blueBanksia art directory lists art short courses and events

Brought to you courtesy of Coastal Claymakers.

Potters and clay artists from the Mid North Coast of NSW dedicated to the study of, promotion and presentation of ceramics.

1. Hand build delicate pieces on newspaper on a bat. This helps prevent distortion as the piece shrinks. The work can then slide easily without additional handling onto the kiln shelf: the newspaper burns away.
2. If you want perfectly texture free slabs, roll out the clay on Vilene. Vilene is a stiffening material which comes in several weights. Choose a heavy weight which will support the clay slab for transfer to the work surface. Vilene is used in dressmaking and can be bought at a fabric shop.
3. To remove unwanted wax from a pot, microwave on high for five minutes – no need to re-bisque.
4. Hard Clay - If clay has become too hard to use, cut it into pieces, spray with water, and microwave on high for five minutes in a plastic bag. The result should be soft clay.
5. Bats - Canvas cut to fit the wheel head can be used instead of a conventional bat. Attach the canvas to the wheel with slip, making sure it is wrinkle free. After throwing , slide your cutting wire under the canvas and the work will easily transfer to a board. When piece is firm the canvas can be removed.
6. "Mocha Tea" - Steep approximately 2 tablespoons tobacco in boiling water for about a week. Strain, squeeze out the liquid and reserve it. When dropped from a loaded brush onto raw pot or freshly applied slip, mocha tea fans out from the drop to make a fern like image. Several drops grouped make a decorative pattern. Camels' urine may be substituted for the tobacco!
7. Pots too dry? To bring overly dry pots back to leather hard without cracking, wrap and line the pots with wet newspaper and leave for 24 hours. They should then be ready for turning.
8. Hand Moulding - Instead of the usual stocking filled with rice, try using a balloon filled with sand when pressing lay into a mould. It fits easily into awkward bends and corners, and leaves a smooth finish, eliminating any stray finger marks.
9. Throwing - A useful idea when throwing is to have a mirror propped in front of the wheel, at a distance to suit yourself. This enables you to see the development of the vessel easily and quickly without any discomfort.
10. Drinking Straws can be used most effectively as armatures for arms and legs when making small ceramic sculpture. Use the heavy duty jumbo straws with 'elbows' that bend, the clay can be built around these in almost any desirable position. The main advantage in using these is that you have a built in air space that is indispensable in the drying and firing stages. Another advantage is that they will burn out in the firing.

More information about the Coastal Claymakers.

Related Articles

• Different Types of Pottery Clay
• The Paperclay Revolution
• Art Books
• Bernard Leach - A potters world
• How to create beautiful pottery and develop your own pottery making ideas with One Tree Hill Pottery
• How to throw a shallow bowl with David Cuzick
• Six Tips on Glazing Ceramics