Major requirement; Ceramics majors only Registration by Ceramics Department, course not available via web registration.