Ceramics designer-maker jobs

Ceramic artists use a variety of materials, such as clay, carbide, non-metallic materials, nitride, carbon, silicon, crystalline oxide, and inorganic materials, to make a wide variety of objects that may serve a variety of purposes. Ceramicists are usually recognized to be brilliant craftsmen due to the fact that the industrial revolution ushered in the mass manufacturing of many products that were previously manufactured by hand. As a result of this, artistic societies both appreciate and financially support ceramicists.

What Exactly Is Ceramics?

Ceramics are items that are crafted from earthenware materials such as clay, such as in the making of pottery. Dishes, vases, tiles, and figurines are just examples of the kind of things that may be made out of ceramic. When it comes to moulding clay into ceramic products, there are a few various approaches that may be used. The majority of the time, bowls, vases, and other types of dishes are formed by positioning the object in the middle of a pottery wheel. This apparatus is comprised of a thick and hefty spherical plate that rotates. A ceramicist will use his hands to sculpt the mass of clay as it rotates in the wheel.

A slip is a combination of clay and water that is used to manufacture figurines. The slip is made by pouring clay into a plaster mold. When the outer edges of the slip start to dry, the liquid in the middle is poured out. As soon as the figure is almost completely dried, it is released from the mold.

Kiln firing is the process that takes place in a specialized oven after the ceramic artifacts have been allowed to dry naturally. The high temperatures within the kiln help evaporate any remaining moisture in the clay, which ultimately causes the object to become more rigid. It is common practice to apply a glaze to the item as well. Glazes are composed of components that, when subjected to the extreme heat of the kiln, melt and produce a glassy coating on the surface of the work.

The Ordinary Working Conditions

Clay and porcelain are the mediums that are used in the work of a ceramic artist. Some ceramists choose to focus their careers on producing a particular category of wares, such as plates, while others want to develop their skills over a wider range of products. Ceramicists are need to acquire clay before they can begin the process of creating their work. There are some potters who prefer to purchase their clay from specialty shops that sell pottery supplies, while there are others who prefer to dig their own. In order to do this, a ceramist has to be familiar with the processes of locating and preparing natural clay.

The technique that a ceramist employs to make a piece will change according to the kind of ceramics that he or she specializes in producing. For instance, a ceramicist who creates plates and vases would often use a pottery wheel, but a ceramicist who creates figurines will typically utilize a variety of plaster molds. Some ceramists work in a style known as freehand, which means they make their creations without the use of any equipment or instruments other than their own two hands.

After ensuring that his creations are thoroughly dry, a ceramicist would often put them, one by one, in a kiln. Either the pieces may be painted with a glaze before being put in a kiln, or they can be painted with normal paint after being taken from the kiln. Both approaches are valid.

The Necessary Education and Experience Requirements for Ceramic Artists

When beginning a career in ceramics, it may be beneficial to have formal education in ceramics or a discipline that is linked to ceramics, even if some ceramicists are able to acquire their talents by self-study. During their time spent studying art in high school, many aspiring ceramists realize that they have an interest in the medium of ceramics. There is also the possibility that some people may prefer to participate in private pottery lessons.

It may be beneficial for some aspiring ceramists to attend an art school for either two or four years to get a bachelor's or master's degree. A person who wants to be a ceramicist may enhance their talents by earning degrees in either fine arts or sculpture. Some institutions of higher education for the arts also have courses in pottery or ceramics.

Salary and Job Prospects for Ceramic Artists

Salary

Because many ceramicists are self-employed or operate on a freelance basis, the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not collect data directly pertaining to these types of professions. This makes it impossible to determine what the typical wage of a ceramicist is. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that fine artists, which includes sculptors, earned an average annual wage of around $53,080 in 2010. Craft artisans brought in an annual wage of $32,010 on average during the same year of employment.

Job Outlook

The vast majority of people who work in the ceramics industry are self-employed. They spend their days working in studios, where they design and make a variety of ceramic sculptures to sell. Some ceramicists choose to sell their wares by opening their own shops, while others choose to sell their creations via craft cooperatives or on the internet. Teaching is yet another viable option for those interested in pursuing a career in ceramics. It is not uncommon for secondary schools and universities to engage ceramic specialists to instruct students, and certain ceramicists may also be able to provide individual instruction.