The Hand-Thrown Pottery Process

Throwing is the term used for creating pots on a wheel.
Each piece is an original work created by hand. I do not use any molds in my work.

From Lump of Clay to Finished Pot:

1. Wedging - Preparing the clay; by “kneading” it into balls to eliminate air bubbles.

2. Centering - The clay must be perfectly centered on the wheel, otherwise the pot will be
    wobbly and uneven.

3. Throwing - Various techniques are used for various shapes.

4. Drying (Part 1) - The pot is then left to dry - slightly - to a consistency called “leather
    hard”. This is a workable consistency, between wet and dry.

5. Trimming - At the leather hard stage, the pot is flipped upside down and excess clay is
    trimmed away to create the “foot” of the pot.

6. Applying handles - If a a handle is added, it must be “pulled” ahead of time and allowed
    to dry at the same rate as the pot, so the two parts can be joined with the clay at the
    same consistency. Neither pot nor handle can dry faster than the other, or the joint will
    be unstable.

7. Drying (Part 2)- The pots then air dry until all moisture has evaporated. At this level the
    pots are “bone dry” and are called “greenware”. Depending on the ambient humidity
    and temperature, this step can be fast or slow.

8. Bisque Fire - The greenware is placed in the kiln for the first firing, called a “bisque
    firing”. It is a slow firing for 13.5 hours, to a temperature of 1945º F. The pots go from
    a raw or greenware state to a fragile porous state.

9. Glazing - Pottery requires special paint called glaze. The process of painting the pots is
    called glazing. Glazes can be purchased or mixed from recipes. I use only commercially
    prepared, food-safe glazes in my work.

10. Glaze Fire - At the final stage, the pots are re-fired for 7 hours at 2167º F, which
      vitrifies the pot.

After this final firing, the results of the multiple steps can be appreciated. Sometimes the pieces don’t survive the entire process, but when they do, it is extremely rewarding. I hope you enjoy my work, as much as I enjoy making it. Each piece is microwave and dishwasher safe unless otherwise noted. To use pottery in an oven, you must place it in the oven while it is pre-heating, so you won’t shock the pot with extreme temperatures.