Ceramics is the craft of making objects from clay and firing them at high heat. The clay is shaped, dried, and fired. The heat transforms the clay into a hard, durable material. Ceramics is one of the oldest crafts. It is also one of the most versatile. The potter makes bowls, plates, vases, and sculptures. The ceramicist makes tiles, bricks, and industrial parts. The craft is the same.

Ceramics comes in several forms. Hand-building shapes clay with the hands. Throwing shapes clay on a wheel. Slip casting pours liquid clay into a mold. Press molding presses clay into a mold. Each technique has its own result. Each has its own craft. The ceramicist chooses the technique. The technique is the ceramicist. The ceramicist is the same.

Ceramics requires the kiln. The kiln fires the clay. The kiln reaches 1,000 to 1,300 degrees Celsius. The clay vitrifies. The clay becomes ceramic. The ceramic is the result. The ceramic is the craft. The ceramic is the same. The same is the potter. The potter is the ceramic. The ceramic is the potter. The ceramic is the same.