Pinching & Coiling

10 October 2024

Back to basics and using hand forming techniques, pinch pots which I have only ever tried once before and coiling - my favourite technique.

Pinched Pots:

TASK: Using approx 300g of clay x 3 balls, the task to pinch 3 vessel forms of the same size and shape.

OUTCOME: The first thing I needed to do very quickly was to cut my thumb nail on my right hand! as every slow methodical pinch left a very big dent. Pinched in a slow thoughtful way slowly creating a hole rather than poke a hole and rush. On reflection I needed to bring more clay up, left too much at the bottom and my pots were all bottom heavy. However, I did enjoy the process and particulary liked the ragged edges I purposely left on the top rims.

Coiling:

TASK: Coil a straight sided form from a rolled out flat base, blending coils together.

OUTCOME: Felt very comfortable doing this task, even though I am finding the studio clay different to work with from my normal clay body ‘White St Thomas’. I completed the task as asked, then I decided to also coil a straight sided version leaving the coils unblended inside and out, as a test piece to see how the clay fires

TASK: Using the upside down technique produce a form closed at the top.

On a roll I produce 2 of these forms, joined them together to create an enclosed form - so many possibilities.