Definition of experience levels for Ceramics Program courses

Use these definitions as a guideline to select a Ceramics Program course that best suits your level of experience. Note: If you select an Intermediate-Advanced class, please carefully review these guidelines to ensure that you are qualified to take the course. We reserve the right to drop participants who have registered for courses they do not have the skills to meaningfully participate in.

Beginner:

Little to no experience working with clay as an artistic medium.
Little to no knowledge of wheel throwing or trimming OR
Little to no experience with sculptural techniques such as coiling, slab work or pinching.
Little to no knowledge of the basics of glaze application.
Little to no knowledge of different types of kiln temperatures/atmospheres.
Little to no experience working with plaster to create molds or the use of casting slip.

Intermediate:

Ability to wedge clay.
Familiar with the terms greenware, leather/cheese hard and bone dry clay.
Wheel Throwing? Ability to center on a potter’s wheel and throw and trim basic forms (cylinders, bowls) unaided.
Sculpting? You can roll a slab unaided and build basic forms using the techniques of pinching, slabs or coils.
Knowledge and experience with glaze application and basic understanding of different kiln temperatures and atmospheres.
In regard to the use of the plaster room, has taken a beginner-level mold making class and can mix plaster to create a mold unaided.

Advanced:

Able to create a body of work with either the potter’s wheel or using sculptural techniques.
Working knowledge of glaze application and familiarity with different kiln atmospheres and cone temperatures.
Confidence in glaze application and identifying different types of glaze.
Have completed or have the knowledge base to complete Electric Kiln Certification through the Harvard Ceramics Program.
In regard to the use of the plaster room, has taken a beginner–intermediate level mold making class and can create a 2-3 part mold unaided.