HANG OUT VOL.5 POTTERY

Let's live with homemade tableware.

As digitalization advances, analogue work done by hand is now being reevaluated. Handicrafts in particular have a warmth and uniqueness that can only be achieved by hand, and more and more people seem to value them differently than mass-produced goods. Pottery, in particular, is a task that requires concentration. The process of shaping clay is attracting attention as a hobby that can reduce everyday stress and relax. By incorporating pottery into your life, you will not only enjoy the joy of making things, but you will also open up a new lifestyle. So, let's start pottery.

Chapter 02

2024.12.30

Photo：Masashi Ura

Text：Shoko Matsumoto

Edit：Daiki Yamazaki

HANG OUT VOL.5

Chapter 02 | LET'S LIVE WITH YOUR OWN POTTERY.

An original piece that is one of a kind in the world.

One of the great attractions of pottery, unlike other hobbies, is that you can create vessels and objects of your own design. Currently, pottery classes and workshops are increasing nationwide, and it seems that even beginners can easily experience it. Now, let's actually try making a unique item with a unique shape and color.

INFORMATION

Studio Knot Ceramics

Address: PATH YOYOGIUEHARA 103, 3-4-1 Uehara, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

TEL_03-6416-8118

Home page

The teacher who taught me this time

Hitomi Shimoji

After graduating from the Department of Crafts at Osaka University of Arts, he studied ceramics at Kasama Ceramic College in Ibaraki Prefecture and became a lecturer at Studio Knot Ceramics. At the same time, he continues to create his own ceramic works.

Bring the clay from the back to the front and push it out. Turn it 90 degrees and repeat the same process. Place the clay vertically and push the bottom part out with your palm, while rotating the whole thing and kneading it repeatedly.
Repeat the previous steps until the clay shape resembles chrysanthemum petals.
Finally, roll the clay into a ball to ensure that no air remains inside the clay. This time, I used 450g of special koshi clay. It has a fine texture and few quirks, making it easy to handle and use. Before bisque firing, the clay is gray, but when fired, it turns into an ivory color close to white.

STEP1 The key to pottery is preparing the clay.

The key to pottery is preparing the clay. The chrysanthemum kneading method is to knead the clay to make it easier to handle, by removing the air from inside the clay and making the density and softness uniform.

Place the clay in the center of the hand-cranked potter's wheel and secure it in place. Using your thumb, make a hole in the clay, but not all the way through to the bottom, leaving a foot (a ring on the underside of the potter's wheel that supports the potter's body, makes the potter's shape look beautiful, and prevents heat from being directly transferred to the potter's body).
While imagining the projection (flat bottom), use your thumbs to gradually expand it until it is the size you want.
By holding your hands upright and pinching the clay without tilting it, you can spread the clay upwards.
The general size and shape of the vessel is complete.

STEP 2 Create the ideal shape using a hand-cranked potter's wheel.

Fix your elbow on the workbench and keep your hand in the same position while keeping the movement the same. The size and shape are formed by the amount of force you use (increasing the force of your fingers on the outside will make it narrower, and increasing the force of your fingers on the inside will make it wider).

While holding the outside of the clay with your hands, use a trowel (a small wooden tool used to shape or smooth the surface) to smooth out the soil on the inside.
To preserve the nuances while still achieving a smooth texture, the leather is wetted and, while holding the leather between the thumb and index finger, turned clockwise on a hand-operated potter's wheel.
Using both thumbs, pull the cutting thread taut, without letting your fingers leave the top, from back to front and separate the clay from the hand wheel.
While checking the size of the estimate you made initially, draw a high point line with a needle (like dropping a needle on a record).
Leaving the base intact, and checking the thickness, slowly shave off the excess part with a plane.
Put your signature on the platform and you're done.

STEP 3 Adjust the details.

One of the characteristics of hand-formed pottery is the marks made by the fingers and the uneven shape. This can create a unique flavor, or it can feel comfortable in the hand. It represents the personality of the person who made it, so you can shape it however you like.

Glaze is a glassy layer fused to ceramics, also known as a glaze. It is used as a decoration, but when applied to the base and fired, it also serves the purpose of making the piece waterproof and stain-resistant. At Studio Knot Ceramics, you can choose your favorite glaze from 11 different types.

The shape is now complete!

This is the end of the work in the workshop. After this, the pieces will be left at studio knot ceramics to dry for a few days, after which they will be bisque fired, glazed, and finally fired.

STEP 4: Start incorporating it into your life right away!

After about 1.5 to 2 months, you will have a finished product in your hands. The warmth and individuality of handmade items will make your everyday coffee time even more special. It will be filled with memories and stories of when it was made, so you will grow to love it more every time you use it. Even the stains and scratches will surely be cute. It would be nice to spend time with it, not just as a tool, but as a special item.

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