No Kiln, Handbuilding Clay Projects E-Book

Charlotte Vannier

• Herausgeber: Fox Chapel Publishing
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Seitenzahl: 79

Beschreibung

If you've ever wanted to get started in the craft of clay making, No Kiln, Handbuilding Clay Projects is the perfect place to start -- no kiln, wheel, or lathe needed! A complete, beginner-friendly guide that explains everything you need to know, this is an exciting resource that's filled with insight on setting up a workshop space, different tools and clays, common terms to know, and other clay making basics. From there, more than 50 elegant but simple clay projects for the home -- ranging from candlesticks and flower vases to plates, cutting boards, lidded jars, jugs, and more -- are featured with step-by-step instructions and stunning photography. Also included are tons of decorative technique tutorials for modeling, coiling, printing, stamping, mixing, and tinting. Combining simple skills with an elevated design aesthetic, this craft book is a must-have for any maker and DIYer looking to try something new, easy, affordable, and fun!

Leseprobe

Many thanks to the company, Pébéo, who provided all the materials used in this book, and to my editors, Aude and Anne-Lise, who have once again trusted me with this ambitious project. Finally, I would like to thank my grandfather, the sculptor and ceramic artist, Olivier Pettit, for passing on to me his passion for clay.

Copyright © 2023 by Charlotte Vannier and Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc., 903 Square Street, Mount Joy, PA 17552.

All rights reserved. No Kiln, Handbuilding Clay Projects is a translated edition of the 2022 version originally published by Éditions Eyrolles under the title Argile sans tour et sans four in France. This English edition was published in 2023 by Fox Chapel Publishing.

Argile sans tour et sans four

Copyright © 2022, Éditions Eyrolles, Paris, France

Print ISBN 978-1-4971-0406-8

eISBN 978-1-6374-1269-5

The Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file with the Library of Congress.

To learn more about the other great books from Fox Chapel Publishing, or to find a retailer near you, call toll-free 800-457-9112 or visit us at www.FoxChapelPublishing.com.

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PREFACE

Now more than ever, ceramics and pottery are back in the spotlight and are becoming popular amongst a wide group of people. Perceived as being obsolete for a while, these ancestral arts, practiced by our Neolithic forefathers, are now dominating both designers' studios and our homes. Terracotta charms us with its handmade appearance and poetic imperfections. This material’s ability to produce unique pieces is also appealing—it is a return to the slow life, where people take the time to make what they need or want and move away from the trend of industrial consumption.

Excessive industrialization is creating a desire for many consumers to return to their roots. They bake their own bread, create a vegetable garden on their balcony, and make their own pottery. Ceramic and pottery workshops are springing up in major cities to the delight of novices wishing to learn how to work with clay. The saying “take your time” has never had as much value as it does today. In a world that moves faster every day, many people are seeking or rediscovering activities that are soothing, safe, environmentally friendly, and rewarding. This activity, which some people call “hand yoga,” has an anti-stress effect, similar to yoga or knitting. Our minds are captivated by the movements and our inner restlessness is quieted. And while we are plunging our hands into the clay, our creativity is in full swing, allowing pottery and ceramics designs that are as unique as they are dreamlike to emerge from the material. Restoring meaning to our dematerialized world is another quest pursued by “neo-potters” and makers who bring traditional craft techniques back to life. Avoiding the use of polluting materials and favoring natural, ecological ones, moving away from mass industry, and going back to traditional jobs to take control of what we consume (i.e., the origin, the composition, or the ethical/non-ethical manufacturing method), are the main motivating factors of the handmade movement, and, in fact, of this pottery revival. We are refocusing on the essentials, the Earth, and especially using the Earth as material.

While pottery appeals to a large number of people, actually doing it can sometimes seem difficult. Even if many centers for novice potters have opened their doors over the past few years, not everyone is lucky enough to have a studio where they can take classes or simply fire their clay creations near their home. Since the pieces need to be fired at temperatures above 1800°F, this can’t be done in a domestic oven. Moreover, the requirement for two firings lasting about seven hours (depending on the size of the piece) and a cooling time of about 24 hours between each one, is enough to discourage beginners. Additionally, although essential, a pottery kiln is expensive and takes up a lot of space, plus your electrical system may not be adequate. This is why certain workshops or professional potters rent out their kilns to individuals at reasonable prices that are much cheaper than the cost of buying a pottery kiln.

In order to overcome the issue of firing, clay manufacturers have now created self-hardening compounds that can be worked like traditional clay, but air-dry over a few days through the action of a binder that’s incorporated into the compound. The kneading and drying process allow the pieces to harden the same way as a professional kiln.

