Cathi Newlin on mon 19 nov 01
Okey Dokey...
Thought I would combine all my questions into one post.
First I gotta say that though I don't post much, I get so much great info
from reading the list, and always get lots of responses to my
questions...thanks!
So here goes-
First, can someone explain the pros and cons of single firing, and when it
is appropriate?
Second, I think I'm ready to increase the amount of clay I want to throw.
Currently I'm throwing a chunk about the size of a pregnant softball.
I cannot *imagine* how some folks center anything much larger! Any tips?
Third, with Thanksgiving coming up, and (at least in *my* home) the
accompanying baking frenzy, o any of you find yourselves unconsciously
wedging your pie and bread dough rather than kneading it? ;)
I think that's all for now!
Cathi Newlin - boxer411@grm.net
North Mo Boxer Rescue - (660) 382-5451
Midwest Boxer Rescuers -
StinkBalm!
Cindy Strnad on tue 20 nov 01
Dear Cathy,
To center large amounts of clay the size of your
"pregnant softball" , first get the clay
into a uniformly cylindrical shape and apply as
close to the center of the wheel as possible. Now
center the top half of the clay. Next, center the
bottom half. Then, blend them together.
If the amount of clay is very large, say more than
10 or 15 lbs, try this:
Form half the clay into a nice uniform can shape.
Center it, then skim off the slime with a rib.
Form the other half of the clay into a slightly
smaller can shape. Center it by eye on top of the
clay already on the wheel. Give it a whack or a
wiggle or both to stick it down, then center it.
Now blend the two lumps together and you're ready
to throw.
Best wishes, and don't knead that pie dough too
much.
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
USA
cindy@earthen-vessels-pottery.com
http://www.earthen-vessels-pottery.com
Tony Ferguson on tue 20 nov 01
Cathi,
Pros and cons of single firing: I would recommend Fran Tristram's book,
"Single Firing"-the pros and cons, for now. I hope to write a book on this
subject amongst all my other projects--a communal book pulling in the
expertise of many of the single fire artists in the world.
Otherwise, I single fire because I don't have to waste on a bisque and I
like the clay glaze interface (how they knit) and the surface aesthetic this
union produces. You know all those beautiful Chun vases, the works of the
Japanese--do you think they loaded a 10 chamber Naborigama for a week, fired
it for 2 more weeks up to bisque, unloaded it, glazed and then reloaded, and
started firing again?, etc. No. Most of those beautiful works in clay you
see in history books are all single fired--the porcelain and the stonwares.
Bisque firing, so the experts say, came about the time of majolica.
Whenever it exactly did, it made its way into institutions and became
institutionalized.
If I did a different surface technique or used different glazes, lets say
something like Bob and Cheryl Husby, who do salt fired porcelain where they
rub the glaze off leaving the glaze fill in the indentation of their
decorating, single firing would not work for their aesthetic. Its a choice
and way of creating, glazing and firing your work. I think it tends to be a
purer process and the workmanship, clay and glaze share equal responsibility
in the works final transformation.
As for your pregnant clay:
When you can feel confident you can throw that "size" and half again as much
(just add more--maybe you started with 5 pounds and now you try 7 pounds.
Work your way up. Throw in a series (put down 10 balls of clay and commit
to throwing that--can't drink, eat, pee or leave your seat till your done)
so you can develop some control and discipline over each weight range.
Start imagining you can throw larger. It will happen.
As for the bread, no, but it does mean clay is in your blood. When you
start creating pots and sculpture in your dreams, having visions, then your
married to it for life. Are you from the midwest?
Okey Dokey, Tony Ferguson, Duluth MN
> Okey Dokey...
> Thought I would combine all my questions into one post.
> First I gotta say that though I don't post much, I get so much great info
> from reading the list, and always get lots of responses to my
> questions...thanks!
>
> So here goes-
> First, can someone explain the pros and cons of single firing, and when it
> is appropriate?
>
> Second, I think I'm ready to increase the amount of clay I want to throw.
> Currently I'm throwing a chunk about the size of a pregnant softball.
> I cannot *imagine* how some folks center anything much larger! Any tips?
>
> Third, with Thanksgiving coming up, and (at least in *my* home) the
> accompanying baking frenzy, o any of you find yourselves unconsciously
> wedging your pie and bread dough rather than kneading it? ;)
>
> I think that's all for now!
>
> Cathi Newlin - boxer411@grm.net
> North Mo Boxer Rescue - (660) 382-5451
> Midwest Boxer Rescuers -
> StinkBalm!
>
>
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Karen Hein on tue 20 nov 01
I have "once fired" on several occasions. i use Laguna Half and Half and found that the glaze "seeps" into the piece a bit more, leaving the surface slightly rougher than if bisqued before hand. I normally fire to cone 6 and have not lost any once fired pieces, but I don't think functional pieces would be too great for cleaning/sanitzing. I fired some in a low fire with low fire glazes and they worked fine.
Karen
Martin Howard on tue 20 nov 01
Cathi, first read the book on Single Firing by Fran Tristram.
1 If you create a glaze with about 20 percent or more clay then you are
on the path towards single firing.
It's not easy to slip the inside, return to leather, slip the outside,
return to leather, then glaze and still keep the pot whole. If you have
handles or spouts then you need to learn how to slip and or glaze at bone
dry. Spraying at leather is an option I am about to follow. The bone dry
option is not an easy route, but possible. Many do it. It seems to depend on
the clay, slip and glaze being just the right match for that method.
2 Throwing more weight. Keep a straight line from elbow, down the
forearm, through the fleshy base of the left thumb, through to the centre of
the ball on the wheel.
You can then make the clay centre and rise up just with that left hand. Use
the right vertically down on the tower of clay to lower it. Do this about
three times with each ball of clay. The secret is keeping that straight line
from elbow through the base of thumb to centre of ball. Move the hand around
a bit and you will find just the right point. Depart from it and centring
becomes a nightmare!
3 Putting air in, taking air out? Sell your baking and buy a pugmill.
Then forget kneading clay.
Martin Howard
Webbs Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
01371 850 423
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
This web-site is being updated NOW!
Ron Roy on tue 20 nov 01
Hi Cthi,
How to say this so it does not appear silly - I'll just say it - just take
my word for it.
Centering and throwing is (for the most part) upper body work. I used to do
some weight lifting - made my best progress after that. Pushups should and
chinups should work. Isometrics work well and you can do em anywhere. Palm
to palm and push together chest high for instance.
It's not all physical of course - throwing cylinders - one pull only and
cutting in half till you can keep the walls even from top to bottom is
excellent.
Learning to throw with as little lubrication as possible is important with
larger ware - slip is better than water - and getting it on evenly.
In the end - getting mad once in a while is helpful - Twisting the clay
from too much pressure once in a while gives you a new perspective on how
much you can get away with - as your skill improves you can use more
strength.
RR
>Second, I think I'm ready to increase the amount of clay I want to throw.
>Currently I'm throwing a chunk about the size of a pregnant softball.
>I cannot *imagine* how some folks center anything much larger! Any tips?
Ron Roy
RR# 4
15084 Little Lake Rd..
Brighton,
Ontario, Canada
KOK 1H0
Residence 613-475-9544
Studio 613-475-3715
Fax 613-475-3513
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