Pottery/Expert Profile


Ask A Question

Expertise

For nearly 40 years I have been involved with pottery. I specialize in wheelthrown pottery, but spent 12 years as Plant Manager of Bennington Potters, Inc. where I learned all about RAM pressing, slip casting, jiggering, OSHA regulations regarding clay manufacture, safety, etc. I have specific knowledge in forming techniques, texturing clay, clay bodies, glazes and application techniques, as well as firing and kiln building.

Experience in the area

I have taught ceramics and art history at the high school and college level in Anchorage, AK (UAA) and Bennington, VT.for 12 years. I ran Bennington Potters, Inc. for 12 years 1982-94. I was manager of Fine Art Tile Co.,San Antonio, TX for several years and taught Pottery classes in Atlanta, GA. at Elements (Kickwheel Pottery Supply), Currently in JingDeZhen , P.R. China, teaching Ceramics and Oral English.

Organizations

American Ceramic Society (Chair of Design Div. 1985-7)
Current member of Tucker Arts Guild, Tucker, GA. Art Station member, Stone Mountain, GA

Publications

CERAMICS MONTHLY, AMERICAN CRAFT

Education/Credentials

BFA, Drawing and Painting, Pacific Lutheran Univ., Tacoma, WA. 1970 with certification to teach Art K-12.
MFA, Ceramics, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA. 1976

Awards and Honors

One Man Show of Pottery, Anchorage Historical and Fine Arts Museum.
Alaska Art Bank Collection, Collection U. of Puget Sound, JingDeZhen Ceramics Institute, China.
Over 70 juried entries in State and Regional art shows over 30 years. Solo exhibition, 2006, The Pottery Workshop, JingDeZhen, China. Exhibitor and Conference participant, Wu Yi Shan Univ. China 2007.

Average Ratings

Recent Reviews from Users

Read More Comments

    K = Knowledgeability    C = Clarity of Response    T = Timeliness    P = Politeness
UserDateKCTPComments
Terri11/04/0910101010Thanks for the resources. I didn't even .....
robert10/27/091010i have to continue research to answer .....
Lea10/16/0910101010Always there when I need him! :)
Melissa10/06/0910101010Thank you, Ric. I appreciate your suggestion .....
Sue10/05/0910101010 

Recent Answers from Ric Swenson

2009-11-04 clay shrinkage between bisque/ glaze firings:

Clay bodies vary in their shrinkage. 9 to 13% is normal from thrown to glaze fired. I have not had opportunity to measure anything but wet to fired. Test by making a 12cm bar of clay about 2 inches by

2009-11-03 Centering:

Get the clay into a ball put it on the wheel head and slowly rotate the wheel...slap the clay as it turns....you will be able to see where it is not centered...rotate the wheel faster and you will see

2009-11-03 Prices:

do some research...go to some craft galleries and poke around for similar works to yours...check out the prices...ask the gallery owner about % commission/pricing/what selling?/what's not selling? Most

2009-10-23 kiln / oven:

sorry can't help you. A kiln goes to 1860 F up to 2300F. an oven goes to 500F. read THE KILN BOOK by Frederick Olsen. or go to www.potterybasics.com you can find a used kiln in the ads

2009-10-23 low-fire kiln - safe materials question:

use a cobalt ceramic pencil..and write the names...you can get one from a local ceramic supply store....or ..mix some cobalt oxide or cobalt carbonate with water and a little glycerin (drug store item)

 

Ask A Question

All Answers

Answers by Expert:


Ask Experts

Volunteer


©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.