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arth, water, air and fire; they come together in different amounts and at
different times to create objects of function and items of art, in a final product
E that is called pottery or sculpture.
For thousands of years, humankind has dug up areas of the earth where there is an
abundance of clay, weathered and decomposed granite consisting mainly of alumina and
silica, and with the addition of water to combine, air to dry and fire to vitrify, humans
have created objects of beauty, of function, of stories, of spirituality, of history.
The attraction of making pottery has not diminished over the years, although the raw
clay has increased in working quality and techniques have been refined but the basic
principles remain the same.
Working with clay can be an exhilarating experience, with great textile pleasure and
harmonious blending of the elements.
There are three main ways in which a pot or a sculpture can be created: it is either
thrown on a wheel, made solely by hand (coiling, pinching, assembly, modeling and
carving), or made with liquid or plastic clay using moulds.
After shaping the item, the clay must dry out completely in a slow and steady process.
Too fast and the clay can crack, too slow and it never dries out. Once it is completely
dry, it is fired in a kiln to various temperatures, where all the water it contains has been
removed by the heat. From around 1000°C to 1100°C, the finished item is called
earthenware and from 1150°C to between 1250°C and 1300°C, it is called stoneware.
At around 1150°C, the clay itself begins to vitrify, fusing together in a solid nonporous
mass. This fired clay is in a hard permanent state, in a stable form and is more
permanent than many kinds of rocks. However, it can be broken into pieces, but these
pieces will not dissolve, melt or combine with other chemicals. If the pot or sculpture is
covered in a glaze, it becomes even more impregnable.

Clay sculptures can be a very beautiful
feature in a garden. They will not be
affected by weathering so can take a
place of prominence in your garden
even in the full exposure of the
elements.

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Source for some info: Tony Birks The Complete Potter's Companion
Clay sculptures available from Nancy
www.nancysartnook.com/
www.facebook.com/NancysGourmetArtNook/
P5000 Nancy Horenburg - naneky@gmail.com
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