A batch of mugs, from green to glazed |
|
Four cylinders are thrown from a dark brown clay and put on wooden boards. They are covered with plastic to let them dry slowly for a week or so. |
|
After a week, the cylinders are dry enough to "trim". Each cylinder is centered on the throwing wheel, anchored down with clay and then a foot is trimmed onto it. |
|
The lower walls were rather thick on some of them, so clay was removed partway up the side, also. The goal is to have a cylinder which has walls that are equal thickness from top to bottom. The same day as the mugs are trimmed, handles are added. Some of the bodies are trimmed with slip trails and some have designs stamped into them. Then, they are wrapped in plastic again so the water content in the clay can even out otherwise the handles and slip trails may come off the mug body. |
|
After a few days, the plastic is removed and the mugs are allowed to air dry. Notice how much lighter the clay looks when it is bone dry. They have also shrunk a significant amount. These mugs will now be bisque fired. |
