WORK WITH CLAY

Clay is ubiquitous. Both malleable and solid, as a substance it has been sourced from the earth and manipulated in numerous ways and used for a variety of purposes for thousands of years.

Clay is fascinating in that it will lend itself to any level of skill. From clay figures and beads, to cooking pots and storage jars, to ovens, chimneys and bricks: the development of human history has gone hand in hand with our ability to work clay to our needs.

In addition to its physical qualities, certain clays are also good for us. Calcium bentonite clay is an absorbent kind of clay that typically forms after volcanic ash ages. This clay has a unique composition and can absorb ‘negatively charged’ toxins. People have been using calcium bentonite clay for centuries as a way to detoxify the body, improve digestion and skin tone, and more. Getting your hands stuck in to a lump of clay can therefore benefit you in more ways than one.

PINCH POTS

The potter’s wheel did not appear in history until 4,000 years ago. Prior to that, pinch and coil construction methods prevailed as the main techniques humans used to form clay. Even today, pinching remains a valuable, creative and satisfying way to work with clay and can be used to form many types of pieces.

Pinch pots are easily accessible to nearly everyone, including young children, and are one of the most direct ways of interacting with clay. You push, and the clay responds. You pinch, and again the clay responds. You can learn a huge amount simply through the experience of directly modifying the clay’s form. Pinching also teaches tactile sensitivity: through this process, you learn to rely on your fingers to tell you information about the clay.

WHAT YOU NEED.

If you decide to enrol on a beginners’ pottery course, you will be provided with all the tools and materials that you need to get going. This will most likely include a stoneware clay, which will need firing in a kiln to convert it from a weak clay into a strong, durable, crystalline-like form.

For those of you undertaking this at home, without the help of a kiln, an air-dry clay will do perfectly for ornamental pinch pots (but please don’t eat or drink from them, as air-dry clay is not foodsafe). This can be ordered online or found at your local art store, or if you prefer a more consolidated starter pack, SCULPD (www.sculpd.co.uk), ETSY (www.etsy.com) or SCULPEY (www.sculpey.com) produce fantastic kits, with everything you need for getting going at home, including the clay.

In addition, you’ll need:

•  An apron

•  A small bowl for holding water as you work

•  A large, soft brush – a large paintbrush will do

•  A trimming tool – these are usually wooden, but a blunt knife will work just as well

•  A cutting wire – any thick wire from the toolbox will work

YOUR SET-UP.

Regardless of whether you are in a studio or in your kitchen, make sure you have the following set-up to ensure minimal mess:

•  Floors that are easy to clean and impervious to water, such as concrete or linoleum

•  Access to water (but no clay should go down any drains!)

•  A sturdy table, such as a kitchen table

•  A surface to work on, that clay won’t stick to (best to use an oilcloth tablecloth, with a piece of canvas beneath your clay so that you can rotate it without having to lift it every time)

•  A shelf for drying pots, out of the reach of little hands

METHOD

ROLL.

Roll a small ball of clay, about the size of a clementine orange, between your hands.

Holding the ball in one hand, slowly push the thumb of the other hand into the centre of the clay.

PINCH.

Gently pinch the clay between your thumb on the inside, and your fingers on the outside while slowly turning the ball of clay in your hand.

Work in a spiral from bottom to top. If you want to make your pot more bowl-like, you can pinch the top open more broadly and thinly, although make sure your clay isn’t too wet when doing this or it will struggle to hold its shape.

TAP.

Gently tap the pot on the table to make a flat base.

REPAIR.

Repair deep cracks immediately, using a tiny amount of water or slip (clay mixed with water to create a gravy-like texture). If necessary, use your brush to smooth over cracks.

FINISH.

When you’re finished, use a blunt knife to trim the rim of your pot or bowl.

Leave to dry.

SAND.

If using air-dry clay, once the clay has dried, sand it down and think about whether or not you’d like to paint it. A white base is a good place to start, and allows you to add colourful decorations on top.

REMEMBER.

Clay is one of the oldest materials that humans have worked with – it’s not something special reserved only for top ceramicists and artists. Don’t be intimidated and, as ever, if it doesn’t work out the first time, just keep practising.