Day Two at Clayworks

On the second day at Clayworks we were taught how to "throw" pots and also how to make plates. Throwing pots was a blast, although it looked simple, it proved to require skilled hands and patience.

Procedure (Throwing Pots)

The first thing we did was "beat" our clay into a cone shape to make it easier to manipulate when it is on the wheel. Then we were ready to go to the wheel. We had to put a few drops of water in the middle of the wheel in order to make the clay stick. If it was not secure on the wheel it would go flying across the room when the wheel spun. Next came the most difficult part of the day, "CENTERING!!" In order for the clay to come out in a perfect round plate,bowl, or mug, the clay had to be perfectly centered. We did this by sitting at the wheel leaning over our clay. We placed our elbows on our knees to keep steady. Then cupped our hands around the clay the make it into a perfect round figure. The trick was making small adjustments and applying pressure with the palm of your hand. Bank shows us this technique in the picture above. Next we made an "L" with our left hand and rested our right hand on it and poked lightly the center of our clay with two fingers. When you get to the appropriate depth you then, with your elbows stabilized on you knees, pull out using your two fingers inside the clay. Then you put one hand on the inside of the clay and another on the outside and pull the clay up. This is how you will form the clay into your desired design. If you want a bowl you would have to put more pressure on the inside to have it open up more at the top but, if you are making a cup you just pull the clay straight up. Once you are ready to take the clay off the wheel you have to first take the excess clay off the bottom of the formed clay. You do this by using a tool that looked like an exacto knife that was not sharp. While spinning the wheel you just place this on the outside bottom of the clay and it takes away the extra clay. After that is done you continue spinning the wheel slowly while you take a piece of wire or sting and run it under the clay to detach it from the wheel. After that you place it in a secure place because it is ready for the oven.

Procedure (Plates)

Making the plates required less skill than the throwing of the pots, but it was still fun to make. The first thing that we did was flatten a large piece of clay. We ran it through this press pictured on the left several times until it was flat enough for our plates. Then we took a flat piece of plastic and removed the textured bumps that the roller stamped in the clay earlier. Then we placed a cut-out of the desired shape, square or heart, on the clay and cut-out the plate. We then placed a block of the same shape on the clay leaving the edges exposed so we could lift the edges up above the center of the plate. After that it was pretty much up to our creative ability. We were given stamps and cut-outs that we used to add texture to the plate.

Observations and Reflections

Making the plates and throwing pots is a reason to take this class on its own. I have always wanted to mess around with a wheel and some clay, and I had a good time finally doing it. We used two different types of clay, one being the normal base clay and we also got to make pinch pots with porcelain clay. The porcelain is a finer clay that makes nicer products but proves to be harder to use. We threw pots using the thicker clay since it was everyone's first time.Overall best time I have ever had in a chemistry lab, and definitely enjoyed the GOODIES!