Sector-specific

The Production of Handcrafted Ceramic Pieces Using Hand-Modelling Techniques

Art and Crafts

190 hours

Introduction

In the field of arts and crafts, traditional pottery represents a a rich and traditional discipline which requires a thorough understanding of the various techniques for identifying parts. This knowledge encompasses the selection of appropriate shapes, dimensions and materials for the creation of handcrafted ceramic pieces, primarily using the modelling technique manual as the primary technique.

The aim of this course is to provide participants with the skills and knowledge essential elements required to carry out the creation of ceramic pieces created by hand-modelling. Hand-modelling is an essential technique in artisanal pottery, as enables the creation of unique and authentic pieces.

Objectives

Prepare the dough, either by hand or using a machine, to achieve a mixture of uniform consistency for the one-piece moulding.
To create ceramic objects using the technique of rolls and slabs made from clay pellets previously prepared for subsequent finishing.
Making ceramic objects using the I use a potter’s wheel with pre-prepared clay lumps in order to proceed with the subsequent finishing process.
Producing objects using calibration with the lathe and threading from sheet metal clay for the production of mass-produced pieces.
Making ceramic pieces by hand-moulding plastic material from lumps of previously muddied designed for the production of mass-produced items.

TEACHING UNIT 1. MANUAL PREPARATION OF ARTISANAL POTTERY CLAYS

Manual processes for mixing and kneading clay.
Dough characteristics: plasticity and moisture levels.
Techniques and procedures for mixing and kneading by hand
- Kneading using a combination of different doughs.
Faults in mixing and hand-kneading
- Lumps.
- Air inclusion.
- Lack of consistency.
Preparation and storage of hand-kneaded dough
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Occupational hazards, preventive measures and equipment relating to manual mixing and kneading processes.
Environmental risks, preventive measures and equipment relating to manual mixing and kneading processes

TEACHING UNIT 2. MECHANICAL PREPARATION OF CERAMIC SLIBS

Mechanical mixing and kneading processes.
Characteristics of the paste: Moisture and plasticity levels
Techniques and procedures for mechanical mixing and kneading
Operation and maintenance of equipment: mixers and extruders
- Types of mixers.
- Cleaning and maintenance
Mixing and kneading faults
- Lumps.
- Air inclusion.
- Lack of consistency.
Preparation and storage of mechanically kneaded doughs.
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Occupational risks, preventive measures and equipment relating to mechanical mixing and kneading processes.
Environmental risks, preventive measures and waste management relating to mechanical mixing and kneading processes
Application of pottery wheel techniques and procedures for re-throwing handmade pottery pieces

TEACHING UNIT 3. APPLICATION OF THE ROLLING TECHNIQUE IN THE CREATION OF HANDCRAFTED POTTERY PIECES

Preparing the clay to the required consistency for making the roll.
Techniques for making rolls.
Joining the rolls.
- Preparation of the slip
Straightened.
Defects in the splicing of the rolls.
Faults in the straightening of the rolls.
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Occupational risks and related prevention measures and equipment associated with the processes of producing pottery pieces using the coil and slab techniques.
Environmental risks, preventive measures and waste management relating to the production of pottery pieces using the coil-building technique.

TEACHING UNIT 4. APPLICATION OF THE SLAB TECHNIQUE IN THE CREATION OF HANDMADE POTTERY PIECES

Preparing the clay to the required level of plasticity for making slabs.
Techniques for making clay tiles.
Cutting and joining clay slabs.
- Preparation of the slip
Finishing and edging the chamfers at the joints between the sheets.
Defects in the joints between the plates.
Faults in the finish of the edging at the joints between the panels.
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Occupational risks and related prevention measures and equipment associated with the processes of producing pottery pieces using the coil and slab techniques.
Environmental risks, preventive measures and waste management relating to the production of pottery pieces using slab techniques.

