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“Clay is an extremely versatile and fascinating material. It can be sculpted, manipulated, and shaped into any form imaginable; then with the application of immense heat, it can be changed into a state of permanence. Unlike other media, there is a sense of unpredictability and mystery surrounding clay once it enters the kiln; it is never fully within our control and outcomes are not guaranteed.
It is the investigation into the unknown, the potential of discovery and reward, that challenged artists to keep
pushing beyond the boundaries.”
Some Clay Rules...
Some Clay Rules...
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WEDGING clay helps remove air bubbles and mixes and compresses the clay.
If there ARE air bubbles in your clay, it will break when fired in the kiln.
When building a hollow form, when you are finished constructing it and when you let it dry, you MUST put a tiny vent hold in it so the expanding air has a place to het out. DO this on the bottom when it cannot be seen. This hole MUST remain open, so when you glaze your piece, DO NOT cover it up.
In order to get one piece of clay to stick to another piece of clay, you MUST score and slip it.
In addition, you need to weld the two pieces together.
Scoring is when you take any one of a number of tools and you make small marks on the surface of the clay you are working with.
Slip with the clay mixed with water. It is a paste-like consistency that acts like a flue for putting the two pieces of clay together.
To make sure the two pieces of clay you just joined but scoring and slipping will stay together, you slide the clay from one side to another, making sure to go over the joint of the two sides. This will insure that the pieces of not separate as the clay shrinks.
Frequently, it is necessary to add more clay when welding. This is generally done with a long, this piece of clay (a coil). Make sure you also score and slip both the coil and the places where you are attaching it. Then...smooth into place with your finger or a modeling tool.
If you see a small crack in your clay, take care of it immediately, Small cracks become larger cracks as the clay dries and shrinks.
At the end of the class period, if you are not finished with your project and will still need to work on it the following day(s), you must seal our air because air will dry out your clay. You will score your projects in sealed plastic bags from which you have removed as much air as possible without damaging your piece. DO not let the plastic bag drag on your piece or it will flatten it.
Do not let your clay get too wet or you will structurally damage your project.
Clay goes through many stages as you are working with it.
All projects and supplies must be put away at the end of the period.
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