Potter or Ceramic Artist

Overview

Conceives and creates functional or artistic articles by moulding clay, glass and other fusible materials using hand-building and wheel techniques. This occupation requires high levels of creative talent or personal commitment and interest as well as, or in place of, formal qualifications or experience.

Skills

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification. At least five years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification. Some occupations in this unit group require high levels of creative talent or personal commitment and interest as well as, or in place of, formal qualifications or experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Tasks

• conceiving and developing ideas, designs and styles for paintings, drawings, pottery pieces and sculptures
• arranging objects, positioning models, and selecting landscapes and other visual forms according to chosen subject matter
• selecting artistic media, method and materials
• applying media to surfaces using appropriate techniques
• moulding clay into functional and artistic articles by wheel-throwing, moulding and hand-building
• mixing glazing materials and applying glazes to dried pottery by dipping and painting
• placing finished and decorated pieces in kilns
• sketching designs of proposed sculptures, and making wax and plaster models
• devising forms from metal using welding and metalworking equipment, and from stone using masonry tools
• carving and forming materials to desired shape using hand and power tools

Related Occupations

• Painter (Visual Arts)
• Sculptor
• Visual Arts and Crafts Professionals Nec