Profession ceramicist

Ceramicist have an in-depth knowledge of materials and the relevant know-how to develop their own methods of expression and personal projects through ceramic. Their creations can include ceramic sculptures, jewellery, domestic and commercial tablewares and kitchenwares, giftware, garden ceramics, wall and floor tiles.

Personality Type

• Artistic / Realistic

Knowledge

• Intellectual property law

  The regulations that govern the set of rights protecting products of the intellect from unlawful infringement.

• Art history

  The history of art and artists, the artistic trends throughout centuries and their contemporary evolutions.

• Labour legislation

  Legislation, on a national or international level, that governs labour conditions in various fields between labour parties such as the government, employees, employers, and trade unions.

• Types of pottery material

  Types of clays and mud and their appearance, properties, reaction to fire, etc.

Skills

• Contextualise artistic work

  Identify influences and situate your work within a specific trend which may be of an artistic, aesthetic, or philosophical natures. Analyse the evolution of artistic trends, consult experts in the field, attend events, etc.

• Transfer designs on workpiece

  Operate stylus and cutting tools, duplicate design or letters on a workpiece.

• Gather reference materials for artwork

  Gather samples of the materials you expect to use in the creation process, especially if the desired piece of art necessitates the intervention of qualified workers or specific production processes.

• Supervise craft production

  Fabricate/prepare patterns or templates to guide the crafting production process.

• Design objects to be crafted

  Sketch, draw or design sketches and drawings from memory, live models, manufactured products or reference materials in the process of crafting and sculpting.

• Add coils to ceramic work

  Adjust the ceramic work and follow a sophisticated process of creation by adding coils to the work. Coils are long rolls of clay, which can be placed on top of each other in order to create various shapes.

• Study craft trends

  Research and study trends in crafting, in order to keep up with current designs and marketing strategies.

• Add slabs to ceramic work

  Adjust the ceramic work and follow a sophisticated process of creation by adding slabs to the work. Slabs are rolled plates of ceramic. They are made by rolling out the clay using a rolling pin or other tools.

• Create ceramic objects

  Create functional, decorative or artistic ceramic objects by hand or by using sophisticated industrial tools for part of the creative process, applying a variety of techniques and materials.

• Manage different pottery materials

  Manage different recipes of clay and mud according to the genre (such as china) or the expected strength, look, colour, tradition or innovation in the creative process.

• Confer on artwork

  Introduce and discuss the nature and content of art work, achieved or to be produced with an audience, art directors, catalogue editors, journalists, and other parties of interest.

• Create specific enamels

  Using samples, create recipes for specific enamels.

• Operate a ceramics kiln

  Manage the temperature of a kiln to achieve the expected results according to the type of clay such as biscuit stoneware or porcelain. Manage sintering and enamels colours.

• Sketch designs on workpieces

  Sketch or scribe layouts and designs on workpieces, plates, dies or rollers. Use compasses, scribers, gravers, pencils, etc.

• Select artistic materials to create artworks

  Select artistic materials based on strength, colour, texture, balance, weight, size, and other characteristics that should guarantee the feasibility of the artistic creation regarding the expected shape, color, etc. - even thought the result might vary from it. Artistic materials such as paint, ink, water colours, charcoal, oil, or computer software can be used as much as garbage, living products (fruits, etc) and any kind of material depending on the creative project.

• Create craft prototypes

  Fabricate and prepare prototypes or models of objects to be crafted.

• Create artwork

  Cut, shape, fit, join, mould, or otherwise manipulate materials in an attempt to create a selected artwork - be the technical processes not mastered by the artist or used as a specialist.

• Create ceramic work by hand

  Hand-build a ceramic piece of work without use of the pottery wheel, using only hand tools.

• Manage different ceramic firing techniques

  Manage different ceramic firing or baking techniques according to selected clay, the expect strength of the object, and enamel colours.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB