Develop Skills with:
Getting Started
LEARNING TARGETS:
- I can center a piece of clay on the wheel.
- I can practice breaking in and pulling up.
- I can follow proper clean up procedures.
- I can practice making different forms on the pottery wheel.
Drying Stages:
Plastic Clay: soft, workable clay
Leatherhard: Clay has dried to it's strongest state. It is moist but stiffer and stronger. This is the best stage to construct slabs
Bone Dry: All the water is out of the clay and it is ready for firing or recycling
Firing Stages:
Greenware: unfired clay
Bisqueware: Clay that has been fired one time and ready to glaze
Glazeware: Clay that has been fired a second time to melt and react the glaze.
Plastic Clay: soft, workable clay
Leatherhard: Clay has dried to it's strongest state. It is moist but stiffer and stronger. This is the best stage to construct slabs
Bone Dry: All the water is out of the clay and it is ready for firing or recycling
Firing Stages:
Greenware: unfired clay
Bisqueware: Clay that has been fired one time and ready to glaze
Glazeware: Clay that has been fired a second time to melt and react the glaze.
Wedging Clay:
Wedging clay is important because it removes air bubbles and evens out the particles and moisture level in the clay.
You will know you've got it when:
It will be your responsibility to wedge your clay before you begin working. Some artists prefer to wedge their clay each day, while others prefer to wedge up enough clay for their whole project at once and use plastic to keep it the right moisture. Read about and experiment with the 3 methods below and decide which one works best for you. When you have mastered your preferred method, let me know so I can check you off.
You will know you've got it when:
- You slice your clay in half and there are no air bubbles
- Clay is soft and workable but not wet and sloppy
It will be your responsibility to wedge your clay before you begin working. Some artists prefer to wedge their clay each day, while others prefer to wedge up enough clay for their whole project at once and use plastic to keep it the right moisture. Read about and experiment with the 3 methods below and decide which one works best for you. When you have mastered your preferred method, let me know so I can check you off.
Tools and Supplies
Centering on the Wheel
The pottery wheel is used to make different types of symmetrical pottery. For some, the throwing on the wheel is natural and they will be able to make forms with ease very quickly. For others, there is more of a learning curve and the wheel is more challenging. To make anything on the wheel you must first master centering your clay.
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Creating a Cylinder
Practice
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Extend
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