FAQs — Lesley Bevan Ceramics

bells%25252B2.jpg — Frequently asked…

Making 168 wedding bells

bells+copy.jpg

how do you make this Stuff?

Pottery is a painstaking series of starts and stops. Let’s take the mug, my favorite form: First I prep a small ball of clay by kneading or “wedging” it to remove air bubbles. Then I move to the wheel and “throw” my first piece. I do most of my shaping right then and there, refining the lip and the curve of the silhouette, removing weight from the bottom. I let it dry for a day or more to grow supple like firm leather, and then put it back on the wheel to “trim” off any remaining excess clay. I wait another day to apply my slip designs, as any premature handling of the pot at this point can cause warping. Next, I prep a small nub of clay and attach it near the rim, where the handle will be. I then use just water and my thumbs and fingers to “pull” the handle (imagine milking a cow!) lengthening the nub into a long strap which I will curve into a comfortable shape for your hand. Several days later, when the mug is “bone dry” it can be “bisk” fired. This can take a day or two. Did I mention pottery is slow? When the mug emerges from the kiln it will be hard, more resillient and ready to withstand glazing. I cover the slip design in glaze, then wipe it back, leaving the slip revealed and glaze in the recesses. I then continue with 3 or 4 other glaze applications. Then, back into the kiln it goes for a second firing. A few more days pass. You still with me? Finally, the mug emerges, the bottoms are sanded and a new mug is let loose on the world.

What is soda firing?

Soda-firing is a firing technique in which sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) or sodium carbonate (soda ash) is introduced into the kiln near the end of the firing. The soda vaporizes and whirls around the interior of the kiln, reacting with the clay to create fiery, fantastical, jaw dropping color explosions and textures. Or it can result in absolutely nothing. Which can be heartbreaking, but what can I say? Life's a gamble...

Soda fired planter. Only the green and blue is actual glaze, the rest is pure soda fired magic…

Freshly slipped: Christmas ornament…or barrel cactus?

How the heck do you slip trail?

Slip is really nothing more than sloppy wet clay. I use porcelain slip that is the consistency of sour cream. Consistency is key for a fluid line: too dry and the slip won’t flow properly, too wet and it won’t hold its shape. In order for it to squeeze through a fine decorating tip, I remove any lumps by scraping the slip through a fine mesh seive. There are many devices available to trail with, but I prefer a good old fashioned reusable cake decorating bag. (Which always prompts another frequently asked question: am I good at decorating cakes?…Nope.) I apply my designs free-hand on a leather dry pot. I do not follow a pattern or template, but prefer to just start drawing. If I mess up, which I often do, I wipe it off and start again. Recently, I’ve taken to lightly sculpting the thinly piped lines for more visual interest. Before the slip dries completely, I sponge over any sharp edges. Otherwise, slip work can be surprisingly sharp and spikey—one of my earliest slipped mugs lives in Arizona, happily nestled in my mom’s cactus garden…

Is it microwave and dishwasher Safe? How about the oven?

Heck yeah. Microwave, dishwasher, the works. Be careful to allow oven ware to preheat with the oven. That’s about it. These pieces are meant to be used and loved. Enjoy them!