How I Do It, Part I

It has been a few weeks since I got muddy in the studio. Before I begin the new commissions, I decided to warm up with a simple breast bowl made of porcelain. I though you might like to see How I Do It. Click on each picture to see it bigger.

I start with  a ball of clay about the size of a walnut.

I give the clay the "idea" of a bowl with a little pinching.

I pinch the shape of a small open bowl. The clay is soft and moist so I support it in a small bowl.

I press the clay into the bowl until it is smooth and the thickness I want. The edge of the clay is higher than the supporting bowl. I trim the extra clay against the bowl rim with a cutting tool. It makes a nice edge to work from.

The trimmed clay came off as a lovely spiral. Hmmm. I didn't expect that! I am inspired to put it in the bottom of the bowl.

 Here the spiral has been attached with a modeling tool. Hmmm. That is nice all by itself. Is this bowl still a breast bowl? Let's see what happens.

Oh, I like that. Simple. Abstract. Very graphic. Shall I stop here?

Nah!!!

OH look what two strokes of my thumb will do! Very lively! Is this it?   Nah. Why stop now? 

 

Looks like I am going for the breast bowl! So far, other than the trim tool and the modeling tool for attaching the spiral, I have made this bowl using only my fingers.

  I am almost done. It is being supported in the porcelain bowl. The clay is still too soft to finish the edges and refine the surfaces. I'll let the clay harden just a bit while I take a walk in the very last light of this November day. Feels like Thanksgiving.

The bowl is now leather hard. In this state, I can carve any details, burnish surfaces, set the foot and finish the rim.  I take care with the rim because a wide open bowl shape like this is susceptible to cracking as the clay dries, and again during firing. I like to roll the rim up and inward a tiny bit to take some of the strain off. First, I set up the foot---

I let it get a little too dry, and I am having to very delicately scrape away the bottom to make a flat level surface for the bowl to sit on. This takes a while to get right. I have to feel my way through it and test it a lot. Finally I am satisfied, and I turn the bowl over to...

shape the rim--- oops.  I delicately smoothed the rim with moistened finger tips.  So delicate, like a fine buttery wafer cookie. A little bit broke off. I have to be so careful at this stage. The drying clay is very brittle.I think I can fix it.

See the fat bandage of clay I made at the top of the picture. I scored the clay and and wet it, then attached a small coil of wet clay.  I'll trim and smooth that, and it will look like the rest of the rim.

The bowl looks good. The rim broke again while I was fixing it. I just kept patching with wet clay and smoothing. I used some tools to help me out. I hope it will survive the stress created by shrinkage during drying and later in firing.

I finished the breast bowl with some carving to refine shapes and some burnishing for a smooth surface. Now I have to wait for the clay to dry to bone dry state before I fire it in the kiln. I think this breast bowl is beautiful . Thanks to the spiral it is different from any other I have made. I have about a dozen new ideas for bowls just from the process of making this bowl . I'll do well to make two or three, because the clay will have its own ideas about what to become, just like this bowl did.  In a few weeks, I show you the rest of the process--firing, glazing and firing some more. We have a way to go yet.

Comments

[Tracy]

WOW! Carla, to see THE DIVA in action is amazing! I love getting a peek into your creative world. Thanks so much for sharing it with us!!

Namaste'
The Gourdess

[Nut]

I love that you shared this!

And somehow seeing your process this way has made your creations even more magikal to me...You've opened lines of inquiry I never dreamed of before...the fragility of the clay vs. the clearly articulated strength of your touch.

I'm re*minded of seeing mother crocodiles picking up and carrying newly hatched babes to the water...Those massive jaws, those razor sharp teeth, and yet all that strength iz applied to usher the new babes into their world with absolute tenderness.

I'm awestruck by the miracles of nature living and creating new life through the mother croc's jaws and through the wisdom & medicine of your potter's hands.

Did I say thank you?

Orgasmically Yours,
~Nut

[Lindsley]

Thank you dear sister for the heartfelt thoughtful sharing of your process....magic is afoot for sure...and I appreciate being able to peek over your shoulder, as you create peace, art and love in our world!
All of the blessings of the Season to you,
L.