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Ceramics

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Haliburton

Accepting applications

CER

Jennifer Bain

Ontario College Certificate

September 8, 2009

$3,325.50 program duration *
* Tuition and fees subject to change.

  • Program Information
  • Program Curriculum
  • Course Descriptions

 

Program Highlights

Ceramic works engage every element of the design and creative process. They embody the technology, the materials, and the artist's message in work that (usually) reflects the scale and scope of the human hand.

The potter takes traditional tools, materials and processes in conjunction with contemporary sensibilities to create a broad array of objects, from vessels and fixtures to three-dimensional sculptures. You will be encouraged to explore your personal style and themes in conjunction with developing the skills and techniques to design, fabricate, and finish basic ceramic forms. The process of drawing will be emphasized throughout the program, as a critical requirement for creative design, technical execution, and client proposals.

This 14-week program is delivered in an intensive format, including studies in design, drawing, and history for potters. Ceramics

 

 

Word from the Workplace

"I would definitely recommend the Ceramics certificate program to anyone who has fallen in love with throwing clay on the wheel. The course gives the budding potter all the practical knowledge and inspiration needed to reach the next level and beyond. Throwing skills grow incredibly quickly and the foundations in studio management, decorating techniques, and working with plaster moulds give each student many ways to express their personal style. My skills became much stronger and more refined during the four months I spent in the intensive course."

Ruth Gauthier, Ceramics Certificate Graduate 2004

 

Why Choose Fleming?

This program is delivered at Fleming College’s Haliburton Campus, in the spectacular environment of Northern Ontario, yet less than three hours northeast of Toronto. The light and airy architecture of the main building, which was completed in the fall of 2005, houses studios and classrooms which were carefully designed for visual arts and crafts studies. This is an immersion experience -  you will be able devote yourself to your artwork in a challenging and collaborative atmosphere.
 
As a Fleming student, you will enjoy a number of choices in selecting your areas of interest in visual arts, as well as the duration of your study. With two semesters of study in addition to any art certificate program, you can complete the Visual and Creative Arts Diploma (two year). You can also enjoy the benefits of a number of credit transfer agreements with other post-secondary institutions.
 
The certificate programs are delivered in an intense format in which two semesters of credits can be completed in only 14 weeks. Each certificate course comprises 32.5 hours of in-class studies and 15 hours of technical support in studio. Faculty members are not only professional artists and designers, but also dedicated teachers who are intent upon the development of your technical skills, creative thinking, and artistic integrity. The 40-year history of the Haliburton School of The Arts is proof of the passion and focus of its faculty, administration, and support staff, whose collaboration provides an environment rich in potential for studies in the arts.

 

What it Takes to Succeed

  • a willingness to get muddy
  • a passionate interest in ceramics
  • good oral and written communication skills
  • manual dexterity
  • open to learning
  • a desire to explore your creativity
  • ability to commit to intensive format

 

Career Opportunities

You have started a life-long learning experience in the world of ceramics, with endless options in your pursuit of a career in this field. This program will appeal to the serious student who is seeking to build an excellent foundation portfolio of work before pursuing further studies, to apply their learning to another medium, or to explore apprenticeship, freelance, or teaching career options.

 

Minimum Admission Requirements

 OSSD with the majority of credits at the College (C) and Open (O) level, including:

  • 2 College (C) English courses (Grade 11 or Grade 12)

When (C) is the minimum course level for admission, (U) or (U/C) courses are also accepted. 

Mature Students
If you are 19 years of age or older before classes start, and you do not possess an OSSD, you can write the Canadian Adult Achievement Test to assess your eligibility for admission.

 

Selection Process

 

Related Programs

The Ceramics Certficate comprises 14 of the elective credits required for the Visual and Creative Arts Diploma - also available at the Haliburton School of The Arts.

Graduates of the Ceramics certificate will be considered for entrance into the Sheridan College Crafts and Design advanced diploma program. Successful applicants will enter directly into the second year of the program. All applicants will be required to present a portfolio as part of the admission process.

 

Additional Costs

A $756.00 material fee is included in the tuition/fees noted above.

 

University Transfer Agreements

Semester 1

Applied Design for Ceramics

Course Number: ARTS008

Students will learn design techniques as they specifically relate to ceramics, and investigate the nature of creativity. A variety of creative exercises will generate ideas that will be expressed through drawings and in written form. By identifying personal tastes and interests, students will develop their own style. Their ideas and unique style will then be translated into reality by combining pottery-making skills with design principles, issues of form and function, appropriate decoration, choice of production methods, and craftsmanship. They will design and develop products such as dinnerware place settings, teapots, casseroles, and more, in the form of prototypes that will be made in 'Throwing Part 5'.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50


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Art History XIII - Ceramics

Course Number: ARTS971

This course is designed to give students an understanding of the use, making, and design of ceramics art from its earliest application to the present. With a special emphasis on historically significant styles, techniques, and artists, students will be encouraged to recognize and use specific elements of design in a way that may inform their own work. Exploration of historically significant ceramics will be through student research, presentation, hands-on clay work, and field trips.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50


