Ceramic Art Pottery Essay
Ceramic art pottery is described by art objects like tiles, figures and table ware which are made from clay, a number of the same materials are regarded as fine art and others referred as decorative or applied art. They are always done by a group of people with the knowledge and skills of pottery. Ceramic art has a long history depicted in most of the developed cultures; this is seen by the evidence of the art that is left from the ancient time. The ceramic art dates in more than two millenniums ago and the cultures noted to have engaged in the practice include the Greek, Japanese, Persian, and the Chinese.
The art is explained by the way the arts are done, and the degree of emphasis placed. This is by: the carvings, their decorations in painting, and the shapes of the objects. The decorations made on the materials symbolized many aspects in life mostly in what cultures would find essential to value. The arts were differentiated among different cultures, and one would easily identify an art from a particular culture. The most popular ones were from the Chinese and the Greek, this is for the reason that their decorations and art was taken into consideration and more emphasis laid.
Today the art of ceramic has not only been embraced by many nations but also as one of the most economic resource in the arts and design industry. Countries especially from Europe have regarded the materials as precious and hence import them for ornamental or ostentation purposes. From this diversification, the industry has greatly grown helping the artists earn a living.
Pottery has been important as it adds to the archaeology of historical cultures. Many of them are identified by their names which is distinctive and fine pottery such as Beaker culture, Corded Ware culture, Linear Pottery culture and Globular Amphora culture. It has expressed many styles from the traditions, which has a relationship with metal work and the contemporary sculpture.
Production process of the ceramic art pottery
Ceramic art pottery undergoes many processes in their production. From this process, quality substances are obtained.
- Clay Preparation. This is the first step and it involves finding of the plastic clay body. In the ancient times, potters had to dig their own clay from the available sources due to lack of options. Digging is still eminent and the potters get a feeling of connection to the earth through the process. The clay obtained from the earth, is offered as an offering by some of the Native American potters. In most cases clay is bought commercially and imported through shipping which is sometimes expensive due to the bulk nature of the clay.
- Wedging. This involves the mixing of clay by the hand which rotates it processing a ball of clay on table. This is essential because it brings the clay together forming a uniform layer and eliminating all air bubbles. The importance of this is to avoid explosions caused by the process of expansion and bursting of air pockets. Presence of holes indicates the availability of air which has to be eliminated.
- Forming. After wedging has been completed, it can be formed by many methods like: coil, slab, mold and pinch. For better results, the methods can be combined.
- Drying. Opening of the clay bag begins the drying process. Clay dries by loosing water and becomes stiffer which begins shrinkage. After the formation, the pieces created are wrapped in soft sheets of plastic and placed in a cool and dry place. The plastics will enable further drying to ensure that when one returns, the pieces will be useful. Caution should be taken when wrapping the work in plastic, to avoid easy distortion of the pieces. Plastics should be used to avoid faster drying which may result to cracking.
- Leatherhand. This is a partial dryness which is brought after the normal drying. The process is characterized by further lose of water through evaporation bringing stiffening and flexibility. At this stage it is time to refine the piece by: adding handles, carving excess clay and adding decorative elements. This moment offers the last chance to change the shape of the piece. This stage is highly recognized since once the clay has dried beyond here no further changes can be made.
- Greenware. This is referred to a piece of pottery that has completely dried. Elements like water and flexibility are completely eliminated and bending could result to breakage. No further carvings can be made. This expresses the passive state of clay awaiting its first firing. The finished work piece is carried and placed on the greenware racks. And it will remain at this level until there is enough accumulation of the pieces in the kiln. Work only on the greenwire should be fired and the pieces carried in order.
- Bisque Firing. After the drying process, the pieces are carried into the kilns for firing process. They are placed on fire which is about 1800 degrees census to harden it and make it easy to handle without breaking during the process of glazing. This temperature maintains the porosity of the clay, which is the ability to absorb water. But the water is absorbed by the bisque ware. The biaque process is essential for making the glazing easy. After three days, the biasque process is over. On the first day, the kiln is loaded and lit, it is set on a low setting to dry the ware, and left to warm. A faster firing can cause the work to explode. on the second day, the kiln is turned higher and the temperature rises until it reaches 1800 degrees. The kiln then turned off and allowed to cool. On the third day, the opening of the kiln takes place to remove the bisque ware and the pottery returned to the lab and stored.
- Glazing. Coloring materials and water are applied to the bisque pot by the process of dripping, spraying, pouring, and sponging. The pieces should be free of graze. Pots are p[laced on the racks which accumulate until they fill the kiln.
- Glaze Firing. This again takes 3 days to complete, in this case, the temperature is about 2350 degrees. The pots are then placed to cool after the firing. Some techniques, such as china painting may be used to realize different desired designs.
Uses of Ceramic Art Pottery Art Materials
The ceramic art potteries are used as chronological and cultural indicator. Some of the cultures such as the Chinese and the Greeks were highly focused and their identification was a key aspect. Most of the ancient people used the pottery materials to make some designs which symbolized the cultural nature. Presently, the countries still honor the arts from which they are given an identity. Pots and ornaments made by the cultures give the countries a cultural indicator.
Another use is to make ornaments and home appliances such as cups and plates. The hardness of the materials helps in manufacturing plates and cups which are durable in nature.
Used for the social identity aspect. Most of the pottery art were used to bring cultures together during cultural events. Cultures had the opportunities to present their cultural activities, which identified their cultural aspect. Countries like china and Japan, were well known for presenting the highest degree of cultural diversity by coming up with different designs of the pottery art.
Pottery materials are also used to to manufacture building materials. Materials such as stone ware are hard and durable making them ideal for the making of building materials. Earthen ware materials also act as ceramics to manufacture home decoration materials applied especially on the walls.
Lastly, the materials are used for ostentation purposes, this is where by the materials are kept by some individuals as a store of value. For instance in some European countries, some curving representing a certain symbol are kept to act as the value of the objects.
Characteristics of Ceramic Art Pottery
The ceramic art pottery materials, have features which identify them and making them easily distinguishable.
Ceramic art pottery materials have a high degree of durability. Materials such as porcelain, stone ware and earthen ware can stay for long without wearing out or being destroyed. Their durability makes them to have many uses such as manufacture of building materials. Some of the materials have been in existence from the historical times.
They are hard in nature; the materials are undergoing many processes, which make them so hard.Their hardness makes them have several uses which require hard materials. Hardness enhances durability a feature which is desirable by many users.
The materials have been in existence since the ancient times. Sources indicate that the materials have been on use as early as 2000 Bc. This makes them to be used as chronological and cultural indicators.
The materials undergo a long process to manufacture. The process starts from clay collection to firing process which takes some time to be accomplished.
