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VIDEO LIBRARY

Bowl using a Hump Mold

STEPS TO MAKE THE PIECES
A. Make the Base
  1. cut out the base about 2 cm wider on all sides than the bisque mold
  2. position clay on the bisque hump mold:     a. place circle of clay on a bat
       b. place the mold in the centre 
       c. flip it over and place upside down
           on top of an upside down yogurt
           container (or a jam jar)
  3. apply pressure with your hands gently to make the clay conform to the mold, starting from the centre and moving outward 
  4. use the silicone rib to compress the clay onto the mold
  5. with the yumi (wire harp) held so the wire is parallel to the table, slice off the excess clay even with the edge of the mold
  6. with the yumi held on an angle so the wire is about 45 degrees to the table, cut off clay along the edge of the mold
  7. smooth the clay with the silicone rib so the clay wall do longer has a ridge from the angle cut with the yumi wire.

B. Make the Walls
  1. Cut out the 2 pieces for the walls 
  2. Use a damp sponge to smooth the edge that will form the lip of the bowl on both sides of both wall pieces.

C. OPTION: Make the Footring 
  1. mark a circle on the base where the footring will be placed
  2. cut a piece of clay that is 1.5 cm or more thick and long enough to form the footring
  3. place the strip on the base in a circle to make sure it is the right size

D. OPTION: Make Feet
  1. roll a coil about 2 cm in diameter
  2. cut a piece of the coil about 5 cm long
  3. cut two more pieces of coil the same size as the first
  4. roll each piece in your hands into a ball
  5. squeeze each ball - if there are cracks, smooth them away with vinegar and compression
  6. wrap the feet in plastic

E. Add Texture
  1. press texture into the wall pieces and the footring with the roulette or with fabric and the rolling pin.
  2. if the pieces have become distorted, re-cut them using the pattern or a ruler as a guide. It is important the foot ring is of uniform height.
  3. If making feet, roll each one over the roulette or fabric, then wrap in plastic
STEPS TO ASSEMBLE THE PIECES
  1. if using transfers of coloured slip to decorate the bowl, prepare the transfers now and they will be ready by the time the bowl is assembled.
  2. place the walls end to end with the edges that will form lip of the bowl facing in the same direction
  3. join the side walls with an overlapping joint (score and slip, then press with a stamp)
  4. measure where to cut the walls to the right length to wrap around the whole base
  5. place the wall in position on the base starting with the wall joint, but leave the unjoined ends of the wall unattached
  6. make sure the wall is in the right place, then apply gentle pressure to attach it to the base, still leaving the ends unattached
  7. score and slip the wall ends 
  8. join the wall ends and base together
  9. add more texture where the wall joins the base to firmly attach them 
  10. attach feet or footring
    (if adding feet, make sure to deeply score the clay)
  11. sign the bottom
  12. bend side walls away from the mold
  13. turn the bowl over
  14. remove the mold
  15. add decorative texture to the remaining wall joint
  16. on the inside of the bowl, apply slip to the base where it meets the walls (this is to soften the clay on the base that has stiffened from contact with the bisque mold)
  17. use the throwing stick to blend the base into the wall on the inside of the bowl, and smooth with damp sponge 
  18. OPTION: add curve to wall by stretching the clay out with the wood spoon while supporting the wall from the outside
Make the pieces for a bowl
Assemble the pieces
Picture
​© Waterloo Potters' Workshop 2023
  • Home
  • Classes
    • Online Courses >
      • Wheel II (e-Clay)
      • Handbuilding (e-Clay)
    • Adult Classes
    • Children's Classes
    • Online Instructional videos
  • FAQ
  • Contact
  • Our Pottery
    • Outreach
    • Subscribe
  • About
    • Join
    • Our Potters' Work
  • Sales and Events
    • Fall Sale
    • Spring Sale
    • Empty Bowls
    • Celebrate Summer
    • Earthborn
  • Blog
  • Members Only
    • Member list and job descriptions
    • Documents
    • Membership Renewal
    • Sale Registration
    • Member education
    • Facility and Kilns >
      • Staffing
      • Booking a Room
      • Electric Kilns
      • Gas Kiln
      • PAYMENTS
      • STAFFING calendar
      • House Glazes
      • Library