Trimming
Trimming is another stage in the throwing of pots. It is one of the last steps to complete before the pot is ready to be bisque fired. Trimming also takes place on the wheel and it is when you add a foot to the base of your vessel. You can also trim the base as in just clean it up without putting a foot on it.
To help me master this part of the throwing process, I’ve been again practicing on the wheel in my studio and have even written down the steps to help me commit to memory each stage of the process. The first thing you need to do before you start is to measure the thickness of the pot. Once you identify that, you then make a mark about a quarter inch below where you think the actual bottom of your pot is. Next you need to determine if you have a bowl bottom (the sides gradually curve into the bottom) or a flat bottom (with a flat bottom the sides of the pot meet the round base at a kind of right angle).
The next step is to center the pot, I find this point particularly challenging at the moment. To center, you place the pot open end down in the center of the wheel (or where you think the center of the wheel is). Then you turn the wheel on and with it moving you tap the pot so that it becomes centered, if you tap it too hard it goes off center, too light and it doesn’t move. You also need to have the wheel moving at a rapid speed but not so fast that you send the pot flying off the wheel. I call this stage the Goldy Locks stage… you must find the sweet spot where it’s not to hot (fast/tap too hard), not too cool (slow/tap too light) … it needs to be done just right. Once it is centered you need to secure the pot with bits of clay so that it stays in place while you trim.
What we discovered on Saturday in my ceramics class was that although I throw with my right hand, I’m better at trimming with my left! I’m left-handed by nature. I honestly think my difficulties might stem from being ambidextrous… some things I do using my left hand, i.e. writing, playing tennis, fencing, while other things I do with my right hand, like cutting with scissors, or ironing. The challenge is figure out which hand to use and when – its madding really! Interestingly, I paint with both hands, and it appears that this is also the case with the throwing!
In any case, next up is to make a mark around the base of the pot and then another one in the center. These marks tells you where you are going to trim to create the foot.
After that you set the wheel in motion and start cutting. Prior to trimming, it is important to make sure the vessel is not overly dry or too wet. If it is dry, it becomes hard to maneuver the tools over the clay (they tend to jump around because of the dryness, and this could lead to an uneven foot). If it is too wet the vessel can lose its round shape or collapse (again another Goldy Locks scenario… you need to find the sweet spot).
The final step after you’ve trimmed the foot is to create a smooth transition from the foot to the wall of the vessel, once that’s done you let your pot finish drying and it is ready to be bisque fired!
As I reflect on all I’ve learned thus far, I have to say I am gaining a whole new appreciation and respect for the applied arts (functional art) and all the skill it takes to create a perfectly balanced and symmetrical vessel. I don’t think I will ever take a coffee mug, bowl, or flowerpot for granted again, especially one that is handmade!
