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About Ric Swenson
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
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.

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Pottery - low-fire kiln - safe materials question

Expert: Ric Swenson - 10/23/2009

Question
We have an art parent at elementary school who has produced a class clay project with no names on the pieces - each name is on the paper plate the item is drying on! We have a low-fire kiln. We use a "grog" clay. Can I write the kids names on the bottom (or top) of each item with anything? Pen? Sharpie? Anything? The items are ready for bisque-firing. We just wont know whose is whose when we are done : )

Answer
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) and use a small sumi brush (pointed brush) to write their names on the bottoms.

If the wares are greenware...ie. not yet fired...I suggest the cobalt oxide and a brush. You will need a very small amount of cobalt oxide...and it lasts forever..1/8 of a pound is plenty

Iron oxide will also work and it is cheaper...but not as dark...cobalt is like black ink on a ceramic piece...iron will be brown and lighter and less easy to read after firing.

hope this helps

ric

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