MORE ABOUT CLAY

 

Most potters don’t mine their own clay, though many of us have an abashed admiration for those who do.

 

Commercial Clay

​

Commercial clays often contain a mixture of various substances and are formulated to be used at different temperatures and for different purposes. There are a remarkable number of different clays that are available commercially--usually sold in 25-pound rectangular blocks.

 

Clay Properties

​

Clays range from a pure creamy white to black. Various shades of white, cream, brown, red and yellow clays are available. Note that the color of the raw clay isn't necessarily the color you get once it's fired. Some clays are made to survive the extreme, fast temperature changes of raku firing. Others are translucent when thrown very thinly. Clays that are designed to be used for sculpture often include grog, which consists of finely-ground particles of already-fired clay. This gives the clay more strength while wet, giving the sculptor and potter more leeway in creating shapes that defy gravity.

 

Choosing a Clay

​

The potter selects a clay, considering the purpose of the pot, the temperature and technique planned for the firing and for the decoration of the clay's surface.