Slab Built Clay Projects
Lino-Cut Printed Covered Box
I finished the lino-cut printed box on Wednesday and sort of like how it turned out. When I make another, I plan on making the feet larger because I would like to see it raised up just a tad more. I also incorporated the printed flower motif into the knob which works – after bisque firing, it will be decision time in regards to glaze firing since this is always a stumper for me.
In the meantime, I borrowed a Bill van Gilder DVD from the Colorado Potters Guild library about a week ago. The video was produced in 2008 by the Jackson Pottery & Clay Guild and the Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History and is titled Bill van Gilder The Functional Pot: Tips, Tools & Techniques. I haven’t watched the entire video yet, but based on what I have watched, Bill has some excellent tips and techniques that he shares with viewers. I think I’d like him in real life – he seems genuine and down to earth.
Slab Bowl with Stamps
This shallow Square shaped bowl is one of the projects that he shares on the DVD – easy to make, and is endlessly customizable to suit one’s style. I just happened to have some rubber stamps sitting around to test adding texture to the project. I rolled out a slab about 8″ square and then centered the slab over a 2″ block of wood. Where it dried inverted until it was leather hard.
Side View of Slab Bowl
The side view of the bowl is pretty dramatic since I gave this a fairly wide rim. I did use stoneware clay in the hopes that the rim won’t slump during glaze firing – but I suppose the results of this experiment will dictate the rim size for future bowls. I also added feet to the base to raise it off the table top ever so slightly.
Oval Slab Bowl with Handles
This oval shaped bowl was also a project that he demoed in the video – and I just happened to have a form that I was able to use to mimic his project. I added hollow shaped slab handles to each end. I can’t remember if he added handles to his or not – he might have used coil handles since he demoed that technique quite a bit in the video.
Oval Slab Bowl with Handles Side View
After taking this photo, I adjusted the height of the left handle to match the right one which sits at a lower angle. Sometimes, my eyes don’t see what the camera does and vice versa. I debated whether to add feet, or a rolled foot to the base, but I knew that I wanted to raise it off the table surface for glazing purposes. When I’ve made slab bowls in the past, that’s one thing I’ve wanted to correct because when there’s a flat expanse in contact with a table top or kiln shelf, it makes glazing a pain in the behind.
Now, I really have to run. My daughter in interviewing at the Denver Center for International Studies this morning for middle school and we don’t want to be late….
Have a great weekend,
~Cynthia
