Clay Pottery Craft Projects
Making Slab Pottery
Not everyone can afford or get the hang of using the pottery wheel. Luckily, beautiful and unique pottery can be crafted with little more than a pair of hands. There are several techniques for hand building, one of the most common being the use of clay slabs. Here are a few tips for hand building pottery.
In neighborhoods all across America there are pottery shops and Cafe's to help with the clay, glazes and all your firing if need be.
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Spreading Clay for the Slab Pot
Begin with a smooth flat surface. Place newspaper or cloth over the surface to prevent the clay from sticking to your work surface. Spread the clay out by patting it with your whole hand. I than placed a towel over the clay and rolled it out with the rolling pin.
This in return gave me a nice texture on the clay to begin building with.
Placing yards sticks down on each side of your slab and rolling between them will give you a workable thickness for the slab pottery project.
Cutting Slabs
Use a ruler to help you cut a straight line.
Let Clay Firm Up
After you cut out your bottom and sides, let them sit until the clay is leather hard. For most clay's this will take about an hour.Score Or Scratch Edges
When your clay is leather hard use a needle or sharp pencil to scratch the edges of the clay where the clay will be joined together. A crisscross pattern works well for this.Apply Slip To Edges
Mix some slip to be used as the cement to join the slabs together.
Stir up a little extra clay with water until the mixture has a smooth, paste-like consistency. Spread the mixture on all areas of the clay that have been scored.
Joining Pottery
Begin joining the slabs together while the slip is still fresh.
Gently place the scored edges together using a slight side-to-side sliding motion until it feels like the slabs have fixed into place.
Always keep your other hand against the sides for additional support.
Use a damp brush (or your fingers and a little bit of water) to smooth out all corners and seams.
Once the piece is constructed and smoothed to your satisfaction, keep it in a safe place where it can dry thoroughly.
Success in life comes not from holding a good hand...but in playing a poor hand well. |
