cut out the base about 2 cm wider on all sides than the bisque mold
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)
apply pressure with your hands gently to make the clay conform to the mold, starting from the centre and moving outward
use the silicone rib to compress the clay onto the mold
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
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
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
Cut out the 2 pieces for the walls
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
mark a circle on the base where the footring will be placed
cut a piece of clay that is 1.5 cm or more thick and long enough to form the footring
place the strip on the base in a circle to make sure it is the right size
D. OPTION: Make Feet
roll a coil about 2 cm in diameter
cut a piece of the coil about 5 cm long
cut two more pieces of coil the same size as the first
roll each piece in your hands into a ball
squeeze each ball - if there are cracks, smooth them away with vinegar and compression
wrap the feet in plastic
E. Add Texture
press texture into the wall pieces and the footring with the roulette or with fabric and the rolling pin.
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.
If making feet, roll each one over the roulette or fabric, then wrap in plastic
STEPS TO ASSEMBLE THE PIECES
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.
place the walls end to end with the edges that will form lip of the bowl facing in the same direction
join the side walls with an overlapping joint (score and slip, then press with a stamp)
measure where to cut the walls to the right length to wrap around the whole base
place the wall in position on the base starting with the wall joint, but leave the unjoined ends of the wall unattached
make sure the wall is in the right place, then apply gentle pressure to attach it to the base, still leaving the ends unattached
score and slip the wall ends
join the wall ends and base together
add more texture where the wall joins the base to firmly attach them
attach feet or footring (if adding feet, make sure to deeply score the clay)
sign the bottom
bend side walls away from the mold
turn the bowl over
remove the mold
add decorative texture to the remaining wall joint
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)
use the throwing stick to blend the base into the wall on the inside of the bowl, and smooth with damp sponge
OPTION: add curve to wall by stretching the clay out with the wood spoon while supporting the wall from the outside