TEACHING UNIT 5. APPLICATION OF TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES FOR CENTRING THE CLAY COMBINATION ON THE POTTER’S WHEEL WHEN MAKING HANDCRAFTED POTTERY PIECES

Operation and maintenance of the potter’s wheel
Types and uses of the potter’s wheel.
- Traditional floor-mounted or hand-operated lathes.
- The electric lathe
The process of centring the billet on the lathe.
Preparing the pella.
- Kneading
- Plasticity.
- Centred
Faults in the kneading process
Centring fault:
- Off-centre
- Uneven distribution of the clay when centring on the potter’s wheel.
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Occupational risks, preventive measures and equipment relating to the processes involved in making pottery pieces on a potter’s wheel.
Environmental risks, preventive measures and waste management relating to the processes involved in making pottery on a potter’s wheel.

TEACHING UNIT 6. APPLICATION OF POTTER’S WHEEL TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HANDCRAFTED POTTERY PIECES

The process of making clay pieces on a potter’s wheel.
- Creating different pieces from the same lump of clay.
- Production of open-work pieces.
- Production of solid parts.
- Making a piece from a block (turning on a board):
- Lifting of parts.
- Production of open-work pieces.
- Production of solid parts.
- Defects in turning:
- Uneven distribution of clay within the piece.
- Off-centre nozzles.
- Loss of symmetry
- Non-homogeneous shapes.
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Occupational risks, preventive measures and equipment relating to the processes involved in making pottery pieces on a potter’s wheel.
Environmental risks, preventive measures and waste management relating to the processes involved in making pottery on a potter’s wheel.

TEACHING UNIT 7. APPLICATION OF POTTER’S WHEEL TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES FOR TRIMMING HANDMADE POTTERY PIECES

The process of trimming handmade pottery pieces made on a potter’s wheel.
- Tools and equipment for reaming
- Moisture content and plasticity of pottery pieces for reshaping.
- Centring the workpiece.
- Wide-mouth items.
- Narrow-mouth pieces.
- Returned
- Various turn-finish options.
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Occupational hazards, preventive measures and equipment relating to the processes of reshaping pottery pieces on a potter’s wheel.
Environmental risks, preventive measures and waste management relating to the reworking of pottery pieces produced on a potter’s wheel.

TEACHING UNIT 8. GLUING HANDLES AND OTHER DECORATIVE ELEMENTS.

Production of handles and other decorative elements.
- Use of tools for making handles and other decorative elements.
- Bonding process using slurry and rollers.
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Occupational risks, preventive measures and equipment relating to the processes of manufacturing and attaching handles and decorative elements. .
Environmental risks, measures and waste management relating to the processes involved in the production of handles and decorative elements.

TRAINING MODULE 2. CREATING HANDCRAFTED POTTERY USING CLAY ON A POTTER’S WHEEL AND MOULDS

TEACHING UNIT 1. CREATING HANDMADE POTTERY PIECES USING COLLARS ON MOULDS WITH A POTTER’S WHEEL.

Calibration lathes.
- Types of lathe
Moulds and dies.
- Types of moulds.
- Taps for shaping pieces on a potter’s wheel.
Routine maintenance
Procedure for shaping clay pieces on a potter’s wheel.
- Applying the paste
- Application of the earth rake
- Demoulding
Calibration errors with the lathe.
- Uneven surfaces.
- Abrasions.
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Occupational hazards, preventive measures and equipment relating to the processes involved in shaping pottery pieces using a potter’s wheel.
Environmental risks, preventive measures and waste management relating to the processes involved in the production of pottery pieces using the calibration method.
Creating sgraffito designs on unfired pottery pieces.

TEACHING UNIT 2. CREATING HANDMADE POTTERY PIECES USING HAND-MOLDING

The clamping mould.
- Types of mould: Plaster and other materials.
- Moulds with vents for pressurised air.
Preparing the pasta.
- Plasticity and moisture.
Moulding.
- Applying the paste to the mould using a press.
- Applying the paste to the mould by “pinching” it”
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Occupational hazards, preventive measures and equipment relating to the processes involved in producing pottery pieces using squeeze moulds.
Environmental risks, prevention measures and waste management relating to the production of pottery pieces using compression moulds.

TEACHING UNIT 3. MANUAL DEMOULDING, FINISHING AND IDENTIFICATION OF DEFECTS TYPICAL OF MANUAL DEMOULDING OPERATIONS.

