Typology

. . .

Process

How to Make a Bowl

. . .

Step One: weigh your clay depending on the size of bowls you want to make
[three balls of clay each weighing three pounds]

Step Two: Wedge your clay to get rid of any and all air bubbles and create clay consistency
[failure to do so will result in exploding pottery] 

Step Three: Center your clay on the wheel

Step Four: Once centered, using your fingers, open up the clay 

Step Five: Begin the initial pull using your knuckle
[this allows you to move more clay]

Step Six: Using finger tips, continue pulling until desired height is reached

Step Seven: Shape the bowl from the inside by using the wooden rib.

Step Eight: Set the lip and round it with the shammy

Step Nine: Use the needle tool to make a track for the wire.

Step Ten: Cut the bowl from the wheel with the wire tool.

Step Eleven: Use pot lifters to remove the bowl from the wheel and allow bowl to dry to leather hard

Step Twelve: Once leather hard, trim the inside of the foot to the desired thickness.

Step Thirteen: Next, trim the outside to match the curve of the bowl on the inside of the foot.

Step Fourteen: Allow bowl to become bone dry and then bisque fire.

Step Fifteen: Once bisque fired, wax the bottom of the bowl, creating a dry foot.
[this will prevent glaze from sticking to the bottom]

Step Sixteen: Mix glaze.

Step Seventeen: Using glazing tongs, dip the bowl in the glaze for three seconds.

Step Eighteen: Wipe away excess glaze from wax.

Step Nineteen: Using overglaze oxides, decorate bowl.

Step Twenty: Wax each layer of decoration starting from the front to the back

Step Twenty-one: Once you have completed the glazing process, allow glaze to dry and high fire bowl.

Step Twenty-two: Once kiln is cooled, unload kiln and enjoy your handiwork.