The first step in the creative process involves shaping the piece on the potter’s wheel. As the wheel turns the clay is centered, opened and raised. Once the piece is thinned the final shaping is done. The piece is then left to dry until it reaches the “leather hard” stage, when the next step is completed. The piece is turned upside down and trimmed with sharp tools. This is what gives the bottom of the piece a unique and finished look. It is also the stage where handles can be added and spouts can be formed.
After the piece is completely dry it is placed in the kiln and fired to 1880 degrees Fahrenheit. This firing is called the bisque firing. Before the firing it looks a lot like sand, but after twenty hours in the kiln, it comes out looking more like a rock. Hard but still porous, the clay is ready to be glazed.
Glazing is when you put a layer of glass onto the surface of the clay. Glaze comes in the form of raw materials that are mixed with water. Each glaze recipe is different and has its own formula. In order to get the glaze onto the piece, you dip it in the glaze slurry and then wait for it to dry. When it dries it turns into a layer of powder on the surface of the bisqueware.
Finally the piece is ready for the second firing. The kiln atmosphere reaches approximately 2200 degrees, hot enough for the glaze to melt and adhere to the piece.
