The Process 

          The beautiful porcelain and stoneware pieces you see  here 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 following is an overview of the process.  Please check throwing and following pages for a more detailed explanation.

          The potter first wedges or 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 are applied to center the clay.  Yes, this takes practice!!  Once the clay is centered, it will be opened by creating a depression in the center and then 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 allowed to dry to the leather hard stage.  Then it is trimmed and various types of decoration may be applied.  The piece is now set aside to dry completely.

          Unless the pot goes through the fire, it remains fragile, easily broken, and of little use.  During the first firing, the greenware (unfired clay) is slowly raised to the desired temperature and all the remaining water is 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 firing reaches a final temperature of nearly 2200^o F.  During this firing, the clay matures to dense stone and the glaze chemically bonds with the clay, resulting in finished ware which is durable, chip-resistant, and waterproof.

          The glaze and decoration, which first greet the eye, give color, texture, and the artist’s distinctive signature to her work.