For next class, please have at least 2 bowls on bisque shelf, and 2 bowls leatherhard and ready to trim. If you haven't already, please purchase another 12 pounds of clay form the ACC studio front desk ($12)
Resources:
Drying and finishing your pots
- cut the piece off as soon as the water has dried from the surface of the bat
- Let piece stiffen on the bat
- As soon as the piece is stiff enough to handle without distortion, flip it over so the bottom can dry
- Dry slowly; wrap in plastic to keep moist (newspaper square top and bottom)
- Remember to label your piece with your name and the date while it's on the shelf
- When piece is leatherhard (about the hardness of cheddar cheese)
- Trim the bottom
- see video by Simon Leach- I like his trick of using one bowl to hold another for trimming
- see trimming demo notes
- Write your name and the date on the bottom
- Clean up rough surfaces with a rubber or metal rib and a damp sponge
- Put the piece on the "to bisque" shelf for bisque firing
Underglaze decoration
The leatherhard stage is also the best time to apply underglaze decoration. Underglazes are located in the glaze room in the cabinet above the sink; brushes are in the drawer to the right of the sink, and small plastic dishes are under the sink in the clay studio.
Simon leach applies slip to pots in a similar way to the way we use underglazes:
Simon leach slip decoration video
Next class we'll talk about:
- throwing mugs & making handles
- softening & reclaiming clay
Jay
