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There are many myths about porcelain. This started already in the 12th century when Marco Polo discovered potters in China working with T'zu, the name originally used by these potters. In the 17th century, John Böttger began to understand the make-up of porcelain, and this is where our story starts.
The Understanding Porcelain online class explores the character of porcelain, and Antoinette explains how the materials used in those early ages of the discovery of porcelain are still the same materials used today, why it saturates with water so quickly, and why it dries faster than other clay bodies. Now, in the 21st century, we have much more knowledge about and many more resources to choose from as far as raw materials are concerned than was originally available in the City of Tinqui. It is also possible that potters can have a much clearer understanding of what we are dealing with in porcelain. Porcelain online classesDuring the 10 weeks that Antoinette presents her "Understanding Porcelain" online class, students can expect clear, close-up, and detailed videos that they can review and ask questions about as often as they need to. Antoinette teaches and demonstrates everything that any potter needs to understand about porcelain. Whether hand building, throwing, trimming, or altering on the potter’s wheel, beginners to advanced potters will learn to work easily and successfully with the “Diva of clay”. Antoinette addresses design. Porcelain is a semi-glass, which is the main reason why porcelain slump, warp, and crack. Firing and glazing techniques help to prevent mistakes and ensure success.
What to expect from the Class contents.The class is divided into weeks, which potters can follow or ignore. These are logical breaks between the videos and are intended to give potters an opportunity to pause and practice what they've learned. Potters can review 6 weeks of class content ( a 5-day hands-on class converted to 6 weeks online) over a 10-week period. They can review the content as often as they need to, and they can discuss questions and gain assistance from Antoinette during this time. Potters watch the videos at their own time. There are more than 30 videos to work through, on average 7-15 minutes long. When the classes are over, the PDFs are available to download as handouts. In week 1, the class is designed to make a transition from stoneware or earthenware clay to porcelain. There are clear and specific differences in the approach between these clay mediums. The introduction, which includes some porcelain history and the origin of clay, prepares you for that.
During Week 2, potters get to know and control porcelain with a pinching technique. This allows potters to understand the drying stages of porcelain clay. Porcelain clay, just like stoneware clay, comes in different kinds. Apart from different firing temperatures, porcelain clays are designed to either be thrown on the wheel, hand-built, or slipcast. In the end, potters choose a porcelain for their specific needs. If you are unsure of which kind to choose, you can contact Antoinette. Week 3 is a week of throwing porcelain on the pottery wheel. Beginners, intermediate, and advanced potters learn to push the limits on the wheel to throw thin, evenly, and translucent porcelain bowls and cylinders. The preparation of the clay is crucial, and the techniques include throwing with 2 kidneys, a great way to compress the clay and create even walls, a crucial element of success with porcelain.
The right tools and the right drying stages will help potters during trimming of the pots. The final outcome of transparent porcelain is exciting, but to do it successfully requires knowledge. Potters learn how to trim smoothly and to eliminate unplanned marks that can show up in the translucency of the walls. Even walls prevent slumping and cracking of the rims. During week 4, potters learn all about trimming and how to ensure the forms turn out successfully. One of the myths out there is that porcelain is a difficult medium. Fact is, porcelain is the "Diva of Clay" that demands attention to detail. During this class, the whole course begins to fall into place, and students get to understand why it is needed to do things in a specific way. However, one of the big takeaways is that there is no right or wrong way; only one that is comfortable and one that works.
TeachingArt is among others, a Ceramic School where potters learn why certain things are done the way they are done. It is more than just demonstrations, but an in-depth study that is suitable to teach in college. The beautiful thing is that once potters understand, they can change the rules to suit their specific needs, and Antoinette is there to walk those ideas through and assist them. During week 5, potters learn to alter their porcelain vessels, taking design into consideration, and during week 6, the glazing and firing of porcelain are the final actions to ensure success with porcelain. With the right approaches, it becomes easy to obtain beautiful porcelain objects. Antoinette shares a variety of clay techniques during her online and hands-on classes. The techniques that she uses are specialized, and she helps her students to develop their own techniques. Once a student of Antoinette, always one of her students. She is willing to work with you as long as you need it.
Unfortunately, the videos are not available permanently, since TeachinArt.com treat their online classes like hands-on workshops.
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