Understanding Porcelain

• There are many myths about porcelain. This started already in the 12th century when Marco Polo discovered potters in China working with T'zu, the name originally used by these potters. In the 17th century, John Böttger began to understand the make-up of porcelain, and this is where our story starts. ​

Porcelain needs to be wedged properly to obtain a homogeneous water consistency.

Coning the clay on the pottery wheel helps to center the clay well.

• The Understanding Porcelain online class explores the character of porcelain, and Antoinette explains how the materials used in those early ages of the discovery of porcelain are still the same materials used today, why it saturates with water so quickly, and why it dries faster than other clay bodies.
• Now, in the 21st century, we have much more knowledge about and many more resources to choose from as far as raw materials are concerned than was originally available in the City of Tinqui. It is also possible that potters can have a much clearer understanding of what we are dealing with in porcelain.

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Porcelain online classes 

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• During the 10 weeks that Antoinette presents her "Understanding Porcelain" online class, students can expect clear, close-up, and detailed videos that they can review and ask questions about as often as they need to. Antoinette teaches and demonstrates everything that any potter needs to understand about porcelain.  Whether hand building, throwing, trimming, or altering on the potter’s wheel, beginners to advanced potters will learn to work easily and successfully with the “Diva of clay”.   Antoinette addresses design. Porcelain is a semi-glass, which is the main reason why porcelain slump, warp, and crack. Firing and glazing techniques help to prevent mistakes and ensure success. 

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If the clay is well centered the final centering happens right in the middle interior bottom after the clay is opened.

2 silicone kidneys help to remove any unevenness, thin the clay and remove wet slip from the clay walls.

What to expect from the Class contents.

• The class is divided into weeks, which potters can follow or ignore. These are logical breaks between the videos and are intended to give potters an opportunity to pause and practice what they've learned. Potters can review 6 weeks of class content ( a 5-day hands-on class converted to 6 weeks online) over a 10-week period. They can review the content  as often as they need to, and they can discuss questions and gain assistance from Antoinette during this time. Potters watch the videos at their own time. There are more than 30 videos to work through, on average 7-15 minutes long. When the classes are over, the PDFs are available to download as handouts. 

• In week 1, the class is designed to make a transition from stoneware or earthenware clay to porcelain. There are clear and specific differences in the approach between these clay mediums. The introduction, which includes some porcelain history and the origin of clay, prepares you for that. 

Pinch the clay inside a hollow area like the palm of the hand. this will help to keep the walls even. The form of the bowl can be obtained later.

Once the walls are even, the form can be changed and additions can be added to the bowl.

• During Week 2, potters get to know and control porcelain with a pinching technique. This allows potters to understand the drying stages of porcelain clay. Porcelain clay, just like stoneware clay, comes in different kinds. Apart from different firing temperatures, porcelain clays are designed to either be thrown on the wheel, hand-built, or slipcast. In the end, potters choose a porcelain for their specific needs.  If you are unsure of which kind to choose, you can contact Antoinette. 
• Week 3 is a week of throwing porcelain on the pottery wheel. Beginners, intermediate, and advanced potters learn to push the limits on the wheel to throw thin, evenly, and translucent porcelain bowls and cylinders. The preparation of the clay is crucial, and the techniques include throwing with 2 kidneys, a great way to compress the clay and create even walls, a crucial element of success with porcelain. 

Trimming a bowl right side up while it is still attached to the wheel, allows a potter to keep the walls even.

It is possible to expand or change the foot rim after it is trimmed.

• The right tools and the right drying stages will help potters during trimming of the pots. The final outcome of transparent porcelain is exciting, but to do it successfully requires knowledge. Potters learn how to trim smoothly and to eliminate unplanned marks that can show up in the translucency of the walls. Even walls prevent slumping and cracking of the rims.  During week 4, potters learn all about trimming and how to ensure the forms turn out successfully. 

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• ​One of the myths out there is that porcelain is a difficult medium. Fact is, porcelain is the "Diva of Clay" that demands attention to detail. During this class, the whole course begins to fall into place, and students get to understand why it is needed to do things in a specific way.
• However, one of the big takeaways is that there is no right or wrong way; only one that is comfortable and one that works. 

By controlling the moisture content of a porcelain bowl, it is possible to alter the form completely.

a wheel thrown porcelain bowl, trimmed, altered and carved, ready to dry out.

• TeachingArt is among others, a Ceramic School where potters learn why certain things are done the way they are done. It is more than just demonstrations, but an in-depth study that is suitable to teach in college. The beautiful thing is that once potters understand, they can change the rules to suit their specific needs, and Antoinette is there to walk those ideas through and assist them. During week 5, potters learn to alter their porcelain vessels, taking design into consideration, and during week 6, the glazing and firing of porcelain are the final actions to ensure success with porcelain. With the right approaches, it becomes easy to obtain beautiful porcelain objects. 
• Antoinette shares a variety of clay techniques during her online and hands-on classes. The techniques that she uses are specialized, and she helps her students to develop their own techniques. Once a student of Antoinette, always one of her students. She is willing to work with you as long as you need it. ​​

Wheel thrown translucent green porcelain bowl. The piece is in the permanent collection of the AMOCA Museum of Art in California.

Hand-built translucent porcelain bowl on a pedestal. The bowl is altered and carved and donated many years ago to CERF, the Craft Emergency Relief Fund.

​​​Unfortunately, the videos are not available permanently, since TeachinArt.com treat their online classes like hands-on workshops.