Supplies Needed:
- ACTIVA Blackjack Stoneware Clay
- Potter’s wheel
- Throwing bat
- Water
- Sponge
- Wooden rib tool
- Wooden knife tool
- Shammy
- Wire tool
- Glaze
- Brush
- Kiln
Preparing The Clay
Wedge
Weigh out desired amount of clay. (1 pound of clay was used for this sample.)
Prepare the clay by wedging it.
*Wedging is the process of pushing and pressing on clay to expel all air bubbles trapped in it and to bring the clay to a uniform, consistent moisture level.
Step 1
Centering
Form clay into a sphere and slam it onto the center of the bat attached to the potter’s wheel.
Wet hands and clay.
Turn the potter’s wheel on and center the clay.
Step 2
Open The Form
Insert one finger to start into the center of the clay.
Using fingers firmly pull the clay back towards the body creating an opening in the clay.
Repeat several times until the clay is the desired width.
Step 3
Compress The Floor
Use the wooden rib to compress the floor of the form.
Insert the wooden rib tool into the opening and pull the tool back towards the body.
Step 4
Rim
Use the wooden knife tool to pull up the sides of the flat clay form.
Use a wet shammy to smooth the top of the rim.
Step 5
Opening
Gently flatten one quarter of the circle form using a wet fingertip.
Step 6
Removal
Slip a wire tool under the base of the form cutting it off the bat.
Step 7
Leather Hard
Allow the clay to dry to a leather hard state.
Smooth any rough edges on the bottom of the spoon rest with wet fingertips.
Step 8
Dry
Allow the clay to bone dry.
*Bone Dry is clay from which as much water as possible has evaporated from the piece; if you hold it to your cheek, it will seem dry instead of cold and damp.
This clay looks and feels chalky and is very fragile; it is at this stage that clay pieces are fired in the kiln.
Step 9
Bisque Fire
Fire the clay form in the kiln to bisque fire temperature.
*Bisqueware is an unglazed clay piece that has been fired in the kiln once at a low temperature and is ready to be glazed.
Step 10
Glaze
Apply glaze to the bisque form according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
Step 11
Glaze Fire
Fire the glazed form in the kiln.
*Glazeware is a clay piece that has been fired twice - once in a bisque firing and a second time in a glaze firing; it has a glossy or matte glasslike finish and a smooth texture.
/> 
/> 
/>