Pottery 101
      
A Brief Introduction into the Making of a Pot

This  seminar on the making of a pot will prove 
helpful to those interested in this fine art form. 
There is a world of difference between a 
commercially produced product and a hand-
thrown piece of pottery. It  takes a potter 
 many years of experience to perfect his skill.
It is this type of product that Mud in Your Eye 
offers its customers.

    

Clay

The clay used in our studio is high fired stoneware or porcelain. The two types of clay bodies are dense enough that the clay particles fuse together at 2300-2400 degress Fahrenheit (hence the name "stoneware"). These clays are water-tight. Stoneware clays are great for baking, as they transmit heat evenly through the clay and retain the heat for an even, consistent bake.

Throwing

Generally, this is the quickest step in the production process for a production potter. Pots are usually "thrown" on a fiber-board "bat" which sits on the wheel turntable and can be easily removed once the piece is thrown. Most wheels today are electrically controlled by a foot pedal.