All of my pottery is manufactured in my home studio from start to finish. Each step must be done consistently to get the desired affect. However, even when steps are done consistently the outcome can be anywhere from expected, to disaster, or pleasant surprise. Here are the typical steps required to create a bowl.

The clay that I use comes in 25 lb. bags already processed for use. To make a pot I cut off and weigh a hunk of clay equivalent to the size of the object that I am trying to complete; i.e., a soup bowl might take 2 lbs. of clay. I then wedge the clay by rolling and sort of kneading it on a canvas covered table. This rids the clay of air bubbles and starts the clay in the direction the clay will be spinning on the wheel.

A flat removable disk called a bat is placed onto the pottery wheel surface. The bat allows the finished piece to be removed from the wheel head easily. Next the lump of clay is smacked onto the bat. The wheel is spun at high speed and the centering process is started. In order to work with the clay on the wheel the clay must be centered. This is done by applying pressure to the side of the clay with one hand while applying pressure to the top of the clay at the same time. Once centered the clay is opened by poking fingers through the center of the ball, followed by pulling outward until the desired opening size is obtained. The clay is then pulled up from the bottom to the top several times until the wall thickness and general shape is obtained. The final steps of the throwing process are to give shape to the piece, finish off the rim, and cut the piece off of the bat by running a wire under the pot.

 

The pot is set aside to dry long enough to be handled without damaging it. At this time the pot may be turned upside down on the wheel and trimmed to give the bottom it's final shape. The pot is then allowed to dry completely.

 

The dried pot is placed into the kiln with other pieces for the bisque firing. This firing is done to rid the clay of trapped moisture and prepare the bowl for glazing. Bisque firing is done to about 1820 degrees Fahrenheit.

After the bowl has been bisque fired it is decorated and glazed. Glaze consists of sand or silica that forms a glass coating on the bowl when fired to extreme heat. Flux is added to make the sand or silica melt at the correct temperature, and alumina is added to keep the other ingredients from running off of the pot during the firing process. Other ingredients may be added to glazes to make different colors and textures. Cobalt is used for blue and the correct tin and chrome oxide combination makes a wonderful red color in an oxygenated environment such as an electric kiln.

The bowl is then fired to approximately 2200 degrees Fahrenheit. The bowl is finished once it cools down.

 

 

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