Pottery is an exciting medium that is at the forefront of the divide between art and craft. This course offers the opportunity to make works which are practical, sculptural or decorative; anything, in fact, that can be made in clay
Pottery, one of the oldest and most widespread of the decorative arts, consisting of objects made of clay and hardened with heat. The objects made are commonly useful ones, such as vessels for holding liquids or plates or bowls from which food can be served.
Clay, the basic material of pottery, has two distinctive characteristics: it is plastic (i.e., it can be moulded and will retain the shape imposed upon it ); and it hardens on firing to form a brittle but otherwise virtually indestructible material that is not attacked by any of the agents that corrode metals or organic materials. Firing also protects the clay body against the effects of water. If a sun-dried clay vessel is filled with water, it will eventually collapse, but, if it is heated, chemical changes that begin to take place at about 9000F (5000C) preclude a return to the plastic state no matter how the art of pottery is imbibed right in the history of mankind and has existed since time immemorial.
The first forms of civilization of early man are recorded through various articles of pottery, which are still found intact and are regarded as precious fossils today. They tell a story of a bygone era. Such is the beauty and historical values of this ancient art form.
In India the art of pot making is neither new nor unheard of. Our rich history records the beautiful tradition of this art through the hands of artisans who created dolls, utensils, and other household articles. Today, this art has evolved with time and has taken a new shape as one of the top preferred choices used in interior decors. We live in an age where people understand the values of handmade objects and ask for customized art creations for their homes. This is your chance to experience the art of pottery at the very basic level our course is specially designed to cater to students of all ages who have never tried a hand at pottery before.
At DOT School of Design, we begin the classes at the most basic level providing an introduction into the realm of pottery, understanding and preparing the clay, wedging and kneading techniques, centring the clay on the wheel, creation of basic shapes, hand-building and surface decorations techniques. There is a lot of learning in pottery, without using the pottery wheel. In this level, the techniques of hand pottery are taught, which are important for every potter. Emphasis is given on surface decoration as well. Students begin this level by learning the methodical ‘pinch pottery’. Pinching can be used for ornamental or functional purpose and is a widely used process from ancient times to now.
Students learn ‘coil pottery’ in the next step and create bowls, cups etc. ‘Slap pottery’ is an essential learning in this level, it allows the student to create shapes that are otherwise difficult to achieve using a wheel. Further, students progress to learn ‘Surface Decoration’ were carving, Etching, Springing, Faceting, creating cutworks, texturing and more and taught.
