Here’s the trimming part of making a double walled bowl. Happy potting and if you make one of these, please send me a picture – I’d love to see it!
When you flip the bowl over, the top is the only thing that you will need to trim (if you want to carve into the outer wall, you can do that later). You may need to smooth the bowl part as well – sometimes there is a dent from closing the form.
Here is part 1 of making double-walled bowls, with instructions. Part 2 will be trimming the piece right side up.
Remember that you are throwing “upside down” – the “rim” of the outside wall is actually the foot of the finished piece!
Center the clay and open all the way to the bottom. However far out you pull the donut of clay will be the diameter of the finished bowl part. Flatten the top of the donut to make splitting it (next step) easier. Clean up the inside of the bowl with a rib or sponge.
A few of the things I’ve been working on recently. Everything is greenware (not fired in the kiln) because the weather has been too, um, wintery to get the vent hooked up. For some reason, I don’t want to breathe fumes…
Hand worked/pinched clay with texture
Hand worked clay, textured and formed over a round sponge.
Hand "folded" clay vases, salt pigs
I have definitely increased the size of my studio space, but as you can see from the pictures, there are three machines that need to be moved before I can spread things out. But until then (and until the kilns are hooked up – only one is in there now), I can still work, so that makes me happy!
The “trash can challenge” is coming along nicely – it’s about 3/4 full right now. I’ve been brutal about which pieces to keep and which to toss in that trash can. I throw a bag of clay (usually 12-13 pieces or more, depending on size), let them dry, trim and finish, then pick the best 2 or 3 to keep. Sometimes I’ll keep a “non-racer” because I like the rim or the shape.
Yesterday I made some candle plates/holders, playing around with my mini-extruder (looks like a metal syringe with a flat end to put the dies in) and bits of torn clay for decorations. I like clean, smooth forms, so actually putting something on the pot to break that smoothness is a little disconcerting for me. We’ll see where it goes, though.
2009 was a chaotic kind of year, with many personal and professional changes. We are looking forward to 2010, and the challenges it will bring. Dennis continues to experiment with his art (there is a lot of cardboard around our house right now!) and Keba has a mission to fill up a 32 gallon trashcan as she experiments with clay (I’m hoping the can is filled by March at the latest).
May you and yours have a creative 2010!
Yellow Room Arts is in the process of moving to a new location, with a bigger studio area! When the dust settles, I will add some pictures of the new home. Stay tuned…
A few of the latest pieces from the kiln!
Turquoise cereal/soup bowls.
“Grape koolaid” bowl – this is actually a thinned down purple glaze that I applied with a syringe (no needle!). Overglazed with clear glaze.
Inside view of the grape bowl
Set of 3 nesting bowls. The blue was sponged over the white clay, then sealed with a transparent glaze.
Turquoise yarn jar
I’m catching up on my photos, so here is a sampling of what has been coming out of the kiln recently. I’m experimenting with bigger yarn jars (working on one for those huge Red Heart skeins!) as well.
Agate yarn jar
Rose/chrome green bowls
Rose/chrome green bowls
Black glazed set - detail from crumpled newspaper
Detail from black glazed set - glazed wiped off in places to show clay underneath
