The first step is to place the clay on your wheel head and cone, ensuring it’s well-centred. Black clay, like the one used here, is notably soft and can pose challenges in maintaining high walls for a bowl. To counteract potential collapsing, the key is to work swiftly while throwing the walls and avoid over-saturating the clay. Something that I got wrong as you can see 😂
Quickly building up the walls is ideal and don’t allow the clay to become excessively wet, as this can lead to instability. If you notice any wobbling or signs of collapse, a handy tool to use is a heat gun. This device helps to dry out the walls, preventing further deformation. This step is particularly helpful for clays that are prone to collapsing. Using a heat gun can salvage the piece and prevent it from collapsing irreparably. Once the walls are firmed up, refining the form with a rubber rib is the next step. After this initial shaping, allow the piece to dry for 48 hours.
Post-drying, it’s time to trim the base and add a foot ring. The trimming process involves careful attention to detail, ensuring a balanced and aesthetically pleasing final product. The extra touch of trimming the sides contributes to the overall refinement of the bowl.
Completing the process, don’t forget the finishing touch – signing your work. This small but significant step adds a personal element to your creation.
By all means comment below have any other further questions
Hope you enjoyed this post and as always Happy Potting!!! 🥳🥳
