ClayCraft #49

welcome

As I write, the announcement that the Covid restrictions will start lifting in April is such a relief. During the lockdowns and tier regulations, the importance of online marketing and promotion for businesses – and small, creative businesses in particular – came to the fore. Unable to have physical contact with customers, the next best thing is to interact online. It may well have been something you were already doing as part of an ongoing marketing strategy, but to stay engaged with customers you hope will return once you reopen, you need to be speaking to them regularly. If we can help you get back up and running by promoting your events, sale, shows etc, on our news pages, in listings and on our social media, please do let us know.…

throw down round-up

It’s been an exciting few weeks on the show, with a couple of surprise eliminations. In week 6, the potters were working with terracotta. The main build was a trio of cooking wares – a chicken brick, a tagine and a lidded casserole. The size and weight of these meant that the drying time was an issue, and the firings were mostly very disappointing, with multiple blowouts. The spot test was a tile frieze. Sal was Potter of the Week, and Shenyue left the show. Week 7 featured a lifelike animal water feature, 70-80cm tall, and a strawberry planter made with 10kg clay. The firing was an improvement on the previous week, but Henry had issues with his construction, and despite having won the strawberry pot challenge, he was the next…

thrown bird bath

DIFFICULTY RATING IMPORTANT – it may seem obvious, but the given proportions only work if your kiln can accommodate the size of the parts (the dish being the largest). You may have to scale the size down to fit your kiln if it won’t fit. Read all the instructions before you begin, to check for scale You will need: Clay weight total – 7.7kg (17lb) plus 2.3kg (5lb) for batt pad Finished height 40cm – bath dish width 35cm Clay – stoneware (best for outdoors) Note – softer clay will be easier to work with on this larger scale than hard clay so maybe start with a new bag Tools for throwing – water bowl, sponge, ribs 3 large wooden batts, including one wide enough to take your planned water bowl upside down (see…

spotlight on: mkm pottery tools

MKM Pottery Tools was established in 2003 by Rick McKinney. Rick’s initial set of tools was developed in his studio for his personal use and weren’t available for sale elsewhere. It was the development of the Decorating Disk, the innovative Throwing Tools, and the broad range of wood ribs that really launched the business. Rick thought the Decorating Disk, a universal pottery template, was a good idea, but didn’t have the ability to screenprint or work with acrylic sheets. So he had some made up for him, thinking he would sell what he didn’t need. Years later, Rick is still selling his Decorating Disk and many other tools, as well. From the beginning, MKM has specialised in bringing innovative tools to the market that were not readily available to the potter. Why…

linda bloomfield zinc oxide in glazes

Bristol glazes containing zinc oxide were invented in 1835 in Bristol, England, to replace toxic lead glazes and salt firing, where salt was thrown into the kiln to produce a pitted, glazed surface. It was used to glaze stoneware ginger beer bottles and flagons, typically in a two-tone effect with brown at the top and clear at the bottom, sometimes stamped with the ginger beer maker’s name. Bristol glazes use both zinc oxide and calcium oxide to form a eutectic, a mixture of materials that melts at a lower temperature than either of the pure materials. The calcium is usually supplied by whiting or wollastonite, a calcium silicate. Zinc oxide will also form a eutectic with other alkaline earth fluxes, magnesium, barium and strontium. Dentists used to use eutectics of…

oya/olla

DIFFICULTY RATING Before you begin: We are using a plaster mould here to make the body of the oya. We’ve used a globe-shaped mould, but you could use any symmetrical shape that will allow for two halves to be joined together – it is simply a receptacle for water, so shape really is irrelevant. It won’t be seen because it will be buried up to its neck underground. You can find instructions for making a half globe shape by visiting claycraft.co.uk/how-to/oya t should be noted that these vessels can be made in any size – including miniature versions to keep your houseplants watered. You will need: Red earthenware clay Plaster mould Rolling pin, roller guides, plastic sheet Small texturing tool. See the wonderful range MKM tools has to offer – you will want them…