Working with Clay (Pottery) is Not Exact Science

I will be having my next art exhibit in the next couple of weeks. Please be sure to save your steem dollars for this never before seen event!

There is a very limited supply of pieces available and no doubt many of my steemit followers will be vying for the best of my collection. Signature pieces are available and I must warn you the line is long. Commissioned art takes an incredible ability to concentrate for long periods of time.

This time I will entice my audience with an unusually large bird house and a surprise piece for my followers who adore canines.

Before the firing phase

Doggie bowl before firing

If you recall in my last pottery creations post there was a most unusual item-the little cat dish complete with a cat and a fish (see the photo if you missed it here https://steemit.com/art/@mother2chicks/into-the-world-of-clay-pottery-or-my-first-pieces )

BTW-each batch I create seems to include a genuine collectible toothpick holder uniquely designed for your kitchen table or bar area. Everyone needs one of those!

Today after class, without the watchful eyes of my mentor and teacher, I bought home several pounds of clay so I could work solo. Unfortunately it will be a few weeks until that bowl is ready to fire. There are several decorative techniques I'm experimenting with so stayed tuned for the great unveiling. This was my first time to use the coil technique and free-throw several pots. These nearly as perfectly shaped as the pieces I make on the pottery wheel. To be revealed next time...

If you are interested in my process its a very simple yet delicate art. To begin with I work with approximately 2 pounds of either red or white clay and knead the air out prior to throwing the lump onto the wheel. Next, I attempt to center the clay on the wheel and once thats been achieved I begin to push downward to form the bottom of the bowl or cup. If the bottom becomes too thin from excessive pressure its time to start over and give it another whirl! ( no pun intended) Once the bottom is in place and stable I begin to pull up the sides of the clay to form the desired shape.

Being a novice I can usually throw 4 to 5 pieces within a three hour time period before I am totally wiped out. This work requires good muscle tone in the arms and shoulders. Once you have established a rhythm and a good posture much more can be accomplished in a shorter period of time.

It is important that the clay dries slowly or it will crack. The creations are then trimmed to ensure they sit level or at least appear level to the naked eye. From there we move to the bisque stage where the pots are heated without a glaze on them.

There's more required to perfect the clay once it has been fired at the bisque level. Sanding off sharp edges, then preparing and deciding which colors of glaze or wash will be applied. After applying 3 coats of glaze I pop the pots into the kiln to be fired for the last time. Wahoo! The piece is a total surprise, unless you are precisely familiar with the chemistry of color. Many times the finish on the clay is unpredictable.

Only after the firing stage does the finished sheen of the clay appear. This final stage either brings a big smile to my face or a furrowed brow at the unveiling of what I had hoped to accomplish during my finest hours.

All text and photographs are owned by @mother2chicks