Art

The Encyclopedia Britannica defines art as “the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others”.

Craft

Craft can be considered as a sub-sect of art as it is defined as a profession that requires skill usually for the creation of objects or goods. And craft practised by independent artists or in small groups is know as studio craft such as studio pottery!

Studio Pottery

Without exception, the first question I am asked by all my students is the difference between ceramics and pottery. Ceramics is the medium; pottery the skill by which objects of functional or aesthetic purpose are created in this medium.

Studio Pottery is pottery practised by independent artists in their art studios.

A Ceramic Artist or Studio Potter

Likewise, a ceramic artist is one who creates artworks or sculptures in this medium. A studio potter on the other hand is more concerned with using his skill in this medium to create functional objects. Both, however, will need to have a fairly in-depth knowledge of the science of the medium. The creation of both artworks and functional objects is incomplete without the correct application of techniques and chemistry.

Chemistry and Technique of the medium

The chemistry of the medium extends to the several raw materials that are used to create clay body and glaze compositions that will help the artist and the potter create colours, textures and effects as per the requirement of the work at hand.

Technique extends to skill; how the object can be created in clay, application of the glazes as well as how and under what conditions the ceramic pieces are fired to maturity.

Clay, to clear one last doubt, is one of the several raw materials (the most important one though) used in ceramics.

Hope, I’ve cleared some basic myths, more later!