Skilled potters know how to create a strong clay body that will hold up well during construction and firing. Use the tips below to understand the properties of clay and develop a versatile clay body that will be easy to work with.
Ceramic Artists Must Create a Homogeneous Clay Body
The first step in creating pottery is developing and maintaining a homogeneous clay body. A homogeneous clay body is one in which the moisture level is not too high or too low and the clay displays the same moisture consistency throughout. It is important that the clay remains the same consistency because this will help to prevent air bubbles from developing. It will also improve the clay's elasticity and workability.
To create a homogeneous clay body, the clay must be wedged. Wedging clay is much like kneading. The clay is pushed and pulled on a canvas wedging board until all parts of the clay body appear to be the same consistency. The artist can tell when the clay is ready because it is all one color and wedges easily. If unsure, cut through the clay with a wire cutter and examine the clay to make sure that it is all one color.
Clay can lose moisture during the wedging process. To help offset this loss, keep a spray bottle full of water handy to spray on the clay occasionally.
If the clay gets too wet, separate it into smaller portions and flatten it onto the wedging board. The wedging board will soak up the moisture and then the clay can be put back together and wedged.
Potters Must Keep the Clay Workable While Creating Ceramic Art
Clay naturally loses moisture as it is exposed to air. It is important that clay doesn't dry out too quickly as it will risk cracking. Clay artists must constantly monitor the moisture level of their clay and adjust the moisture level as necessary.
The artist can lightly spritz the clay with water from a spray bottle while he or she is working on a slab construction. This will keep the clay at a leather-hard stage, which will make it more workable. It is important not to spray too much water though, because the clay could lose strength and become runny.
Since clay must dry slowly, bag all projects in air-tight plastic bags when not working on them. If the project is slightly dry, set a wet sponge in the bag to add moisture to the piece.
Once a clay body has lost all moisture and becomes bone dry, it can no longer be worked with. It must either be fired or crushed and remixed with water to make an elastic clay again.
Working With Clay to Make High-Quality Pottery
Remember that a homogeneous, strong clay body is essential to creating any ceramic work of art. Make sure to wedge all clay before creating with it. Also maintain the clay's moisture levels and take time to air dry the clay. With attention to detail, anyone can create a homogeneous clay body that will strengthen and enhance clay work.
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