Ceramic hobby involves lengthy process
By Joan Janzen
Creative hobbies are especially popular during the winter months on the prairies. Ceramics is a sought-after hobby of choice, so much so that local ceramic clubs find they do not have enough room to accommodate everyone who is interested in their workshops.
This is the case for Delaney Smith, who is one of four members of the Leader Ceramic Club in Leader, Sask. Their space is limited, and so the club handles a very limited number of participants. Delaney also noted that a great deal of preparation, time, and resources are required to prepare for classes, which can take up to two months prior to the workshop.
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“The process is long,” Delaney explained. “You must pour, wait, clean, first fire in the kiln, wait for the kiln to cool and repeat. And with only having one mold of a lot of our products, this takes even longer.” Since the time-consuming process limits the number of participants, Delaney was willing to share the lengthy process with our readers.
The following is a description of the process which took place during a recent ceramic Christmas tree workshop. It begins with the mixing of liquid clay, which is poured into both the tree mold and the base mold. A waiting period follows until it solidifies, after which it is gently removed from the mold.
The ceramic product which has not yet been fired in a kiln is known as greenware. After it has been allowed to dry completely, it is gently buffed and sanded to remove any imperfections and break lines from the pouring process. With great care, holes are drilled in the back of the base so a power cord can be attached later on, as well as holes on the branches and tree top for lights and a star.
Now, the tree can be fired in the kiln, and after a few days, the kiln is opened after it has cooled completely. “If you open the kiln too soon after firing, the piece could break,” Delaney advised.
The tree which has been fired is now referred to as bisque and is ready to be glazed. After selecting one of many options and ensuring the glaze is the proper consistency, it is applied in three even layers with a soft fan brush. This will avoid streaking.
At this point, the tree is allowed to dry before being re-fired in the kiln. Once again, the kiln is opened after it has completely cooled. Now, the glazed and fired tree is ready to be decorated. A snow look is achieved by applying snow tex, and glitter is added directly onto the wet snow for sparkle. The snow will harden and dry, before the lights and star are added and siliconed into place. Last of all, the cord is strung through the base.
The end result is a testament to the work and creativity of the ceramic club’s members and the workshop participants who provided their personal creativity.