Application
Ceramicists apply the skills and knowledge in this unit. At this level, the practitioner makes a wide variety of handbuilt objects to a professional level.
This work is carried out independently with mentoring or guidance as required.
Prerequisites
Not applicable.
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Develop ideas for handbuilt ceramics | 1.1 Evaluate work opportunities offered by handbuilt ceramics 1.2 Research ideas for handbuilt work from historical and contemporary references 1.3 Research, adapt and use relevant ideas and approaches with consideration of intellectual property requirements 1.4 Refine ideas through play, experimentation and testing 1.5 Create designs for thrown forms that meet the needs of the market or design brief |
2. Determine and establish safe work conditions for handbuilding | 2.1 Investigate safety issues associated with handbuilt work 2.2 Set up work space, materials, tools and equipment according to safety requirements 2.3 Establish and follow safe work practices 2.4 Monitor key safety issues during the production of work |
3. Handbuild ceramic forms | 3.1 Determine suitable forming method or combination of techniques 3.2 Handbuild items to design requirements in relation to form and function 3.3 Define the form using handbuilding 3.4 Prepare articles for further decoration 3.5 Use appropriate finishing and drying techniques on handbuilt items |
4. Refine handbuilding skills | 4.1 Show command of handbuilding technique within a coherent body of ceramic work 4.2 Identify and resolve technical problems in handbuilding projects based on developing expertise 4.3 Use ongoing experimentation with technique to refine ideas 4.4 Develop own ways of working with the handbuilding process to create individual style |
5. Evaluate own handbuilding work | 5.1 Evaluate development of own thrown work with others and seek feedback 5.2 Identify ways in which technique may be further developed as part of a professional ceramics practice and build ideas into future work |
Required Skills
Required skills
communication skills to liaise with others about handbuilding practice and challenges
critical thinking and analytical skills to:
evaluate the needs of particular work projects, including design briefs for work
research and evaluate historical and contemporary trends to inform ideas
literacy skills to read specifications and requirements
problem-solving skills to identify and resolve technical handbuilding problems
numeracy skills to work with numerical features of ceramics processes (e.g. measurements of materials)
self-management, planning and organising skills to:
evaluate handbuilding opportunities in own practice
set up a handbuilding work space
technology skills to safely use handbuilding equipment
technical skills to produce:
single forms
larger forms
sets or families of forms, such as multiples, related series, modular forms and assembled sectional forms.
Required knowledge
features of advanced handbuilding techniques, including:
structural support for large scale work
making and joining modules
making multiple units, such as tiles or components
making moulds and formers
combining throwing and slipcasting with handbuilding
adding appropriate materials to clay for forming strength and for fired strength
elements and principles of design and their specific application to the production of ceramic work
physical properties and capabilities of the range of materials, tools and equipment used in handbuilding work
handbuilding techniques, including coil building, slab building, press moulding, pinching, modelling and extruding
handbuilding techniques appropriate for life modelling
work space requirements for ceramic work, including ways of organising and maintaining space
ways of exploring, adapting and extending techniques and materials to achieve different effects in handbuilding
cleaning and maintenance techniques for tools and equipment used in ceramic work
intellectual property issues and legislation associated with ceramics as a professional practice
sustainability considerations for handbuilt ceramics work
OHS for the production of handbuilt ceramics.
Evidence Required
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Evidence of the ability to: evolve and refine handbuilding technique through a demonstrated process of experimentation produce a coherent body of professional ceramic work that demonstrates well-developed handbuilding techniques used to create both single works and multiples of related works research handbuilt ceramics in the context of historical and contemporary ceramics work as a source of ideas for own work investigate current market trends and opportunities use safe work practices. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure access to: a safe ceramics work space ceramic materials, tools and equipment for handbuilt work. |
Method of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: evaluation of handbuilding technique within a body of work produced by the candidate evaluation of processes used by the candidate to evolve and refine handbuilding technique direct observation of handbuilding in progress, including exploration of, and experimentation with, techniques direct questioning and discussion about candidate’s intentions and the work outcome review of portfolios of evidence review of third-party reports from experienced practitioners. Assessment methods should closely reflect work place demands (e.g. literacy) and the needs of particular groups (e.g. people with disabilities, and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties, such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling). |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: CUVACD510A Manage kiln operations CUVACD511A Make moulds and casts CUVCER501A Refine ceramics techniques CUVCER502A Investigate ceramic materials and processes CUVCER505A Develop and apply ceramic glazes CUVPRP501A Realise a body of creative work. |
Range Statement
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Work opportunities may relate to: | brief for handbuilt work commissions from others competitions creation of individual items or sets local demand retail opportunities self-generated ideas. |
Handbuilt ceramics may include one-off and related ranges of: | architectural ceramic items figurative and abstract sculpture functional ware, including table ware, kitchen ware and garden ware geometric forms: spheres, ovoids, rhomboids and cylinders individual items jewellery matching and related sets modular and sectional forms non-symmetrical forms open and closed forms platters and vessels. |
Intellectual property requirements relate to: | copyright laws design licensing regulations extent to which the work may be used form of acknowledgement or credit moral rights law procedures for seeking permission to use the work of others, including systems for the administration of copyright protocols for the adaptation of work by others trademarks regulations. |
Materials, tools and equipment may include: | equipment: blunger, filter press and pugmill compressor computer, scanner and printer for design work extruder kiln furniture and equipment kilns: electric, gas, wood and raku personal protective equipment (PPE) slab roller spray booth and spray gun materials: body additives, such as grog, paper pulp, sand and sawdust commercial ceramic colours glazes mould-making materials, such as pottery plaster, silicone and alginate oxides range of clay bodies resist materials, such as wax, latex, shellac and paper slips and engobes tools: brushes, sponges and other decorating tools cutting and carving tools knives and blades measuring devices modelling tools rolling devices sculpture stands tools for applying pattern and texture turntables. |
Safe work practices may include: | correct disposal of waste materials dust and fume extraction ergonomic safety managing risk procedure for using kilns and other specialist equipment reporting accidents and incidents safely using tools and equipment using clearly designated wet and dry areas using PPE. |
Suitable forming methods may include: | assemblage carving coil building extruding modelling pinching press moulding slab building. |
Coherent body of ceramic work | conceptually resolved documented in terms of its development subject to critical feedback by others technically resolved thematically connected. |
Technical problems | limitations of own technical skill required for: forming techniques glaze application techniques surface design and decorating techniques limited availability of space for: displaying fired results producing work, including making, assembly and firing storing work in progress, including clean, dry, damp and secure other limitations, such as: equipment and machinery breakdown limited availability of or access to specialist tools and equipment. |
Ways in which technique may be further developed | collaboration further study intensive workshops mentored guidance new projects. |
Sectors
Visual communication – ceramics
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.