Clay for Beginners - Throwing

Jim, are there any pottery supply stores or studios close by? Your wife can
throw all she wants and then reconstitute the clay unless it is fired.
Eventually, she will want to experiment with glazing and start keeping her
work. In my opinion, she also needs to decide what cone she will be firing.
If she plans on firing stoneware to 6 or 10, then I think she would not
want to buy earthenware (04). The reason being is if any earthenware
happens to get mixed in with the stoneware you open yourself up to a big
mess in the kiln. Depending on where you are on the East coast, axner.com is
a good shop in Orlando, Fl. Many other supply stores may be found on line or
in your yellow pages. If there is nothing close where you can rent kiln
space, start saving now for a kiln and keep an eye open for used kilns.
My apologies to all of the other great on-line stores that I use but did
not mention.

"jimmyd" wrote in message
...
Hello all, I'm sorry if this question has been asked a million times
before, but maybe someone could point me to a FAQ. Anyhow...

I purchased a pottery wheel for my wife for Xmas as she expressed
interest in making pottery and I encourage her to experiment with her
creative side. She received a couple of books on wheel techniques and
throwing exercises, but she needs clay to work with.

As we have no kiln (and won't for the forseeable future) what types of
clay are good for beginners to work with? If you have types and could
recommend sources that would be great. We live in the eastern USA
fwtw.

Also a general question. After she makes a couple of pieces as
practice, can the clay be reused as I would envison the piece would be
scrapped or is it once and done with clay?

Thank you,
Jim

Hi Jim:

I would recommend finding a public place that accepts outside
pieces for firing. They usually charge you a fee based on the size
of the piece. Find out what cone they fire to and ask if they
recommend a particular clay that is appropriate for their firings.

Some places will let you use their glazes for a fee after the piece
is once fired.

As far as reclaiming the clay that she has practiced with, the clay
may be too wet or dry compared to how it came out of the bag.
Wedging or kneading the clay again may bring it back to the
right consistency for throwing. I noticed in my early days that
one of the components of the clay washes away if recycled too
many times and then doesn't work well. When she has experience,
she can add back the components that gives the recycled clay its
original consistency.

Very nice gift idea! I wish her the best of success. Maybe you
can include a class fee from some local community education
class. This is a wonderful avocation best learned directly from
an experienced potter.

Diego

"jimmyd" wrote in message
...
Hello all, I'm sorry if this question has been asked a million times
before, but maybe someone could point me to a FAQ. Anyhow...

I purchased a pottery wheel for my wife for Xmas as she expressed
interest in making pottery and I encourage her to experiment with her
creative side. She received a couple of books on wheel techniques and
throwing exercises, but she needs clay to work with.

As we have no kiln (and won't for the forseeable future) what types of
clay are good for beginners to work with? If you have types and could
recommend sources that would be great. We live in the eastern USA
fwtw.

Also a general question. After she makes a couple of pieces as
practice, can the clay be reused as I would envison the piece would be
scrapped or is it once and done with clay?

Thank you,
Jim

I think a good plan would be to find someplace that has beginner
classes for the public. That way your wife will be able to experiment
with clays that are offered through the course as well as have access
to kiln space. She can take the clay home with her and
practice/throw/trim at home. When the course is over she may be able
to make arrangements with the facility to rent kiln space.


On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 00:08:04 GMT, jimmyd wrote:

Hello all, I'm sorry if this question has been asked a million times
before, but maybe someone could point me to a FAQ. Anyhow...

I purchased a pottery wheel for my wife for Xmas as she expressed
interest in making pottery and I encourage her to experiment with her
creative side. She received a couple of books on wheel techniques and
throwing exercises, but she needs clay to work with.

As we have no kiln (and won't for the forseeable future) what types of
clay are good for beginners to work with? If you have types and could
recommend sources that would be great. We live in the eastern USA
fwtw.

Also a general question. After she makes a couple of pieces as
practice, can the clay be reused as I would envison the piece would be
scrapped or is it once and done with clay?

Thank you,
Jim

Hey Jim ---

.....wheel at home and a place to throw is very good...and you will get
lots of advice in here...but my advice is that going to a pottery studio
that has a studio...supplies...wheels...but most of all other artists to
work and especially learn is very imprtant especially for a beginning
potter....it takes time and patience...and if she is in for the long
haul...going someone and being and sharing with others....helps the
learning curve...and allows that creative side to come out..and the next
thing you know she will be giving advice to others who are just starting
out...good luck...jim

jimmyd wrote:

Hello all, I'm sorry if this question has been asked a million times
before, but maybe someone could point me to a FAQ. Anyhow...

I purchased a pottery wheel for my wife for Xmas as she expressed
interest in making pottery and I encourage her to experiment with her
creative side. She received a couple of books on wheel techniques and
throwing exercises, but she needs clay to work with.

As we have no kiln (and won't for the forseeable future) what types of
clay are good for beginners to work with? If you have types and could
recommend sources that would be great. We live in the eastern USA
fwtw.

Also a general question. After she makes a couple of pieces as
practice, can the clay be reused as I would envison the piece would be
scrapped or is it once and done with clay?

Thank you,
Jim

Try Campbell's, Standard or Highwater. use a smooth clay with a wide range
of firing temperature. Standard #306 is a good all around clay.
near Baltimore, try clayworks supply.
near fl try www.axner.com
Good luck
E
www.hertzpottery.com



before, but maybe someone could point me to a FAQ. Anyhow...

I purchased a pottery wheel for my wife for Xmas as she expressed
interest in making pottery and I encourage her to experiment with her
creative side. She received a couple of books on wheel techniques and
throwing exercises, but she needs clay to work with.

As we have no kiln (and won't for the forseeable future) what types of
clay are good for beginners to work with? If you have types and could
recommend sources that would be great. We live in the eastern USA
fwtw.

Also a general question. After she makes a couple of pieces as
practice, can the clay be reused as I would envison the piece would be
scrapped or is it once and done with clay?

Thank you,
Jim