Hands On Workshop February 1 & 2 2025
WORKSHOP TIMES
Saturday 10-4 (studio opens at 9AM)
Sunday 10-4 (studio opens at 9AM)
Lunch should be eaten outside of studio. 1p-1:45P
WHAT YOU NEED
#16 Porcelain or Frost ^5
Small Paint Brushes
Basic Tool Kit
Exact o Knife or Scalpel
Corn Starch
Surface to cut on
A piece of a Pillow Case2 Pack Continuous Spray Bottles - Ultra Fine Mist Sprayer | Water Spray Bottle For Hair Mister Spray Bottle | Hair Spray Bottles For Hairstyling, Cleaning, Salons - 2pk 6.8 OZ / 200 ML (amazon)
Using Soft Slabs
Most of my work starts as thin, hand-rolled slabs. Slabs for these bottles are about ⅛ inch (3 mm) thick. I use a mid-range commercial porcelain that fires to a warm, translucent white in an electric kiln. It can be finicky to work with, prone to cracking, and at times, has a mind of its own, but I have come to respect its temperamental nature and am motivated with every success.
I use the clay straight from the bag without wedging and roll slabs onto a piece of tightly woven cotton. Keeping the slabs consistent is important when working thin, so I use metal rulers as guide sticks to keep the slabs even in thickness (1). Slabs are then smoothed and compressed on both sides, using a stiff metal scraper (I use a flour scraper) or metal rib.