Supplies Needed:
- Blackjack Tan Stoneware Clay
- Potter’s wheel
- Throwing bat
- Water
- Sponge
- Wooden rib tool
- Wooden knife tool
- Shammy
- Wire tool
- Loop tool
- Wooden flat ended tool
- Glaze
- Brush
- Kiln
Preparing The Clay
Wedge
Weigh out desired amount of clay. 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
Flatten The Form
Using the side of one hand, firmly pull the clay back towards the body.
Repeat several times until the clay is the desired width and thickness.
Step 3
Compress The Floor
Use the wooden rib to compress the floor of the form by pulling the tool across the the clay and back towards the body.
Step 4
Rim
Use the wooden knife tool to pull up the sides of the flattened clay form.
Use a wet shammy to smooth the top of the rim.
Step 5
Removal
Slip a wire tool under the base of the form cutting it off the bat.
Step 6
Trim
Allow the clay to dry to a leather hard state.
Thin the base of the plate using the loop tool in a spiral line starting from the center of the form and moving towards the edges.
Carve a foot ring into the bottom of the plate using the loop tool.
Compress the base of the plate with a flat ended tool.
Smooth the foot ring with a wet shammy.
Step 7
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 8
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 9
Glaze
Apply glaze to the bisque plate according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
Step 10
Glaze Fire
Fire the glazed plate 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.
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