FROM A LUMP OF CLAY TO AN EATING BOWL
My sister Merrilyn, who is a potter in Idaho, wrote this to display with her work at art shows. I couldn't have said it any better...
The beautiful stoneware pieces you see before you bear little resemblance to the clay they originated from weeks and months ago. Many changes occur during the journey from lump of clay to the finished piece on your table.
The potter first kneads the clay to remove any air bubbles and to insure that the consistency is uniform throughout. Then the ball of clay is literally "thrown" onto the wheel and water and pressure is applied to center the clay. Once the clay is centered, it will be opened by creating a depression in the center and slowly bringing the edge out to widen the hole. Now the sides may be pulled and teased upward into whatever shape the potter chooses. The finished piece is set aside to dry to the leather hard stage, when it will be trimmed and decoration applied. The piece is now set aside to dry completely.
Unless the pot goes through the fire, it will remain fragile, easily broken, and of little use. During the first firing, the greenware is slowly raised to the desired temperature and all the remaining water driven off. The bisque ware which emerges from the first firing is less fragile than unfired clay, but is still relatively unusable until glaze is applied and the piece is fired a second time.
The glaze and decoration give color, texture, and the artist’s distinctive signature to his work.