Ceramics

​​Santa Ana College presents a comprehensive ceramic program in which traditional and contemporary ceramic approaches are encouraged. Equal attention is placed on wheel throwing and hand building. Basic to intermediate courses focus on fundamental ceramic techniques and processes, while developing art related concepts and creative identity. Advanced level courses address individual portfolio development, preparing for a studio practice and transfer opportunities. Additional attention is placed on clay and glaze theory, surface and transfer techniques, mixed-media fabrication, kiln firing and presenting work for applications and gallery review. With 26 wheels, a facility for slip-casting and mold-making, a fully stocked glaze lab, spray booth and blast cabinet, clay mixers, gas kilns, electric kilns, raku, soda firing and a test kiln, our studio environment is exciting and fully equipped.​

Introduction to Ceramics

ART 150 Primitive Pottery Techniques
Unit(s): 3.0 Class Hours: 36.0 Lecture, 72.0 Lab total.
Primitive techniques in pottery construction and firing. Emphasizes handbuilt forms. Students will construct tools. Sawdust, raku, dung, low temperature salt, and other pit firings will be utilized. CSU/UC

ART 151 Ceramics-Introductory Level
Unit(s): 3.0 Class Hours: 36.0 Lecture, 72.0 Lab total.
Exploration of clay as a structural and creative material. Experiences include throwing on the potter’s wheel and hand building. Instruction includes surface design, glazing, and experience in utilitarian forms. Students provide clay and tools. A combination of ART 151 and ART 152 and ART 153 may be taken a maximum of four enrollments. CSU/UC

ART 152 Ceramics-Intermediate Throwing
Unit(s): 3.0 Class Hours: 36.0 Lecture, 72.0 Lab total.
Prerequisite: ART 151 with a minimum grade of C.
Further study of wheel thrown techniques with an emphasis on functional, utilitarian forms. Students provide own clay and tools. A combination of ART 151 and ART 152 and ART 153 may be taken a maximum of four enrollments. CSU/UC

ART 153 Ceramics-Intermediate Handbuilding
Unit(s): 3.0 Class Hours: 36.0 Lecture, 72.0 Lab total.
Prerequisite: ART 151 with a minimum grade of C.
Further study of handbuilding techniques with emphasis on one-ofa- kind sculptural forms. Non-traditional alternatives to glazes are explored. Students provide own clay and tools. A combination of ART 151 and ART 152 and ART 153 may be taken a maximum of four enrollments. CSU/UC

ART 154 Ceramics Summer Workshop
Unit(s): 3.0 Class Hours: 27.0 Lecture, 81.0 Lab total.
Prerequisite: ART 151 with a minimum grade of C.
For intermediate/advanced students interested in a self-guided study/exploration in the ceramic medium. Emphasizes technical aspects and artistic imageries. Invited artists will provide supplementary guidance. Students provide own clay and tools. CSU/UC

ART 155 Plaster Mold Making
Unit(s): 3.0 Class Hours: 36.0 Lecture, 72.0 Lab total.
Prerequisite: ART 151 with a minimum grade of C.
Basic aspects of plaster of Paris mold making: production of molds from original models in order to reproduce those models; alteration of those plaster mold castings into a more artistic, personalized imagery. A combination of ART 155 and ART 157 may be taken a maximum of four enrollments. CSU/UC

ART 156 Clay Calculation: An Approach in Color Study
Unit(s): 3.0 Class Hours: 36.0 Lecture, 72.0 Lab total.
Prerequisite: ART 151 with a minimum grade of C.
Basic uses of color clays as a decorative tool in making pottery forms. Techniques of sprigging, incising, inlay, and lamination are utilized with wheel-thrown, handbuilding, and plaster mold construction methods. A combination of ART 156 and ART 159A and ART 159B may be taken a maximum of four enrollments. CSU/UC

ART 157 Ceramics-Raku and Saggar Firing Techniques
Unit(s): 3.0 Class Hours: 36.0 Lecture, 72.0 Lab total. Prerequisite: ART 151 with a minimum grade of C.
Use of the potter’s wheel and/or handbuilding techniques as methods for constructing vessel forms. Includes a study of surface coloration from natural organic materials. Several firing techniques will be utilized. A combination of ART 155 and ART 157 may be taken a maximum of four enrollments. CSU/UC

ART 158 Ceramic Mural Project
Unit(s): 3.0 Class Hours: 36.0 Lecture, 72.0 Lab total.
Prerequisite: ART 151 with a minimum grade of C. Students will work collaboratively to design, construction, and installation of a tile mural. Includes various techniques of surface textures, glaze colors, spatial compositions, and technical processes of installation. Students provide own clay and tools. Projects vary each semester. CSU/UC

ART 159A Ceramic Color Decoration: Low Temperature
Unit(s): 3.0 Class Hours: 36.0 Lecture, 72.0 Lab total. Prerequisite: ART 151 with a minimum grade of C. Exploration of surface color decoration on ceramic vessels. Emphasizes glazing techniques (low temperatures only) such as underglazes, lusters, engobes, sgraffito, decals, slip trailing, wax resist, burnishing and ceramic pencils/crayons. A combination of ART 156 and ART 159A and ART 159B may be taken a maximum of four enrollments. CSU/UC

ART 159B Ceramic Color Decoration: High Temperature Unit(s): 3.0 Class Hours: 36.0 Lecture, 72.0 Lab total. Prerequisite: ART 151 with a minimum grade of C. Exploration of surface color decoration on ceramic vessels within the realm of high stoneware temperatures. Emphasizes glazing techniques such as marbling, feathering, mishima, brush decoration, stencils, stamp printing, spraying, slip painting, glaze trailing, wax resist, and terra sigallata. A combination of ART 156 and ART 159A and ART 159B may be taken a maximum of four enrollments. CSU/ UC