Teaching pottery and wood turning, and creating unique ceramic, wood turned and silk gifts & art
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TERMS USED
NATURAL EDGE
The "natural edge" (usually the bark of the tree) is incorporated into the design of the piece.
WHEEL THROWING
The piece has been "thrown" on the potter's wheel. The process from the time the clay touches the wheel to the time the wheel is stopped, during which the clay is shaped.
HANDBUILDING
The piece has been created by hand using only simple tools, not the potter's wheel. The clay can be pinched, coiled or sculpted. Slabs of clay can also be used to create various designs and forms.
THROWN & ALTERED
This method uses two approaches. The piece is first thrown on the potter's wheel and then, once it has reached a state where is can be manipulated without collapsing, it is altered. The alteration can take a number of forms, i.e. distorting, removing clay, adding texture or designs etc.
STONEWARE
Stoneware clay is the broad term used for ceramics which have been fired at a relatively high temperature. It is impermeable and partly vitrified once fired.
PORCELAIN
Porcelain is a strong, vitreous, translucent clay which is biscuit-fired at a low temperature but the glaze is then fired at a very high temperature.
BURNISHING
This is a form of ceramics treatment in which the surface of the pot is polished using a hard smooth surface (I like to use a smooth pebble) while it is still in a leathery "green" state prior to firing.
SPALTED
The black irregular lines as a result of fungal decay in the wood. It is sometimes used to produce a decorative surface.
OFF-CENTRED TURNING
As the term implies, the wood is positioned off-centre in the chuck to create some interesting effects.
PYROGRAPHY
The art of decorating wood by burning a design on the surface using a heated metallic point.
HOLLOW FORM
A hollow form is the term used to describe a piece that has a space or cavity inside and is therefore not solid.
