Ceramics

Offer your participants the opportunity to create ceramic pieces.  Although ceramics can be highly rewarding, the process can be involved and as complex as.  This discussion is only meant to be an overview.

The simplest form ceramics involves buying and staining bisque, which doesn't require the use of a kiln. This method is also the most expensive.   The following is a discussion of more complex methods of doing ceramics:

-Kilns: If very ambitious, suggest the facility buy kilns.  Another option is take the pieces to an outside facility with charges for firing.  Purchasing kilns makes the process more complicated and increases responsibility on the part of the recreation department, but it also raises the possibility of a wider variety of creations.  Think "outside the box" for purchasing kilns and don't let expense prevent it.  For example,  pursue grant money toward their purchase if the facility is not for profit or buy used kilns.  Also remember, a space is needed with good ventilation for the kilns which may require some remodeling. Extra storage space will also be needed. Once kilns are purchased, the cost of doing ceramics or pottery is greatly reduced as buying bisque is very expensive.  However, buying molds for ceramics can also be expensive initially.

- Pieces: Doing your own ceramics will require you to buy either molds, greenware, or bisque. The piece begins as a liquid that is poured into a mold and allowed to set.  Greenware is the fragile, fairly wet ceramic piece that has set in the mold, prior to firing in the kiln.  It requires a being cleaned, which means lightly sanding the imperfections and seems.  Once fired it becomes bisque, a hardened piece ready for the final process. The piece will require re-firing if glazed.
           A piece can be bought at every stage of the process.  Greenware can be bought cheaply if you can find a supplier locally.  Bisque is much more expensive. Keep in mind that although pouring your own molds is less expensive, it requires a lot of extra space and makes the process more lengthy.  To offset costs, have participants buy their own pieces and any special glazes.

-Staining/Glazing:: Staining ceramics is just painting the piece (the paint is called "stain") and does not require an additional firing.  To achieve a shiny porcelain type finish, the piece will need to be glazed.  The glazing process can use glazes and/or undersglazes and can be a complicated process with several steps in firing depending on the effect desired. If you plan to do ceramics on your own, keeping the pieces simple and use stains or one color of glaze.

-Have fun, as always!