- Malleable – can be readily formed when wet - Sticks to itself – one piece of clay can be attached to another by merely pressing - Wet clay can hold water – for instance could be used to ‘waterproof’ a woven basket for transporting water -Dry clay slakes back to wet clay if placed in water (if you don’t like something you’ve made, you can ‘reclaim’ the clay and use it again) -Undergoes a change at the molecular level when heat is applied in an even and consistent way, and becomes a permanent, archival material. (Amazing) Properties of Clay:
Transcript
- Malleable – can be readily formed when wet- Sticks to itself – one piece of clay can be attached to another by merely pressing- Wet clay can hold water – for instance could be used to
‘waterproof’ a woven basket for transporting water-Dry clay slakes back to wet clay if placed in water
(if you don’t like something you’ve made, you can ‘reclaim’ the clay and use it again) -Undergoes a change at the molecular level when heat is applied in an even and consistent way, and becomes a permanent, archival material.
(Amazing) Properties of Clay:
Pinching – the most basic way of making something with clay, whereby you simply apply pressure with your fingers to form an objectCoiling - coils of clay are rolled and then joined together to make an objectSoft Slab – clay is rolled into slabs and immediately made into an object while the slabs are still malleableStiff Slab – clay is rolled into slabs and allowed to dry until they holds their shape, and then joined togetherThrowing – clay is ‘thrown’ on the potter’s wheelSlip Casting – plaster molds are made from an object and copies of the object are made using the molds and slip, which is liquid clay
Some Forming Methods:
Most people make work using a combination of these methods and more.
Pieces made from Pinching…
The hands of Shar Shk Buk
Paulus Berensohn Bowl
Eight Point Keeper Susan Kennedy 2011
James Lobb Cups
James Lobb Asclepia Fruit Bowl
Pieces made from Coiling…
Untitled Magdalene Odundo
Clinton Polaca “Nampeyo”
Pieces made from a combination of pinching and coiling…
the hands of Billy Ray Mangham
Jerilyn Virden Amber Fold 1
Requisite Swell Erin Furimsky
Beth Cavener Sticher
EverymanBilly Ray Mangham
Pieces made from soft slabs…
JoAnn Schnabel Sonata
Steven Gorman
Contemporary Yixing Swan Teapot & Cups
Pieces made from stiff slabs…
Heather Anderson’s Hands
Lisa Pedolsky
Cynthia Guarjardo Birds and Bees Box
Champion Stephanie DeArmond
Ah Leon Bridge
Thrown pieces made using the potter’s wheel…
North Devon, England, 1797
Jeff Oestreich
Val Cushing
Pineapple Grenade Krista Assad
Paul Donnelly Pitcher
Thrown and altered and thrown & handbuilt combined…
Kristen Kieffer Corset Series Vessel
Neil Patterson Green Tpot
Deborah Schwatzkopf Oil Pourer
Auntie Myrtle – a covered dish Annie Chrietzberg 2007
