Funky Ceramic Wall Vase

Laura Jean McLaughlin sculpts a ceramic wall vase.

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Filed under: Vases, Pottery, Crafts, How To

Materials and Tools:

pre-pugged white stoneware clay
canvas
rolling pin
slab roller
fettling knife
wire cutter
metal rib
spray bottle
sponge
wire stylus
newspaper
battleship gray linoleum
linoleum carving tools
needle tool
brushes
glazes
under glazes
under-glaze wash

Steps:

1. Prepare a linoleum carving approximately 3" x 5". Carve the battleship gray linoleum with a carving tool to form the desired imagery.

2. Slice the de-aired pre-pugged white stoneware clay into four pieces of 1-inch to 2-inch thick clay slabs. Line up the clay slabs on the canvas in front of the slab roller.

3. Smooth these four slabs of clay together on both sides making sure that it is seamless.

4. Set the slab roller to about 1/4 inch thickness.

5. Line the canvas up in the slab roller and push the clay through the slab-roller.

6. Smooth the entire surface of the rolled out clay with a metal rib.

Figure A

7. Cut out a triangular flat cone shape the desired size and length of the wall vase (figure A).

8. Discard the scrap slab of clay surrounding the triangular shape.

9. In the center of the triangular shape place the linoleum carving face down.

Figure B

10. Press a rolling pin over the back of the linoleum carving. Apply consistent pressure to the entire back of the carving (figure B).

11. Smooth the clay around the linoleum carving with a metal rib.

Figure C

12. Peel the linoleum off the clay surface. Since the linoleum is made from linseed oil, it automatically resists the clay and peels away leaving a beautifully crisp embossed surface (figure C).

13. Flip the triangular slab of clay over (embossed surface face down) and place rolled up newspaper in the center.

Figure D

14. Roll up the slab of clay around the newspaper forming a cone shape (figure D).

Figure E

15. Twist the tail of the cone (figure E) around to make a squiqqle.

16. Smooth the back of the seam where the slab of clay joins.

17. Put two wads of clay on the back of the wall vase and poke holes in the wads of clay with the wire tool. Make the holes big enough for a wire to fit through after it is fired.

18. Gently wrap the wall vase with plastic and let it set up to the leather hard stage.