Crafting a ruffled clay bowl is a delightful artistic pursuit. Here’s a concise guide to creating one:
You’ll need: Clay, Mould, Template, Bisque ruffle tool, Mud tool, Scoring tool, Slip.
Step 1: Wedge your clay for consistency & to remove air bubbles. You can view our blog post on how to wedge clay for some tips on wedging.
Step 2: Clay Preparation: Roll out a workable slab of clay, about 8mm thick, and compress it. Use a template to cut out a circle.
You can read more about rolling out the clay, compressing it, and using a template in our blog post how to make a pottery tumbler part 1-2.
Step 3: Ruffle Shaping: Place the clay circle on the mould, ensuring full coverage. Shape ruffles using your fingers or a small tool. Begin on one side, then move to the opposite side, repeating the process.
Step 4: Adding Holes: If desired, create holes around the top of the bowl for weaving with jute or cotton. Smooth the surface using a damp mud tool or foam kidney, ensuring the ruffles maintain their shape.
Step 5: Attaching Feet: Shape small feet by rolling and moulding clay by hand. Score both the bottom of the bowl and the feet using a scoring tool. Apply slip to both surfaces. Securely attach the feet by pressing them onto the scored area.
Step 6: Drying Process: Allow the bowl to naturally dry on the mould. Premature removal may result in warping or damage due to clay memory.
Step 7: Final Touches: Carefully remove the dry bowl from the mould. Stand it upright and inspect the surfaces for any rough edges. Avoid excessive water as it may cause the bowl to collapse. Clear any blocked holes with an earbud, ensuring they’re large enough for weaving.
Step 8: Finishing Steps: Cover the bowl with a plastic bag and allow it to dry completely. Bisque fire the dried bowl, then glaze it with your preferred glaze. Finally, fire the bowl again to complete the glazing process.
Now, your unique and functional ruffled clay bowl is ready to be admired and enjoyed. Happy potting!
