Trimming

Blogger note: Now remember, objects are larger than they are in real life.

So, I have shared with you some of my pieces after they've come off the wheel. Now, let me show you what they look like once they've been trimmed. Trimming is a process where you just clean up the shape and bottom. This is often times how bowls get the ring footed shape they seem to 'sit' on (like the ever so talked about spittoon below). It is really one piece of pottery, but just trimmed to make it look like a bowl on a foot (or ring).

Trimming also gives you the opportunity to change the shape of your bowl and allow you the chance to make the clay thickness more consistent throughout the bowl. If you take pottery, you'll notice that the bottoms are often thicker than the sides or tops. Quite common. However, this inconsistency in thickness can lead to problems, like cracking, uneven drying and a piece that could easily just burst in the kiln (thus ruining your piece and other pieces in the kiln). Not something you want to have happen when you've put such time and effort into a piece.


I've only got two more classes left and I still need to learn how to put on handles (no telling how many of you coffee, or cocoa, lovers will be getting mugs), sand, identify if a piece is ready for the first firing, glazing, etc, etc. So much to learn, so little time!