The Handbuilding Process: From Start to Finish
Making ceramics is not just a craft, it's an art form that dates back to ancient civilizations. It involves a creative and fun process of turning a ball of clay into a beautiful and functional object. If you're ready to get your hands dirty and create some beautiful pieces, then let's dive into the whimsical world of ceramics!
From the moment you first pinch, roll, or mold the clay, to the moment it comes out of the kiln, there's a magical transformation happening. Each step of the ceramics-making process contributes to the final product's appearance, strength, and durability. It's like a mad scientist's laboratory meets an artist's studio. And let's not forget, the best part is that you get to play with mud!
The ceramics process can be broken down into several stages:
Clay Preparation: Before the clay can be used to make a ceramic piece, it must be prepared. First grab your apron and start with wedging (the process of kneading clay to remove air bubbles) the clay to remove any air pockets and make it smooth and uniform. The clay preparation phase is a crucial step in the ceramics-making process. While preparing your clay it’s important to pay attention to the consistency and pliability so that it can be easily molded and shaped.
Forming the Piece: There are several techniques used to form the piece, such as handbuilding, wheel throwing, or using molds. Handbuilding techniques include coiling, pinching, and slab building (more about this in Techniques 101). Wheel throwing involves centering the clay on a wheel and shaping it into the desired form. Molds are pre-made forms that can shape the clay.
Drying: Once the piece has been formed, it must be left to dry. This is known as the "greenware" stage, and it's important to ensure that the piece is dried evenly to avoid cracking.
Bisque Firing: Bisque firing is the first firing in the ceramic process and is done at a low temperature. The purpose of bisque firing is to harden the clay, making it more durable and able to withstand further handling and decorating. The bisque firing also removes any moisture left in the clay, ensuring the final product will not crack during the glazing process.
Decoration: Once the bisque firing is complete, the piece is ready to be decorated. Ceramic pieces can be decorated in a variety of ways. Some of the most common methods include glazing, using underglazes, and transfers.
Glazing involves applying a liquid layer of ceramic material that, once fired, creates a smooth and durable surface.
Underglaze is colored pigment paint that is applied directly to the clay piece before a transparent glaze is applied over it. This decoration technique allows for intricate designs, patterns, etc to be painted onto the surface of a ceramic piece with fine detail.
Transfer printing involves using a transfer decal that is applied to the surface of the ceramic piece before glazing.
Glaze Firing: Glaze firing is a critical step in the ceramics-making process, where glaze is applied to the bisqued ceramic piece and then fired at high temperatures. The high heat causes the glaze to melt and fuse to the surface, forming a hard and durable coating that protects the piece and gives it a glossy finish. This step is important as it determines the final look and feel of the piece, including its color, texture, and overall appearance. Glaze firing temperatures typically range from 1,200°C to 1,400°C, and the type of glaze used, as well as the desired final appearance, will dictate the exact temperature used. Stay up to date on Sumi Says to learn more about the different glazes and how to apply them.
Cooling: Finally, after the glaze firing is complete, the piece must be allowed to cool down. This can take several hours, and it's important to avoid handling the piece until it has cooled completely.
Tips to have a great clay-making experience:
Choose the right clay body for your project - earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain each have their own unique properties and qualities that can affect your final product. Check out my Clay Bodies 101 blog post for more detail on the different varieties of clay.
Take your time during the preparation phase - proper wedging, drying, and bisque firing are all important steps that can't be skipped.
Don't be afraid to experiment - try new glaze recipes, apply glaze in different ways, or use different surface decorations.
Keep a sketchbook and make notes - this can help you keep track of your experiments and make it easier to reproduce your successes.
Practice, practice, practice - making ceramics takes time and skill, but the more you work with clay the more confident and skilled you'll become.
So go ahead, get your hands muddy and enjoy the journey of making ceramics!
