Working with Clay

1. Working with Clay The Process Store Bisque Fire Glaze Fire Wedge Work Dry bone dry Glaze (carve) leather hard Greenware Bisqueware CERAMIC WARE

2. Working with Clay The Process Wedge – removes air and creates homogeneous clay body Work – clay needs to remain moist when working it may be necessary to add little bits of water while working Store - when putting a work in progress away, lightly spray with water and cover with plastic to seal in moisture Re-work - you may continue to rework a piece as long as it remains moist Dry - 1. leather hard - in this state, the work may be carved, but not molded or sculpted 2. bone dry – completely dry and ready to be fired Fire - work is fired in the kiln to remove all moisture Glaze - application of color (composed of glass, flux and clay) Fire - work is fired in the kiln to fuse the glaze to the clay

3. Working with Clay Terminology Greenware – clay that is being worked Leather Hard – the interim drying stage when greenware may be carved or trimmed Bone Dry - greenware that is completely dry and ready to be fired Ware Board - planks of wood used to store ceramics work in progress Slip - a mixture of clay and water used to attach clay bodies Bisque - work that has been fired once, but not yet glazed (bisque fired, bisqueware) Kiln - the oven that is used to fire greenware and bisqueware Fire - the process of heating clay to high temperatures Bisque Fire – to remove all excess moisture from greenware Glaze Fire – to fuse the glaze to the bisqueware