Ceramic Pear

Steps 1-2

Steps:

1. Cut a piece of clay from the block with a clay-cutting wire. Wedge the clay to remove air bubbles and align the clay particles for throwing.

2. Place the clay on a bat on a potter's wheel and center the clay. Throw the initial cone form on the potter's wheel.

Step 3

3. Let the thrown shape set up to one week. Cover with cloth and plastic.

Steps 4-5

4. Trim excess clay on the bottom to provide a large enough hole to fit a couple of fingers. Note: This is where a logo may be attached.

5. Smooth the clay by wiping it with a wet sponge and stroking it with a rib. Sculpt the pear shape by poking indentations in the side with the handle of a paintbrush. Add texture to the sides by using a brush tool.

Steps 6-7

6. Shape a coil thick enough for a stem.

7. Attach the stem by scoring the inside edges of the top and pressing the stem into the opening with slip.

Steps 8-9

8. Roll a thin clay slab for leaves and let sit for 20 minutes.

9. Stamp leaves into the clay with a homemade leaf stamp.

Step 10

10. Cut out each individual leaf with a clay knife.

Steps 11-15

11. Attach the leaf onto the pear neck by scoring and using slip.

12. Check the pear for cracks or weak attachment points.

13. Lightly sponge the pear for a smooth overall surface.

14. Set the pear aside to dry for one week and check occasionally. Note: Cover the pear with plastic so the stem does not dry too quickly.

15. Once fully dry, wipe the pear with a sponge for a smooth finish.

Steps 16-19

16. Load the kiln. Fire the ceramic pear in the kiln for 12 hours.

17. Remove the pear from the kiln and clean with a sponge prior to the glazing process.

18. Paint on the under glaze layers; start with light colors and end with the dark brown sponged on around the hip down to the bottom of the pear.

19. Add dark, dark brown glaze to the nicks in the pear to highlight selected areas.

Step 20

20. Splatter brown dots by flicking your finger across a toothbrush filled with a small amount of brown glaze.

Steps 21-22

21. Paint the stem brown and the leaf green.

22. Wipe away the under glaze on the leaf and stem at specific areas to bring out the relief pattern of the leaf and stem.

Steps 23-25

23. Apply one thick coat of clear crackle glaze all over the outside of the pear, except the stem and leaf.

24. Glaze the inside of the pear with one thin coat.

25. Inspect the glazed pear and touch up where needed.

Steps 26-28

26. Load the kiln, placing the pear on prongs, and fire for 12 hours.

27. Unload the kiln.

28. Sand the bottom of the ceramic pear to remove the prong marks using a rotary tool.

Steps 29-30

29. Wearing latex gloves apply water-based black paint and rub it off to highlight the cracks in the pear.

30. Wash the ceramic pear and let dry.

Web site: www.silviadotto.com