ceramics and pottery (difference, interest, bit)

[leavingcali]

Hi! I am really interested in taking wheel-throwing pottery class. I've noticed when I google pottery a lot of cermaic stuff also comes up. Are these the same things? What are the differences (if any) between ceramics and pottery?

Thanks!

[LordBalfor]

Those terms are pretty much used interchangably - though "ceramics" often takes on a bit broader meaning, including tiles etc - which most folks don't think of as "pottery".

Have fun. While my wife was doing her sculpture, I threw on the wheel. It's almost like magic the way the clay seems to form under your hands.

Ken

[confusedTee]

wonderful way to get to play in the ""mud""........be creative go for it..and i'll see u at the next art show...............

[DesertRat56]

Originally Posted by leavingcali

Hi! I am really interested in taking wheel-throwing pottery class. I've noticed when I google pottery a lot of cermaic stuff also comes up. Are these the same things? What are the differences (if any) between ceramics and pottery?

Thanks!

They are not really the same thing. The difference is pottery is made from clay and ceramics are made from what is called slip, which is a different type of clay in liquid form. Pottery is usually more durable and can be used in the oven. Cermics are usally used to make tile, but there are all kinds of dishware you can make, and anything that you has a mold, like vases, statues etc.

[steiconi]

Ceramic is a broad term that includes pottery as well as other uses of clay, like cookpot coatings and the heat tiles on the space shuttle.

Pottery includes porcelain, as well as high and low fire clays. It also includes hand built, wheel thrown, and slipcast objects. Dishes, sculptures, tiles, and ugly ashtrays are all both pottery and ceramic.