Handbuilding Class - June 16, 2022 -

 Hello Everyone,

It is not always easy or desirable to take notes in class so I am posting here the key theoretical information that we talk about in class.

Thursday, June 16, 2022
Bisque Stamps
Our stamps have now been fired. There are usually two firing in clay work, the bisque and the glaze firing. The bisque is usually lower in the range of 1830-1955 degrees F (999- 1085 degrees C). 

As the kiln fires up to these temperatures there are some important markers:
100 degrees: boiling point, steam is forming inside clay. If this goes too fast there may be an explosion
300-400degrees: all water in clay turns to steam
573-625degrees: Quartz Inversion - the molecules of clay are expanding. It is important to go slow in this segment.
700-1000degrees: the organic material in the clay burns out and form the gas Sulphur Dioxide. If the gas can't escape it will cause bloating and pinholing.

Vessels That Contain Liquids - Pitchers

Human ingenuity is certainly evident in all the variations of form we see for this type of container. They had/have many functions from ritual libations, to wine containers, to domestic water carriers etc. Animals also figure prominantly as a form giver in earlier cultures. The human head appears some African containers.

Consider in the Pitcher: the body, spout, handle and feet. Also try to anticipate the surface texture or articulation.

Handbuilding at Old Man River Potters Guild
Spring, 2022 (May 26 - June 30)
Current Web Portfolio: louisemcormier.weebly.com

Its been a while since I have done Blogging - bear with me!! If you go to the previous post (youg lady working in clay) and press on the picture, you will see what the class was up to last term. They did some awesome work.

Below is an overview of the term so that you know where you are headed:

May 26 2022 – Class Outline & Goals
                                                     

Six Week Schedule
1. Project 1: Coil Making (Interlacing with support structure)
2. Complete Project 1 – finishing details – Feet and Handles, stamps
3. Project 2: Rolling a Slab for Hump Molds, Drop Molds and Templates
4. Complete Project 2 – finishing details. Prepare Push plates for following week
5. Surface Decoration: textures, additions, slips and underglazes
6. Surface Decoration Continued + Overview of Glazes and Firings

Basic Methods of Form Making
Pinch
Coil
Slab

Basic Painting Methods of Surface Treatments
Underglaze painting & stains, transfers, glazes (glossy, satin, matte), overglaze, decals

Form Helping Tools
Hump Mold
Drop Molds
Template Paper (cardboard & black roofing Tar paper)

Key Concepts
Lesson 1: greenware, wedging, compression, scoring, function/aesthetics (what makes a good basket), air bubbles, warping
Lesson 2: leather-hard clay, bone dry clay, texture, weight/proportion
Lesson 3-4: soft slab, hard slab, bisque mold, plaster mold, template vs stencil
Lesson 5: sgraffito, paper resist, wax resist, tape, shellac, sprayers and slip trailers underglaze vs glaze (glass + stabilizer+ melters/flux).
Lesson 6: cone firing, bisque firing, glaze firing, glaze fired, vitreous (food safe)