Clay Forming Workshop Directions and Tips

Before Class:

1. Have students prepare temper before class 

2. Prepare a clean workspace 

3. Cut an approximately 5x5x5 piece of clay for each student 

Directions: 

1. Add temper to clay, ensuring temper is thoroughly distributed throughout clay 

2. Form clay into desired shape 

3. Allow clay to dry for at least 24 hours 

4. OPTIONAL: when clay reaches the leather hard stage, the clay can be burnished using the back of a spoon or a smooth stone. The rub a high heat oil like vegetable oil on the surface of the clay with fingers, allow the oil to absorb, and go over the clay object with the spoon/smooth stone. 

5. After clay is fully dried, prepare watermelon tub 

6. Add sawdust to kiln 

7. Using a twisted piece of newspaper or a safety lighter light a section of the sawdust on fire 

8. Allow the fire to spread throughout the tub, agitate with a stick if necessary 

9. Wrap dried clay pieces individually with newspaper 

10. Wearing heat resistant gloves add clay pieces to fire with tongs/trash grabber 

11. Cover with more leaves/straw/sawdust 

12. Cover tub 

13. Let fire burn for 8-12 hours, or until fire burns out 

14. Allow tub to cool 

15. Remove pieces with tongs/trash grabber 

Tips: 

• Wear clothes that you do not mind getting dirty 
• Avoid wearing loose, dangly clothing during the pit firing 
• Tie hair back during the pit firing 

• Alert the proper authorities about the pit firing, if doing so on a campus/public area 
• Keep water or a fire extinguisher at reach during the pit firing 
• Use a spray bottle with water to keep clay moist during hand-building 
• Keep loose scraps of excess clay for another project 
• Use a wire clay cutter when sectioning of clay pieces 

• Try not to spend too much time on the design of your potter piece, the mission of this workshop is to understand the clay forming process and the affects that temper has on the clay 
• Be creative when choosing temper, the more variety the more that is learned from this workshop 
• Clean workspace with a washrag/paper towel with warm soapy water, to remove clay 

Safety: 

• Exercise care around the fire, ensure that proper safety equipment is used while the pit fire is burning 
• Keep water or a fire extinguisher at reach during the pit firing