Manual demoulding.
- By drying.
- By compressed air
Finishing of clamping mould components.
- Deburring
- Making up for absences.
Identification of defects.
- Air inclusion.
- Glued onto the mould.
- Unwanted deformation of the workpiece.
Maintenance and storage of moulds.
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Occupational hazards, preventive measures and equipment relating to the processes involved in producing pottery pieces using squeeze moulds.
Environmental risks, prevention measures and waste management relating to the production of pottery pieces using compression moulds.

TEACHING UNIT 4. CREATING ESGRAFIADO DESIGNS ON UNFIRED POTTERY PIECES.

Techniques and procedures for sgraffito on unfired handmade pottery pieces.
Tools and equipment for sgraffito.
Types of sgraffito.
Moisture and plasticity levels of ceramic slip for the application of sgraffito techniques.
Handling of tools and equipment used.
Sgraffito techniques.
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Occupational risks, control measures and preventive equipment relating to the manual decoration of pottery pieces using the sgraffito technique.
Environmental risks, preventive measures and waste management relating to the manual decoration of pottery pieces using the sgraffito technique.

TEACHING UNIT 5. SCRATCHING AND PAINTING ON UNFIRED POTTERY PIECES.

Techniques and procedures for scraping unfired handmade pottery pieces.
Tools and equipment for scraping.
Types of finish.
Moisture and plasticity levels of the ceramic paste for the application of the techniques described.
Handling of tools and equipment used.
Shaving processes.
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Techniques and procedures for stacking raw handmade pottery pieces.
Tools and equipment for palletising.
Types of finish.
Moisture and plasticity levels of the ceramic paste for the application of the techniques described.
Handling of tools and equipment used.
Palletising processes.
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Occupational risks, control measures and protective equipment relating to the manual decoration of pottery pieces using scraping and palette techniques.
Environmental risks, preventive measures and waste management relating to the manual decoration of pottery pieces using scraping and palette techniques.

TEACHING UNIT 6. POLISHING UNFIRED POTTERY PIECES.

Techniques and procedures for polishing unglazed handmade pottery pieces.
Tools and equipment for burnishing.
Types of finish.
Moisture and plasticity levels of the ceramic paste for the application of the techniques described.
Handling of tools and equipment used.
The process of burnishing the parts
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Occupational risks, control measures and preventive equipment relating to the manual decoration of pottery pieces by polishing.
Environmental risks, preventive measures and waste management relating to the manual decoration of pottery pieces by polishing.

TRAINING MODULE 3. DRYING POTTERY PIECES

TEACHING UNIT 1. DRYING PROCEDURES FOR HANDMADE POTTERY PIECES

Types of drying.
Air-drying:
- Location of the drying shed.
- Precautionary measures to ensure that items are dried without breaking.
Forced drying.
- Types of drying rooms.
- Precautionary measures to ensure that items are dried without breaking.
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Occupational hazards, preventive measures and equipment relating to the drying processes for handmade pottery.
Environmental risks, preventive measures and waste management relating to the drying processes of handcrafted pottery.

TEACHING UNIT 2. DRYING HANDMADE POTTERY PIECES

Drying handmade ceramic products.
- Positioning and transporting the pieces to the drying room.
- Drying control.
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Occupational hazards, preventive measures and equipment relating to the drying processes for handmade pottery.
Environmental risks, preventive measures and waste management relating to the drying processes of handcrafted pottery.

TEACHING UNIT 3. DEFECTS IN THE DRYING OF HANDMADE POTTERY PIECES

Identification of drying defects.
- Cracks and breaks.
- Joint separation.
- Control of engobes.
Procedures for the organisation, use, maintenance and cleaning of the work area, supplies, equipment and tools.
Occupational risks, preventive measures and equipment relating to the drying processes for handmade pottery pieces.
Environmental risks, preventive measures and waste management relating to the drying processes of handcrafted pottery.

The Production of Handcrafted Ceramic Pieces Using Hand-Modelling Techniques

Introduction

Objectives

Table of Contents

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