1️⃣ **Choose the Right Clay**: Start with clay that has a fair bit of grog in it. Grog clay is more forgiving when it gets over-saturated with water. Plastic clays can fall apart when too wet, leaving a sloppy mess. Grog clay has more strength and can be quickly returned to a workable state without much mess.
2️⃣ **Knead the Clay**: Slowly knead your wet, sloppy mound of clay into a ball again. This can be done on particleboard, cement sheeting, or Masonite. After kneading, place it back onto the base left on the wheel head. Ensure you do not add any air bubbles between the base and the mound of clay, as this will create problems later on. You can also remove all the clay from the bat and knead it into the ball of clay beforehand
3️⃣ **Use Minimal Water**: In this next part, it’s crucial to use just enough water to lubricate your hands. Because the clay has been oversaturated, use the least amount of water possible to avoid repeating the problem.
4️⃣ **Use Ribs for Efficiency**: Use ribs to help bring the walls up quicker without dragging the clay or using too much water with your hands. Get the walls up as quickly as possible since the clay will be very soft. The more you work with it, the more likely you are to repeat the initial issue. Plus using sponged will only add more water to the walls. Where ribs helps reduce the water on the surface
5️⃣ **Drying Option**: Alternatively, you can leave the wet mound of clay on a piece of cement sheeting to dry out until it reaches the desired moisture level. However, sometimes it’s best to get back on the wheel quickly and give it another go. Pottery is a forgiving medium, often yielding the best experiences through trial and error.
Have a good day, everyone, and as always, Happy Potting! 🥳🥳❤️
