Hi Friends!
As we start to get back into the studio, you bet your butt I’m going to posting more about pottery. You’ll hear all kinds of terms from me like cones, bats, wedging and centering. I’d like to break this down into a series of terms. Pottery terminology is interesting and oddly quite “body” centric. I mean….look for yourself. How many anatomical terms do you spot? Can you identify them on a pot? Pay close attention, you may be quizzed!
Slip: Slip can be used for several purposes. It’s the slimy, silty, goodness that gathers at the bottom of your water bucket or splash pan. Some potters specialize in “slipcasting” where they use slip specially made to be poured to plaster molds. As a wheel thrower and hand builder, I most often use slip to attach one piece of clay to another much like a glue.
Bat: Bats are often the round board you put down on the wheel before throwing. It not always necessary but bats tend to make it much easier to remove larger or more fragile pieces from the wheel with minimal distortion to your piece. Bats can come in so many different colors, shapes, and sizes. Some folks like plastic bats while others use masonite. Some even throw right on the wheel-head without a bat.
Rib: Ribs are awesome tools for shaping and smoothing. You can find them in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. Personally, I love love love my wooden ribs from Garrity Tools (https://www.garritytools.com). They’re high quality and create fun textures and shapes. Garrity Tools aren’t the only wooden ribs but I think they’re the best. People also swear by the Mudtools kidney shaped ribs made of polymer (https://mudtools.com/collections/polymer-ribs). Different colors indicate different flexibilities and they’re perfect for smoothing. These are currently on my wishlist!
Foot: A foot is the part of your piece that sits on the table. Tools like your thumb rib can help carve and smooth away at the base of your piece to create less bottom heavy and more polished work. After your piece has dried a bit, you're able to flip it over and continue to work on finessing the foot. Potters often do just this while trimming designs into the bottom of their "leather hard" clay.
Mouth/Lip: The mouth or lip of the vessel is the very top part. The mouth is the opening, like people - vessels mouths can vary in "openness". Lips too can vary in thickness or thinness. Lips are where you put your lips to sip from a mug, or where water pours out of the top of the spout. Whereas the mouth is where you insert the flowers into the top of the vase. The flowers may then rest on the lip. Some potters opt to add flair to the lip by turning it in, out, or adding wavy indentations.
Neck: The neck sits between the belly or body of the vessel and the mouth or lip. Necks are often one of the narrow parts of a vase, bringing the body back up and inward. Not all vessels have necks - peep the bell krater below.
CHALLENGE TIME
Can you identify any of the aforementioned “body parts” on these classic Hellenic pots from Ancient Greece?
Don’t forget to make art and have fun!
Much love,
Ally