There are many other advantages to this material. Easy to find and use at home, self-hardening clay allows you to begin learning pottery and ceramics techniques independently. In addition, since the material isn’t fired and has a low rate of shrinkage, there’s little chance of your pieces cracking, warping, or breaking due to air bubbles, as can happen during firing. It’s easy to model and paint, and it’s very forgiving of mistakes. Another important advantage of this material is the potential to incorporate other materials like metal, sand, or wood, since the pieces will not be fired at high temperatures.

Self-hardening clay does, however, have its disadvantages. Since the pieces aren’t fired and enameled at high temperatures, they’re not waterproof. You will need to use acrylic varnishes or paints to protect them, and these can’t be used as food containers. Thus, all your creations must be purely decorative. However, there are still many different uses, and even if you make things like dishes, bowls or cups, which are naturally intended for use with food, there’s nothing to stop you from displaying them and making them decorative objects in their own right. Trinket trays, vases, and candle or tea light holders are particularly well suited to this technique.

The other consideration to face in making pottery and ceramics is the wheel. While there are some affordable ones, you may not have the space to install a wheel in your home. With this in mind, this book will show you how to make unique pieces using traditional handbuilding techniques, like pinching, slab-building, coiling, or press molding, although throwing is also possible with this type of clay. You will quickly and easily master the first stages of making pottery and ceramics by following the various step-by-step instructions before starting to work with traditional clays in a workshop, if you so wish. You’ll discover the many features of self-hardening clay and the techniques needed to make successful pieces, as well as the materials you’ll need (the same as for firing clay), how to decorate using paint or glaze, how to color the clay before it dries, how to mix different colors to create patterns (terrazzo, for example), or how to add stamps. Because this material is very malleable and offers many different possibilities, be inspired by the creations in this book and adapt them to your personal preferences, needs, and ideas!

While some people might insist that the feel of self-hardening clay isn’t the same as traditional clay, working with this material is still amazing and a lot of fun. You'll reconnect with the joy you experienced as a child playing with play dough and plunging your hands into the wet earth to make mud pies. You'll discover how easy it is to work with no-fire clay and the satisfaction of seeing your handiwork gradually develop under your fingers, letting your imagination run free.

You'll take pride in the unique pieces you create, bringing you pleasure, and perhaps also to the people you give them to. With this book in hand, you can become an apprentice potter or ceramicist in your own home with very little equipment. Your kitchen table will do the job nicely. Jump right in and enjoy!

BEFORE YOU START

Pottery & Ceramics Vocabulary

In the Workshop

The Right Tools

Different Types of Clay

Working the Clay

Preserving & Storing the Clay

Assembling the Different Parts

Double-Arm Lamp

Two-Tone Cup

Mini Cup

Drying Your Pieces

Perfecting Your Pieces

Varnishing & Protecting Your Pieces

PINCHING

Penguin

Spoons

Wreath

Candle Holders

Mini Candles

Mini Bells

Flower Vase

Flaming Heart Votive

COILING

Cone Vase

Raindrop Vase

Bud Vase

Lamp

Drip Paint Vases

Two-Tone Vase Set

Collared Pot

Round Vase

Amphora

Wide Amphora

SLAB BUILDING

Cone-Shaped Lantern

Egg Dish

Display Plaques

Cutting Board

Deep Rectangular Dish

Cup Candle Holders

Incense Stick Holders

Star Garland

Shallow Bowls

Milk Jug & Pitcher

Lidded Pots

PRESS MOLDING

Bowl

Trinket Bowl

Gilded Heart Votive

IMPRESSIONS

Fingerprint Plates

Lace Print Plates

Pendant Garland

Number Mirror

Letter Plate

Miscellaneous Impressions

COILORING

Colored Clay & Inlays

Colored Clay

Three-Tone Blue Pot

Terrazzo Coasters & Napkin Rings

Terrazzo Lamp

Polka-Dot Soap Dish & Toothbrush Cup

Coffee-Inlaid Pots

Mixed Earth Lamp

Painting Your Pieces

Textured Effect

Flowered Plate & Saucers

Painted Spoons

Painted Lidded Pots

Painted Pot

Conclusion

POTTERY & CERAMICS VOCABULARY

Assembly: When a piece is made in several parts (bottom, tower, and handle as in the case of a cup, for example), the different elements must be assembled.

Banding wheel: A round surface that turns on a central pivot. It allows you to view your design from all angles (here).

Ceramic slip: A slip is made by mixing water with clay (soft, dry, or powdered). With the consistency of fresh cream, it acts as a glue for assembling the different parts. It can be stored in an airtight container.

Clay/cookie cutter: