Have you ever wondered, as you buy a teapot or plate, what it would be like to have what it takes to make that kind of stuff?

Ed Zimmerman, art major, said that he has been interested in ceramics for 10 years and he added that the reason he has taken the class repeatedly is because it brings out the creative side in him as a student.

“Not only is there a creative side to ceramics,” he said, “but for me, personally, I get to use my imagination with clay.”

Originaly Zimmerman’s first interest had been painting and drawing, but later moved on to water coloring and ended up doing ceramics, “Because it is a great stress reliever.”

Not only is it a great stress reliever, but Joseph Len, veterinarian major, added, “Within this class you, the student, use both sides of mind (as you do projects).”

One of the things that students learn in ceramics is technique and also what he described as “centering on the wheel.”

Furthermore, Len said that as a student, one would have to know how soft or hard the clay would be and the thing that he said that most students have learned is that pieces of ceramics, whether a plate, teapot, or picture, will have a greater meaning to them and they will appreciate them more.

Within the class, Zimmerman is currently working on a sculpture and as for art instructor Steven Portigal, he commented that he is always available for questions.

Len continued adding that being in a class just as ceramics would turn into a good hobby for those who are looking for something to do.

For Portigal, however, there is more to the class than it being just a hobby.

It’s having to create usable pieces of artwork. Having been a professor at Cerritos since 1990, he stated that one of the things that he wants students to know is that ceramics is accessible and also an art form.

He emphasized that he was first interested in ceramics in 1971 while attending Cal State Northridge where he majored in art and photography, but realized that photography was not that appealing so instead his interest turned into the visual art of ceramics.

For Cerritos student and pharmacist Gene Namikas, ceramics is a visual art and something that is useful to him since he began taking class with him in 2000.

“If you are a student,” he said, “and don’t know anything about ceramics or how something like that (is made), toward the end of the class a student will be able to.”

One of the things that Charlene Sun, who is taking the course for personal interest, would like to be able to do is center the clay on the wheel because as she put it, “I have been working on the skill of centering for the last four weeks,” she added, “and I hope to get it down by the end of the semester.”

Cecillia Chen, industrial design major, also agreed and said that she hoped to be able to center the clay on the wheel. Is there mathematics involved in ceramics?

According to Chen, “A student will have to not only deal with math,” she exclaimed, “but also be able to have patience, because it does take time to mold a project, whether it’s a plate or mug, together.”

Chen said that she doesn’t plan to make a career out of ceramics but if there’s a desire to want to try it out for fun why not? Additionally, she said for her, being in the class is worth it, “Because it’s cheap,” and because there are not a lot of supplies to buy.

Namikas agreed, but as he said, “When I come into the class I’m able to leave all the worries and stress of work out the door.”

In the end, Portigal said that the reason that he takes ceramics serious is because he supports the visuals arts.

“That is one thing I hope students will get,” he said, “because what I’m doing is I’m preparing students for their own livelihood.”