Hand built and wheel thrown mugs
I like a very large cup of coffee in the morning and because of this and some other criteria, I’ve set out on a quest to make mugs that I would like to use. I have about 4 different mug styles that I’ve made in the past 3-4 weeks and am anxious to see which ones sell the best at the Colorado Potters Guild Sale in early November. I think this will be great feedback – the market is always a fair judge, don’t you think?
This is one of those designs that I conceived during an insomnia laced night last week and I’m still working on the size. The mugs are huge. I’m not sure how many ounces of liquid each will hold, but I’m guessing that they’ll hold over a pint. Yesterday I made some smaller versions and trimmed an inch off the hand built section of the mug.
Slab built stacked vase
Some ideas are better than others and this one falls into the latter category. It’s okay, but didn’t thrill me once I finished constructing the vase.
Slab built vase with thrown neck
So, I took the same idea and basic shape and added a wheel thrown neck to make a better design. I like this a lot better; however, when I showed it to my husband he wasn’t very enthusiastic. The design and shape probably need to be tweaked a bit. After I looked at the vase on my computer screen this morning, I thought that it might look nice with a narrower bottle like neck. I’ll try that today. I’m using my Lid Master Caliper to gauge the width of the neck, but have been throwing it slightly wider than the hand built base so I’ll have to work out a system to get the wheel thrown section just the right size.
I am excited about the size and height of the vase. I have a hard time throwing more than 5 lbs of clay at a time and it’s hard for me to get any great height using porcelain clay. I used a white stoneware clay for these pieces and I forgot how groggy the clay is. Talk about multi tasking – I’m throwing and exfoliating my hands at the same time. 
I roll my slabs old school with a rolling pin with 1/4
This photo and the next are for Linda, who recently started taking a clay class in England. I don’t have a slab roller in my studio and roll my slabs with a large over sized rolling pin on canvas. I use a rubber rib to smooth out the canvas marks.
My favorite rib - I use it when I throw on the wheel and to smooth and compress slabs
My favorite ribs are flexible plastic ones from Sherrill – they come in 4 different colors which correspond to how firm or soft a rib is. The green one is fairly firm, but not the firmest one in the bunch. I use the green one when I’m throwing on the wheel or when I’m smoothing and compressing slabs of clay.
Meanwhile, I only have until the end of this week to make work for the sale in November. I don’t think I’ll make it to the 105 allowable pots and will realistically have closer to 70-75. I am going to continue making work though since the holidays are fast approaching.
Have a great week,
~Cynthia
11 Responses to “New Greenware Handbuilt and Wheel Thrown”
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I just love those fat handles that I believe you picked up from an earlier workshop. Are they comfy in the hand? Regarding the thrown neck on that slab built vase…I think the idea of a narrow bottle-ish neck would look great. Alternatively, maybe just a neck that is slightly more narrow, but shorter would balance the pot a bit. As pictured above, the neck looks like it is weighing down the pot. How would one more section look on that stacked vase; i.e. a narrow opening rather than wide??
The mugs are pretty comfy to hold – I haven’t actually glazed one yet, so it could be a different story. I should fire one in my test kiln for kicks and giggles. I think for the next batch of mugs, I’m going to pull some handles and see if that helps.
I’m also going to take your suggestion and try a smaller stack on top of the vase base and a narrower neck. That would be pretty interesting looking.
I think you’re right too about the top weighing down the bottom too – back to the drawing board…
I’m sort of looking forward to the push for making work for the sale to end so I can really begin experimenting in earnest without regard for saleability.
Wow, those tall mugs in the first photo look like some pretty serious coffee mugs!! I really like them! Hmm… I bet my Mum would too – the larger the mug the better for her!
Thanks for the photo’s (and the link!) Cynthia. There are slab rollers? It’s amazing what equipment is available these days. I’m going to have a go at making my own templates – I have two weeks before my next class and I don’t want to lose the groove! So hopefully preparing for future projects will help keep me focused.
Does throwing with groggy clay make your hands sore, or is it quite fine?
cool… higher and higher…
Hi Cynthia, I really like the slab built stacked vase, the asymetrical look of it – it has the hint of a human form to it. I could see one more section added to the top just like the bottom section, but upside down. Those mugs look real stable, I could picture them sitting on the console of a car and not falling over.
I don’t smooth my clay with a rib, but I am using a slab roller, but maybe I should try. It might help with cracking in the glaze firing. I had one large crack on a platter in this last firing and haven’t usually had that problem and of course it was the one platter I didn’t want to crack.
Linda U. – I think there’s just about any tool you can imagine to make production faster! There are portable slab rollers, full size free standing ones and the Colorado Potters Guild even has an electric one! Throwing with groggy clay is just different. I used a groggy stoneware clay to learn how to throw – it’s very forgiving and can take quite a lot of abuse. Porcelain is different – very soft and no grog whatsoever. I’ve hear people say, “it’s like throwing with cream cheese.” Since I’ve been using porcelain for several years to throw, it’s a bit different switching to stoneware. But, for handbuilding, stoneware is more forgiving.
Linda S. – Thanks – maybe another stack is needed, or even varying the size of the stacks. I’ll have to play with it some more. I was taught to use a rib to compress my slabs – helps with warping and cracking. But, you also need to switch directions of clay when you’re rolling it so that the clay platelets get moving in different directions. Isn’t that the way it goes – ie. cracking favorite pieces?
The stacked vase is awesome!
Thanks so much for sharing your work and your process Cynthia. It reminds me that, even though I work solo, I can still apply a critical eye and question the how/why of things. Your ability to do self-critique, as well as put it out there to fellow bloggers, is really inspiring and I can see how it is beneficial.
The mugs are so interesting. The combination of hand/wheel thrown parts and stamped/smooth surfaces is intriguing. They just demand to be looked at! I think the handle placement is also very cool.
I also like tall vase and think you’re right-on with going with a narrower neck.
Patricia – Sometimes, ideas seem much better in my head or on paper, but I know I have to push myself and I also like getting
good and badconstructive feedback. I miss that aspect of working in a communal studio. I wish I had felt inspired to do this type of experimentation in August and September, but I wasn’t feeling it then. I subbed yesterday and I’m chaperoning a field trip today – I can hardly wait to get back in the studio tomorrow! I’m going to try some more vases sizes and shapes along with different types of necks.I love the slab vase w/thrown neck.
I’ve been throwing a similar type form and it’s hard to get all those proportions and curves right, so I can sympathize.
I also LOVE my Sherrill ribs. I think I’d be lost without them at this point.
Brian – I know what you mean about the Sherrill ribs – I won’t loan them to anyone! I was just reading that they’re actually designed to get better with use and become burnished through use.