THE PROCESS:
First, the liquid clay (called "slip") is poured into a mold, and allowed to set until the
thickness at the edge builds up to about 1/8 inch. Then, the excess slip is poured out. When the remaining clay
has hardened in the mold to about the consistency of thick leather, it is removed from the mold and allowed to finish drying.
How quickly this happens depends greatly upon the weather. If it is cold and/or wet, it takes
a very long time for the clay to "set up" enough to remove from the mold. It also takes a long time for the mold itself
to dry out before it can be re-used to mold another piece.
However, in warm or hot weather, this drying happens very quickly, and it can be difficult to "stay
on top of" all the pieces and get them un-molded before they get too dry and start to crack.
Once dry, the clay is called "greenware." At this stage, it is extremely fragile, and easily
crushed in the hand. Now, in this delicate stage, it must be scraped clean of the seamlines from the mold,
and sometimes this also involves restoring detail lines (called "re-carving") lost in the scraping process.
After cleaning, it can be painted with a color called "underglaze," which does not adhere to the
piece or reach its true full color until it has been fired. The greenware can also be fired without being painted first.
During firing, at temperatures up to about 1956 degrees Farenheit, the clay chemically changes into
a compound closely related to glass. The piece is now called "bisque." Now, it is easy to handle, and no
more fragile than any other glass or ceramic item, which is to say, yes, it will still break if dropped, and can chip if hit.
If the piece was not colored prior to firing, it can be painted at this stage. Either a food-safe
underglaze paint for bisque and a food safe glaze can be applied, (after which a second firing is required), or, if the piece
is a decorative item not intended for food use, it can be painted in any paint or glaze without regard to "food safety," and
re-fired if necessary.
It is also possible to paint decorative pieces in stains or acrylic paints, and finish them with
a clear laquer spray or brush-on sealer, requiring no further firings.
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The items shown here are bisque decorative items, headed for un-fired stain colors and/or other
special finishes.
