Creative porcelain plates take on almost any shape
When making a creative porcelain plate, focus on the process rather than the product. This fosters creativity. Be open to your immediate environment and gather inspiration from shapes and materials available to you.Mold a slab porcelain plate into any shape and size you imagine. When porcelain clay is moist and plastic, it follows the directions of your hands and turns into the plate of your imagination. Incised and painted decorations add to this personal clay expression; the possibilities are endless. Porcelain is high-fired to cone six, which is over 2,200 degrees to form a durable, waterproof plate.
Instructions
1. Find a plate that is the shape and size that you wish to duplicate in porcelain clay.
2. Wrap the plate in plastic wrap; keep the wrap as flat and wrinkle-free as possible. Decide which side of the plate form you want to duplicate; both the top and bottom of the shape will work for this procedure. Whichever side you choose, make the plastic wrap as tight and smooth as possible over this surface. Any wrinkles will transfer to the wet clay body.
3. Roll the porcelain clay out with a rolling pin; make your slab 3/4 of an inch thick. Roll the clay between two pieces of old sheeting to keep it from sticking to the rolling pin. The fabric peels easily from the slab. Flatten the clay outward from the center; turn it over to get an even thickness.
4. Place the slab over or in the plate, depending on which side you prefer to use as the model for your plate. Press the clay gently to form a plate shape. Realize that any indentations in the form will be transferred to the damp clay.
5. Trim the edges of the porcelain clay off the form with a butter knife.Use your imagination to make the edge creative. Flat edges are not a prerequisite on a creative plate. The porcelain will direct you to the shape it wishes to become.
6. Smooth the edges of this damp clay with a wet sponge.
7. Press found objects into the moist clay to leave their impression.
8. Prop up any edges that have a tendency to slump out of the desired shape. You can use found objects to do this. Be aware that corners or any sharp edges will be molded into the wet clay and remain as an imprint as it dries. Rounded cans, therefore, are good props.
9. Move any found objects that are holding up your form as soon as the clay can maintain the desired shape without their assistance. This will take a minimum of 24 hours. Do not dry too quickly, as it may crack. Loosely-placed plastic wrap will slow drying time. Drying time depends on the temperature and humidity. Drying must be slow and even.
10. Remove your porcelain plate carefully from the plastic wrapped plate mold. When bone dry, handle porcelain with a gentle touch to avoid breakage and cracks.
11. Paint a design onto the dry porcelain plate form with glazes; these personal elements add to the creative component of your plate.
12. Fire in a kiln to cone six.
Tags: porcelain clay, porcelain plate, found objects, plastic wrap, clay with, damp clay, desired shape
