Serving Bowl
Approximate dimensions: 9.5″ x 9.5″ x 2.75″ (holds a bunch of bananas plus a few apples and oranges, or a salad for 3-4 people)
This form can hold up to three drawings: one on the inside surface, another wrapped around the outside, and a third within the foot.
Pictured: Rainbow serving bowl. Rim and foot show off the unglazed red clay body. Area within the foot has slip and spot glazes but not a shiny glaze. Stars are carved using a stencil pattern.
Materials: Red velvet clay body with white slip, colored glaze, and clear glaze.
Process: This form is created with a slab of red clay cut to fit into a plaster mold. Once the clay hardens a bit, I remove it from the mold and paint a white slip over the piece (with the exception of the foot and sometimes the rim). Then I draw pictures using a sgraffito technique. I may bisque fire at this stage, or if I’m doing a once-fire, continue with painting with spot colors and a top coat of clear shiny glaze. I fire in an electric kiln to cone 6, which is in the mid-fire range (roughly 1200 °C / 2200 °F). Finished bowl is food safe.