DIY Network

Pitcher Handle and Glazing Bill Van Gilder finishes the handle and prepares the glazes. From "Throwing Clay" episode DTHC-109

Figure A

Master potter Bill Van Gilder is making a pitcher. He started with 2-1/2 lbs. of clay, which he used to throw a tall cylinder with a rounded belly. Next, he gently stretched out part of the rim and shaped it into a spout. After shaping the spout, he set the pitcher aside to dry leather hard (figure A). He threw a level clay pad, which he used to protect the rim of the pitcher while he trimmed the base. Next, he rolled a fat clay coil and pulled a handle. He attached the handle to the top of the pitcher opposite the spout. Now he's ready to finish the handle.

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1. With a dry hand, Bill picks up the pitcher, dips the handle in water and again stretches the handle (figure B). As he stretches the handle, he pulls it down, working directly across from the spout; he uses his right thumb to create two grooves down the length of the handle (figure C).

Figure B

Figure C

2. Holding the end of the handle, he turns the pitcher up and attaches the bottom of the handle to the widest part of the pitcher(figure D). After checking to see that the handle is lined up across from the spout, Bill seals the handle end with his thumb (figure E).

Figure D

Figure E

3. He softens any sharp or rough edges with a sponge and smoothes and blends the clay where the handle meets the body. If the edges were not smoothed, any rough spots would become razor sharp when glazed.

4. Bill checks the inside shape of the handle and uses his index finger to gently lift the curve of the handle upward (figure F).

5. He adds his signature stamp to the base of the form, then sets it aside to dry, after which the pitcher will be ready for its first firing.

6. When the form is bone dry, Bill loads it in the kiln for the bisque firing. The kiln fires for 10 to 12 hours, then cools for at least 24 hours before it can be unloaded and the pitcher glazed (figure G).

Figure F

Figure G

7. Bill uses two glazes for the pitcher: raspberry red on the outside and inside and a partial overglaze in green. Where the colors overlap, they create an opalescent-blue glaze (figure H). To be sure he likes the final glaze colors, Bill makes test tiles out of the same clay he uses for his projects. He textures them so he can see how the glazes look on ridges and indentations in the pottery(figure I).

8. Before glazing, Bill inverts the pitcher on a banding wheel and applies wax-resist emulsion to the foot of the pot (figure J). While the wax dries, he prepares the glazes.

Figure H

Figure I

Figure J

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