ART 146: Ceramics: Tile and Mosaic

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2022
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 108
Lecture Hours : 36
Lab Hours: 72
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 72
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

This course will explore techniques in creating and glazing handmade and commercial tile, from Cuenca to Cuerda Seca. The tile industry, cutting, grouting and installation will also be explored. Mosaic techniques will be a secondary focus. Material fee. 36 lecture hours, 72 lab hours.

Course Objectives

  • increase the student's understanding of art and specifically ceramic tile, to include the areas of theory, criticism, and production
  • create a variety of highly refined ceramics tile projects using various methods of forming: slab, plaster, cuenca, cuerda seca.
  • create a variety of tile using traditional and contemporary methods: slabs, plaster, cuerda seca, cuenca. Use a variety of glazing and finishing techniques to create a coherent visual whole
  • create a new tile project based upon research and knowledge of past projects from local cultures, world cultures, or using a variety of cultural techniques

Major Course Content

  1. Introduction lecture: scope and sequence of class
  2. Stamps
    1. methods and material
    2. historical methods
    3. contemporary approaches
    4. carved tiles
  3. Plaster molds
    1. creating the base tile
    2. making the plaster mold
      1. plaster mixing
      2. types of plaster
      3. safety
      4. methods and procedures
    3. making a tile series
  4. Cuenca tiles
    1. history
    2. carving methods
      1. traditional
      2. contemporary
    3. creating the tiles
    4. glazing
  5. Cuerda seca tile
    1. methods
    2. history
      1. California
      2. Los Angeles
      3. Catalina Island
      4. Artist
        1. historical
        2. contemporary
        3. local
    3. creating the tiles
    4. glazing
      1. traditional methods
      2. cuerda Fake a methods
  6. Broken clay tile projects
    1. mosaics
      1. design
      2. grouting and finishing
  7. Group project
    1. planning and research
    2. commissions
      1. campus
        1. Haugh
        2. Art Center
      2. Glendora
        1. Gold line
        2. Route 66
  8. Critique and evaluation

Lab Content

  1. Create a plaster cast of handmade tile
  2. Use carving methods to create a series of 5 handmade tiles in the style of Batchelder
  3. Carve, fire, and glaze a series of cuenca tiles
  4. Using the black line resist method, create cuerda seca tiles and then using bottle syringes, glaze tiles
  5. Broken tile mosaics, assembly, grouting and finishing
  6. Group project
  7. Critique and evaluation

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

current periodicals available in the Citrus Library or internet searches

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Written report on the history and development of tile , and or an artist that works primarily in the medium of tile.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Gallery, Museum and written reports

Instruction Type(s)

Lab, Lecture