Frequently Asked Questions
General curiosities about how I do what I do. If something isn’t covered here that you’d like to know about my work, please message me!
What is the difference between hand built and pieces made on a wheel?
Hand built pieces start out as large flat slabs of clay that are cut and assembled by hand, much like a seamstress creates an article of clothing from fabric. Pieces made on a pottery wheel are called “thrown” pieces. Wheel thrown pottery presents with a much more uniform end product than hand built pieces although there are very talented ceramic artists that achieve amazingly uniform pieces through hand building. The pieces I make are organic in design and build. It seems only right to see the marks of hand building as they are evidence of the maker’s work.
Why does it take so long to make a piece of pottery?
Mud takes time to get pretty! There is a lot of moisture in clay, which is required to manipulate and bend, texture, and assemble. Once the clay is cut it must rest for a while to allow some moisture to evaporate so that the clay will be strong enough to hold its weight, but soft enough to be formed. Depending on the complexity of the design, building can take several hours over several days as certain work must be done at different stages of dryness. Once built, each piece must be allowed to slowly dry. Depending on our weather this could take up to four weeks for some pieces. Slow drying ensures strength and lessens the possibility of cracking during the firing process. Once pieces become “bone dry” they are ready for the first firing, a process that takes two days. At the completion of the first firing glazes are applied by hand and each piece is fired again, the second firing process taking three days. From build to inventory 4 to 6 weeks is standard and, given the nature of clay, can not be safely rushed.
What type of clay do you use?
All of my pieces are made from stoneware. My current rotation includes a brown, white, and a dark buff thermal shock resistant clay used for bakeware. All current clay is sourced from the Ohio Valley region.
Are your pieces food, oven, and dishwasher safe?
Yes, all items designed for baking, serving, and kitchenware are food, oven, and dishwasher safe. Pieces not designated as Bakeware should be preheated as the oven preheats to ensure the longevity of the piece. Items designated as Bakeware are made from thermal shock resistant clay and are made to tolerate sudden and extreme temperature changes.