Process of Making Ceramic Pottery

process

Here is a glimpse into the steps involved in making wheel thrown ceramics. For handbuilt pieces, the steps are the same starting at step three.

Wheelthrowing: The pottery wheel lets you shape a lump of clay into a cylindrical form that you can then alter in many ways. I spend at least 30 minutes making each wheelthrown piece because I like to alter pieces on the wheel when they are still wet. A lump of clay can be transformed a couple of times on the wheel but if you push the clay too far by working it too roughly or too fast or let it absorb too much water, it will collapse.
Trimming: Once a piece is cut from the wheel bat, it is set to dry to a leather-hard firmness ready for trimming (if needed). This can take anywhere from 2 to 5 days depending upon the thickness of the clay and the temperature and moisture levels in the room the piece is in. Trimming can take as long as you want it to. A piece can be completely transformed in the trimming stage. Texture can be added anywhere on the piece and the shape from the lip to the foot can be altered multiple times until you like it.
Drying for the bisque fire: A trimmed piece is set to dry until it becomes a delicate bone-dry. This can take up to a week or more depending on the temperature and moisture levels in the room. A bone-dry piece is ready for a bisque firing in a kiln, which changes the clay into ceramic material without fully fusing it.
The bisque fire: Bisque firing dehydrates the clay, leaving the clay body somewhat porous so it can absorb glaze. A bisque firing brings the temperature slowly up and down. It takes about 36-48 hours from firing to cool down. A bisqued piece is ready for surface decoration and glazing. My work is fired in an electric (oxidation) kiln to cone 06.
Surface decoration: This can take several minutes to several hours. A piece may be handpainted with underglazes, dipped in multiple glazes to reach a certain color and effect, etched with designs via sgraffito, decorated with wax resist, and on and on...straightforward glaze dipping and drying typically takes less than 10 minutes depending on the size of the piece. A glazed piece is now ready for the second firing.
The glaze fire: The second firing melts the glaze and fuses it to the bisqued piece. A glaze firing brings the temperature slowly up and down. It takes about 24 hours from firing to cool down. My work is fired in an electric (oxidation) kiln to cone 5 and cone 6.

For more information, check out Ceramic Arts Daily, a great resource.

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process