Monday, April 8, 2013

Lions, Tigers, and PLATES warping...Oh my!



I'm trying my hand at making some decorative plates and they've been so much fun to experiment with! However, the fear sets in, will they WARP in the final glaze fire?  So I've done my research and have executed my mode of action in efforts to eliminate warping this time around. I'll never forget what my college ceramics instructor, Nancy Ache, would say over and over--"Clay has memory!", and it's so true! If you bend your clay when wet, it increases the risk that it will remember the slightest little fold, thus reverting back to those little bends and folds during bisque or glaze firings. So with that in mind, let's dive into the process I'm working with for this round of plate experiments.

After throwing, I decorated my plates while they were still on the wheel, with decals and slip trailing techniques. Then I CAREFULLY run my wire through and sit them outside to stiffen up a little bit. I was careful to not let them get too dry, especially the rims. The goal is to promote EVEN drying throughout the clay body, not letting the rim dry before the middle of the plate. Even and slow drying is said to be key to  prevent warping.




After trimming the bottom of my plates, I placed them in a plastic covering with rice-filled socks on top of them. The plastic creates a slower drying environment while the rice-filled socks distribute even weight to help warp prevention. It is said that two weeks is a good amount of time to dry plates thoroughly and slowly.

That's it for now! Hopefully these steps taken will lead to a nicely finished work of art. Stay inspired and keep your hands in the clay! Don't forget to visit Mud Colony and Clay Buddies for more pottery fun and techniques.