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In this video I am talking about the understanding of the characteristics of porcelain. In order to trim porcelain clay successfully, you need to know which are the different stages that the clay goes through. The Diva tends to look dry when it is in fact leather hard. The clay only begins to dry when there is a coloration, making the clay look like drying bones.
When I refer to porcelain stages, I first do that by pinching clay. Pinching is going to allow you to really understand the Diva. Another way to describe the clay is with comparing it to cheese. … First really soft mozzarella cheese, then soft gouda, then cheddar and finally parmesan. I am sure there are other cheese descriptions in-between, but never compare porcelain to cream cheese, unless you talk about a real almost slip-like clay, which is way too soft to throw with. If you are interested in learning form me please see my workshop page . There are many different ways to learn from me and if you do not find what you need, send me an email and let me know if you would like to be a host for a hands-on workshop, or if I can help you in any other way.
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Note how I start trimming. First the interior and then the exterior wall. It is easier to judge the wall thickness while trimming right side up and if the interior is perfect, the exterior can just follow. I trim the foot with a blunt tool, because the clay is still very soft at this stage (I normally keep my pots under plastic until it releases itself from the bat), but first use a surform blade to take any unevenness out. The softness of the foot allows me to reshape the foot rim. For the walls I use a sharp trimming tool, to prevent that I have to push too hard on the thin rim. I run the wet sponge over the whole piece to create a slip that help me to smooth the surface out with a rubber kidney, but at the same time, the re wetting of the pot will allow me to alter the shape later. Be aware that if the pot is to dry when one add water, it can de-laminate. See Antoinette's work in her gallery and online workshops, as well as her hands-on workshops in her own pottery studio in Saltillo, Mississippi.
See list of e-courses at TeachinArt.com online art school
My way is not the highway. If you can take some things from my way of throwing and trimming and develop your own style, I have achieved exactly what I wanted to. Each and every one of us has our own ways of doing and handling things and the teacher that tells you cannot do it different from his or her way, is not honest with you and you have all rights to challenge that person.
Antoinette shows in short video clips how to trim porcelain during the workshop in Moose Jaw, Canada. During the time in Canada she interviewed Jack Sures at the University in Regina. Her online porcelain classes are much more in detail with many more tips and techniques.
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