How to Make an Easy Drape Molded Clay Slab Bowl with a Footring - An Empty Bowls Project!

This video is one of the easiest ways to make a really good looking bowl! This is a really great technique for the beginner! Even little kids can come out with a really nice bowl using this method! I am using a soft slab with texture in this video- but of course, you can make it without texture.
I made this for my students for their Pick A Passion project, where they have to find a new technique to learn on their own. My ceramics II students also have a textured slab set project for which this technique really lends itself.
Below are links to a couple of playlists you may find helpful, and some other great beginner slab videos!
Textured Slab Set Playlist:
• Best Textured Slab Vid...
Pick a Passion Playlist:
• Pick A Passion Project
Slab cylinder bowl: • Textured Slab Bowls Fr...
Slab cylinder cups: • Three Variations on Ma...
Tripod Cylinder cups: • How to make a Tripod T...
Cylinder cup with squared bottom: • Creating a Round Slab ...
The slabs are rolled using my 3/8” thick hardwood slab sticks and a rolling pin. I then ribbed/compressed the slabs before adding texture. The rib is a Mudtools rib (see googledoc) and the compression of the surface adds strength to the slab to help prevent cracking. I use the Kemper Wire Tool for scoring the feet and attachments. (See my doc below for links to the tools). I do use a round template to cut out the clay BEFORE I drape the clay onto the mold- it helps to prevent accidents of students gouging my molds with the needle tools… (Despite how much I explain NOT to gouge them… it happens) I added slab footrings immediately after having rolled out the slabs and draped them. You could add the next day, but if you have time do it when you mold it! When leatherhard, I popped off the mold (place thumbs in the middle of the pot and push down while lifting the sides up.) I leveled the rims with a surform, and for one, I smoothed the rim with a notched card, ribs, and compressed with wet fingers. The second bowl, I used a small textured coil to slip and score to the top, and blended the attachment on the inside. The third bowl I flattened a bigger coil, and scored slipped, and wrapped the edge!
When everything is finished, I don’t believe I mention it, but EVEN DRYING is of the greatest importance for even drying. I flip them upside down, and possibly I cover mine with a bath towel, which holds in moisture but allows even drying. It took a couple of days to dry before I could fire.
The glazes I used in the two finished bowls are: Coyote Key lime (green) Coyote Dusty Rose and Coyote Rainy day. All three of those are excellent at showing texture as they are part of their celadon series.
Check out my Amazon Influencer Store where I have recommendations for some of my favorite tools and products many of which I use in my videos- which are available on Amazon. www.amazon.com/shop/karanspot...
For the great tools I used in the video (including the MKM rollers and the wooden Kemper tools) check out this link to a live Googledoc I continually update with lots of my favorite tools on Amazon using my associate links! (also some non-amazon suggestions on here!)
docs.google.com/document/d/1X...
In this video, I am using standard 153, a nice midrange firing stoneware in my classroom.
I am a public high school ceramics teacher at William Mason High School in Mason, Ohio. (Mason is currently the largest high school in Ohio!) As a potter, I have been working in clay for over 30 years, and I have been teaching for over 28 years, the past 20 have been specifically teaching high school ceramics. I love what I do! I have my own studio in my home basement, where I work on my personal pottery for my Etsy site; www.etsy.com/shop/KaransPotsA...
I started my KZbin channel a few years ago, to make videos to help my students if they are absent and miss a demo, or if they would like to explore more advanced techniques independently. I have been amazed to reach such a wider audience than my own students!
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