Booklet on ceramics pottery

Booklet on ceramics pottery

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  Demonstrated by Ceramic ArtistS.Potrarasan, MFA in Ceramics from Govt.College of Fine Arts Egmore,Chennai Photography by Jaikumar Ranganathan Compiled by Jaikumar Ranganathan M.Des in Industrial Design IDC IIT Bombay Supported by Mrs.Janaki Subramanian Founder Expressions Art Studio And Activity Centre,Chennai
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  The “Ceramic Pottery" is designed for the beginner as a step by step guide to making ceramics. This guide is designed to give you the most basic techniques and some tips. Each Guide has illustrations as well as text to explain each step. A beginners guide to the art of ceramics 1. Pinch Pottery 2. Coil Pottery 3. Slab Technique used to create cube 4. Throwing * Making of Saucer * Making of Cylinder * Making of Bowl * Making of Cup List of techniques covered in this guide booklet ‘Clay is unique in its ability to be moulded by hand into objects of beauty that become permanent when exposed to great heat. This wonderful natural material allows artists to create both functional and purely decorative work, the possibilities are more or less endless. Nowadays We are fortunate in being able to draw on a store of knowledge passed down through the centuries, which is continually being added with new experiments and technical developments.’ - Marylin Scott
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  Preparation of Clay Whetherwe use a handbuilding or wheel-based Technique, we first need to ensure an even consistency Throughout the clay’s mass. This involves physically Coaxing the clay into a homogenous state by wedging and kneading. A pugmill can be used for this process, dispensing with the need to wedge and knead the clay by hand,but many still prefer to wedge and knead after pugging to ensure that the clay particles are evenly aligned. A clay mass with an uneven consistency that Has not been prepared well will be almost impossible to throw on the wheel. The cut the clay with wire to check for lumps, air pockets and foreign bodies and if still uneven continue to knead, turning the clay by 45 * before resuming
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  Pinch Pottery Making ofBowl by pinching of clay Preparation of clay Begin with a ball of clay Push your thumb into the center. Then pinch up the walls. Turn the piece as you pinch. This will help you to keep an even thickness in the walls of the piece. Finishing the rim of the bowl Finished bowl by pinching Bigger Bowl made by Pinch Pottery Gently pat the bottom on a flat surface to create a flat spot on the bottom of the piece.
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  Coil Pottery Making pencilstand by coil Technique Cutting out the baseMake a circular slab Base of the pencil stand When hand rolling coils, use a smooth surface and spreading your hands to apply even pressure. Gently roll the clay back and forth. Apply slip on to the base Roll the first layer of coil Cutting of the coil Apply slip-after each layer of coil Finished pencil Stand by coil Technique Rolling the coil After completely rolling the coil finish the top rim of the coil
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  Slab technique-Making ofCube Spreading the clay Rolling out the clay Cutting the slabs Remove the unwanted Parts of the slab Measure and cut the required number of squares Let the clay firm-up and separate the squares Make measurements and cut the edges of the squares at an Angle of 45* and score or scratch the edges of the square slabs Apply the slip and fix the square slab Apply slip to all the edges of the cut square slabs and join the slabs the Raise the walls of the cube Apply slip and close the top slab of the cube and Smoothen the edges and give the finishing touches to the cube Finished cube made by Slab technique
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  Tools required forThrowing A round, moist lump of clay body is thrown down onto the wheel head or a bat attached to it. The lump is made even and forced to the centre of the wheel by applying pressure with the hands. The thrower finds the center of the clay by moving a thumb across the lump until no more friction is felt. The thumb is pressed into the center of the lump, stopping about 5 mm from the wheel head. The hole thus made is widened. The sides thus defined are pulled up and made thinner by pressure between the hands. The vessel is shaped, and the mouth is smoothed. The vessel is cut from the wheel head with a cheese wire and left to stiffen. Sometimes the stiffened vessel is inverted on the wheel and trimmed with a sharp tool. Techniques of throwing 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 89 10 1 Ribbon tool 2 Brush 3 Roller 4 Ruler 5 Sponge 6 Wire 7 Compass 8 NT Cutter 9 Comb tooth Blade 10 Electric Potter’s wheel
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  Throwing-Centring-Making of Saucer Firstweigh the clay to be used for making the Saucer Throw the clay to the wheel Centring - force the clay to the centre of the wheel by applying pressure with the hands Press and Push the hand outwards Flattening- Top hand compresses and widens the clay, the fingertips of the hand underneath control its growth. Finishing the top Surface of the saucer Finishing the rim of the saucer Dry the saucer till leatherhard and cut the saucer with wire Dry the saucer completely Trimming the saucer on the base and on the top of the saucer to finish the saucer
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  Making of Cylinderby Throwing Hollow and Levelling Opening out outwards Lifting up the wall Lifting up the wall Levelling the wall with the ruler Levelling the rim of the cylinder Allow the cylinder to Dry- leatherhard Wire tool used for cutting The cylinder from wheel base Cut the completed Cylinder using wire To check uniform Wall thickness while learning cut the cylinder vertical at the centre from the wheel base using wire tool
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  Making of Bowlby Throwing Finishing with ruler Finishing the rim Cut the finished bowl Final lifting of bowlPulling the bowl outwards Lifting the bowl Centring - force the clay to the centre of the wheel by applying pressure with the hands Opening with thumb finger Levelling the rim Levelling the wall Lifting the wall of the cylinder pushing the top of the cylinder outwards
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  Making of Cupby Throwing Throw the clay to the wheel Centring - force the clay to the centre of the wheel by applying pressure with the hands Opening out Levelling the rim Levelling the wall of the cylinder Lifting the wall Shaping the cup Finishing with ruler Shaping of cup Cut out excess height with needle Finish the Rim Cut the finished cup with wire tool Make handle by Slab technique Fix the handle with clay slurry and slip Finished cup
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  For information andenquiry Contact Mrs.Janaki Subramanian Expressions Art Studio and Activity Centre, 75,2nd Street, Karpagam Avenue, R.A.Puram, Chennai 600028. Ph:9444033348/42067327 Mr.S. Potrarasan MFA ceramics Email Id: [email protected] Mobile No: 9840672154 Ceramic Artist at Lalit Kala academy, chennai Heading the ceramic Studio at Dakshinachitra Teaching art students at Expression Art Studio, Chennai