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Ceramic Studio Operations

Course Number: ARTS045

This course offers the skills and knowledge necessary to set up and successfully operate a ceramic studio. Instruction will include ceramic studio design and maintenance, determining and purchasing materials and equipment: as well as making and maintaining tools and equipment. Kiln issues such as designing, building, repairing, firing, loading and unloading will also be investigated. Health and safety issues are an integral part of all aspects of this course and will be addressed regularly.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50


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Clay and Glaze Technology

Course Number: ARTS050

Through an overview of theory and a number of practical exercises, students will develop the skills and knowledge necessary to work with glazes in order to analyze, compare, alter, formulate new glazes, and identify and correct glaze faults. The characteristics and choice of raw materials and their role will be studied using line blends and other testing methods to create various effects, mindful of health and safety issues. Information that is compiled will become a useful future reference resource.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50


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Decorating and Glazing Techniques

Course Number: ARTS062

The aesthetics of ceramic pieces is an important consideration. The appearance can be as important, if not more important, than the functionality. Students will develop the skills needed to decorate and glaze ceramics appropriately according to function, design and aesthetic considerations. A variety of decorating methods will be studied, according to the condition of the clay (wet, leatherhard, dry or bisque). Glaze application methods will include dip, pour, brush and spray. Students will also learn to prepare work for firing.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50


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Drawing - Ceramics

Course Number: ARTS972

This course will engage the student in basic drawing processes as they relate to the art of ceramic design and description. Focusing on line, proportion, light, texture, color and surface, students will produce sketches, working drawings and presentation renderings. Simple yet powerful processes for both representational drawing skills and concept drawings will be explored in the classroom. Observational drawings from a variety of natural and man made objects and patterns can be a rich source for style and surface design Basic colouring techniques will be addressed using materials such as watercolour, gouache, soluble pencils and pencil crayons. Attention will be given to the use of drawing in creative design processes and the exploration of style in a series of clay works. Students will use journals to gather research material and concepts.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50


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Handbuilding Ceramics

Course Number: ARTS107

The focus of this course is to assist students in developing the skills required to make pottery using handbuilding methods. Students will learn the basic characteristics and working properties of clay in order to successfully join clay and handle and dry finished pieces. Techniques covered will include pinch, coil, soft and hard slab, as well as the use of such aids as hump and press molds and the clay extruder.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50


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Marketing/Portfolio Development

Course Number: MKTG053

Practicing artists can choose from many different paths to advance their personal and artistic goals. This course examines the ways in which artists can assess choices in further education, financing and operating their own studio, presenting themselves, and promoting and marketing their work. Students will analyze the various aspects of developing a portfolio, photographing and editing quality images for promotion and documentation, and writing an artist's statement, cv, cover letters, and promotional materials. They will research and evaluate the services of trade/support organizations, marketing venues, the process for grant applications, artists residencies and internships. Resources for learning the issues in successfully operating a studio, along with the business practices and legal implications of these operations will also be investigated. Students will summarize their personal goals to establish their own specific set of options for continuing their artist's practices. In class sessions will involve research, writing, presentation, and critical discussion.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50


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Mouldmaking for Ceramics

Course Number: ARTS137

In this course students will develop the skills to make basic plaster molds for ceramics. Students will learn the properties and various working techniques of plaster in order to make slump, hump, press, one piece, simple two piece and tile molds. The composition, adjustment by understanding flocculation and deflocculation, and use of casting slips will be studied to enable the student to make slipcast pottery.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50


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Throwing Techniques I

Course Number: ARTS229

This course is an introduction to making potter on the potter's wheel. Students will learn the basic characteristics and working properties of clay and how to centre clay on the wheel in order to make simple pottery forms such as cylinders, bowls and plates. Students will learn to operate the equipment and handle clay safely.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50


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Throwing Techniques II

Course Number: ARTS230

In this course, students will continue to develop and refine their wheel throwing skills in order to make simple pottery forms. Students will then learn the methods of trimming pottery and making handles and jug spouts paying particular attention to finishing details.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50


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Throwing Techniques III

Course Number: ARTS231

In this course, students will improve their pottery making skills in order to create larger, more complex and better finished pottery with consideration given to functionality. They will develop the skills necessary to create pottery with well crafted and suitable lids and be able to duplicate pottery forms to create sets and related multiples. They will apply the techniques and skills of decorating and glazing to finish their work appropriately mindful of attention to detail and the principles of function, design and aesthetics.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50


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Throwing Techniques IV

Course Number: ARTS232

This course will enable students to develop advanced level throwing skills such as creation of enclosed forms as well as the skills required to center and throw large amounts of clay (up to 5 kg) to create large planters. Techniques such as sectional throwing and extended throwing with coils added and thrown will enable the student to create even larger pieces than 5 kg. Students will learn to create new forms by altering and reassembling thrown and glazing to finish their work appropriately mindful of attention to details and the principles of functionality, design and aesthetics.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50


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Throwing Techniques V

Course Number: ARTS233

This course will enable students to refine advanced level throwing skills to create large lidded forms such as casseroles and more complex and demanding forms such as teapots. Students will also be enabled to develop the prototypes of products designed in the Applied Design for Ceramics course that show a successful integration of the principles of design, functionality and aesthetics with a distinct personal style.

Units: 47.50
Hours: 47.50


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