Pottery/Expert Profile

Ric Swenson

U.S.
On Vacation
returns 12/31/2009
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

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    K = Knowledgeability    C = Clarity of Response    T = Timeliness    P = Politeness
UserDateKCTPComments
Cary11/17/0910101010great!
Kait11/11/091010 
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! :)

Recent Answers from Ric Swenson

2009-11-15 centering clay:

the height of the chair you sit at is important. I try to sit on a stool that is slightly higher than the wheel head. That way, I am over the clay and can use my legs to brace my arms for centering.

2009-11-11 glazes:

For that link..google 'Orton Ceramics' Bisquing is usually cone 06 to 04 or so. The Orton cone numbers start at 022 ..About 1000 F....then the numbers go higher for cone 021, 020... all the way to

2009-11-09 firing temperature:

There is a wide range of temperatures depending on how the glaze is formulated. The clay and the glaze should match firing temps. You say stoneware...so I would assume a high fire? Is this a glaze you

2009-11-07 Kiln Question - And Glaze Question:

should work fine...firing temps for clay are higher...so assuming your elements are in good shape...should be no problem. Sorry I don't know the clay and glazes you are going to use. Ask AMACO on

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

 

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