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Hand-crafted Porcelain and Stoneware |
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Throwing a bowl, mug, or other article from clay is a process of many steps.
First, the potter inspects the clay to make sure the consistency is appropriate
for throwing. Some potters prefer to throw clay which contains more water,
making it softer, and others like to throw firmer clay.
The bag of clay is opened and a piece is sliced off the 25 lb. block.
Then the potter wedges or kneads the clay on a plaster wedging board. This
has several purposes. Clay which has been sitting a while "sets up,"
appearing to be firmer than it really is. Wedging "loosens" it up, making
it softer and much easier to work with. Wedging also removes any air
bubbles from the clay. This is essential because an air bubble causes a
weak spot in the wall of the piece. Lastly, wedging mixes the clay well
and insures uniform consistency throughout. The clay is then shaped into a
ball and protected from drying out while it awaits its appointment with the
potter's wheel.
To begin the throwing process, the potter adheres the clay to the wheel by
literally throwing the ball of clay onto a bat, a flat piece of masonite or
other material, which has been placed on the wheel head. The wheel is then
turned on (if electric) and the potter places wet hands on the clay to begin
centering. Pressure is applied to the clay as it spins on the wheel, with
the goal of forcing the shape to change to one which is perfectly symmetrical.
Yes, this takes practice!! As the water is absorbed and the clay dries,
the potter's hands will stick to the clay and pull it out of center if he does
not re-wet them periodically. Different potters have different methods for
centering the clay, but all involve putting pressure on the clay to change its
shape. The clay is centered when a finger placed on the clay does not bob
and change position as the wheel turns, but stays perfectly still, showing that
the clay is totally uniform in shape.
When the clay is centered, the next step is to "open" it by creating a
depression in the center. This must be done with care because a
jerky movement now or at any time can easily pull the clay out of center.
Some potters open with a thumb, some with two thumbs, others with one or two
fingers. Still others like to use a sponge to assist in the process.
One or two fingers are then placed in the depression and gentle pressure is
applied to widen the opening. If the potter is making a bowl, a wider hole
will be created than if a mug is being thrown.
At all times, the potter must be aware of the quality of the clay. The
hands must be wet over and over again as the clay absorbs the moisture and
becomes sticky. Care must be given to keeping the clay centered at each
step. If the clay becomes off center, the potter must re-center it or
discard the lump of clay and begin again with another piece.
Once the clay is centered and opened, the potter may begin pulling up the sides
of the piece. A right-handed potter will place her left hand inside the
piece and her right hand outside the piece. With the fingertips of the two
hands opposing each other, gentle pressure is applied to the right-hand side of
the bowl, compressing the clay between the fingers while the hands are slowly
raised bringing the clay with it. The result is a thinning and raising of
the wall of the piece. Normally, several pulls are required to complete
the sides of the bowl. The sides are completed when they are uniform in
thickness from the bottom to the top of the piece and appropriate in thickness
for the item being thrown.
The Process Clay and Glazes Trimming Firing
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