| Starting the Bowl |
| Starting the Bowl |
From "Throwing Clay"
episode DTHC-102 |
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A versatile clay baking dish is an asset to any kitchen, and working with clay is master potter Bill Van Gilder's passion. Here he demonstrates how to throw a beautiful baking dish that moves with ease from the oven or microwave to the table.
Bill, who has been throwing clay for more than 30 years, considers this deep-dish oval baker with glazed handles to be one of his favorite projects. This is also a bowl with a secret: it begins as a round form before taking on an oval shape (figure A). The dish, made from a 2-1/2-pound lump of clay, is made on a bat, which in turn sits on the wheel head of the motherboard (figure B).
Tools
2-1/2 lbs. clay
Rubber rib
Wooden rib
Sculpting tool
Fettling knife
Wallpaper tool
Texturing tools
Ware board
Wax-resist emulsion
GlazesThrowing the Bowl 1. Use a fast wheel speed for the first centering process. Open the clay by pushing down on the left thumb with the right thumb (figure C). 2. Draw the clay outward, toward 5 o'clock (figure D). Throw the base a sturdy 1/2" thick (figure E); this thickness makes it strong enough to withstand the temperature swings of going in and out of the oven.
3. Pull the walls slightly less than 1/2" thick (figure F). An even wall thickness is very important in bake ware. As the pots go in and out of the oven, they endure quite a thermal shock; an even wall thickness ensures that the bowl will last a long time. Centrifugal force will continually try to throw the clay outward, forcing you continually to shape the walls upward (figure G).
4. To pull the wall upward, cut a groove in the base of the clay with your thumb (figure H). Next place your fingertips in the groove and slide the clay upward to the rim (figure I).
5. Stop short of the rim and use your fingertip to create a bevel, or corner, under the rim (figure J); do this by using the fingertips of your left hand to roll the clay over your right thumb (figure K). When complete, the measurement of the bowl across the top, from side to side, should be about 8", and the height approximately 3".
6. Use a soft rubber rib to smooth the inside of the bowl and create a flat surface with a slightly rounded corner (figure L). If the inside corner is sharp, it will create a stress point when it's heated over and over again; a rounded corner lets the heat travel through the pot much more efficiently.7. Clean the inside of the bowl with a damp sponge. For a decorative touch, use the lip of a wooden rib to create an accent line at the top of the inside rim (figure M). This line will become more pronounced as the dish becomes oval.
8. Lightly cut a bevel at the foot of the bowl and, using the short end of the wooden rib, smooth the outside of the dish (figure N).9. Add an additional decorative wavy line to the outside of the bowl to enhance the homemade look (figure O).
10. The pot will not be cut free from the bat with the wire tool until it's ready to be shaped into an oval. It dries on the bat until it's soft leather-hard, not stiff. If it's dried until stiff, the rim will crack at each end when bent.
RESOURCES :
Kilns
L & L Kilns
Website: www.hotkilns.com
Clay
Highwater Clays
Website: www.highwaterclays.com
Extruders
American Art Clay Co. Inc. (AMACO)
Website: www.amaco.com
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