Three Easy Ways to Drape Mold Clay Slabs with an Added Footring

This video demonstrates how to make three variations of a simple drape molded forms using clay slabs. I create a footring for all three of the pieces. I am using a slab without texture in this video- but of course, you can make withtexture. My ceramics II students have a textured slab set project for which this technique really lends itself.
The clay slabs are rolled off camera. I ribbed each slab, then draped over the molds. I used a needle tool to cut UNDER the edge of the mold, being careful NOT to scratch the mold surface. That can ruin a mold. I cut the strips for the footrings, and scored, slipped, and compressed them on. When the forms are leatherhard, I then take them off the molds, and work on cleaning the rims. I use a combination of shredders/surforms, notched ribs, and ribs, then eventually compress the rim with wet fingers. Lastly, I show how I made two handles on the oval form- by using a flattened coil, and I textured it with a light towel between the clay and the texturing tool, and shaped the handles. In the case of these, I could leave the handles separate and glaze them individually then fuse together in the kiln, or just slip and score them on for attachment
The OVAL mold is a GR Pottery forms mold grpotteryforms.com/
I created a foot maker- which was a little piece of wood with two sharpened nails as I show in the video to cut the foot.
The ROUND wooden mold is from Bamboo Tools www.bambootools.com/moulds/Mou...
The Plaster mold I made in a previous video • Making Plaster Hump Mo...
For some other slab videos which go over the rolling process, check out some of these video links:
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 ...
For the video on me making the plaster mold check this link: • Making Plaster Hump Mo...
For a video on how I made the notched rib, check out this link: • Creating a Notched Rib...
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 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.
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!
Please subscribe to my channel if you would like to receive channel updates, or would like to learn more about clay and studio processes!

[@carlasmith2105]

As always, great tutorial. Your students are very lucky to have you as their instructor.

[@Neldidellavittoria]

Wonderful video, very well explained. Loved the idea of letting the handles loose for the bisque firing. I'm keeping this in my personal list.

[@sueannro]

Love these simple-to-understand tutorials. Thank you🇨🇦

[@claymazingartworks5682]

I have all the GR pottery forms. You always explain everything so well. I absolutely loved how simple and beautiful the handles were. I threw a 14" platter yesterday because I watched your video.. now I'm going to make those handles, So easy yet beautiful ❤

[@karenethier1981]

LOVE that you sped up the video. Thanks for making it.

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Glad you liked it!

[@2617diana]

Love your video! You covered everything and it wasn’t at all tedious and boring!!💕 I learned a lot!

[@galekrcmarik2043]

Karen - You make this look so simple. Thanks for helping us out.

[@micheledickey4066]

I watched this video quite a while back and have come back to it several times. I have used cardboard take out containers to make containers with and I make sure to make them look like what they are and everyone LOVES THEM!! They look like takeout but are of course ceramic and people can’t get enough of them. I just want to say that the lines on these can be a good thing.

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

That's a great idea!

[@Jenny-yl2hw]

Thank you for these tutorials. Concise and invaluable, thank you for sharing..

[@flynnpotter]

Awesome demo without all the fluff Thank You

[@meganwong5117]

Thanks for uploading!

[@RedEftDesigns]

Beautiful tray! And a great video too thanks!

[@starseedawakeningco]

This was great, going to use a combination of techniques for a platter project. thank you!

[@lachefademicasa8267]

thank you for this tutorial, it was very helpful for us to make our own pots at home with the kids

[@barbarac4138]

Great video. Miss watching your videos few times a week

[@artistmama1]

Thank you for a great instructional video! I am working on slab building, so this was very helpful.

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

awesome!! I'm so glad! :)

[@kiddywriter]

Yes...perfectly. Thanks so much!

[@jabeenirfan8218]

Very helpful tips. Thanks

[@marcelaolivares3320]

Thank you! You are a great teacher!

[@babymonkeyballz]

Wonderful instruction thank you!!

[@bconsilio3764]

Really nice handles-new type to me& I’ve been potting since’89

[@sarahjean4649]

You are an excellent instructor - thanks for your tutorials!

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

You're very welcome!

[@silviavolpiansky1557]

Gracias, como siempre muy clara y simple. Nuevamente gracias desde San Juan . Argentina

[@brianmitchell132]

I love do it yourself tools!

[@joanhurtado8677]

Lovely work

[@MrSozcumber]

Excellent craft skills and teaching steps 👍🇦🇺😎

[@alicebayematogo4060]

Thank’s for yours videos

[@seeker325]

po thisis it I just took up ceramics again after decades long hiatus, my shop owner daughter wants platters and trays . great video, cant waith to get started.

[@EdwardTyndall]

you are awesome i am so going to do this thank you you are a great teacher

[@kbee1735]

Excellent tips! Thx

[@marionjoy9475]

great teacher .. thanks so much

[@dannna259]

Thank you.... you helped me alot😍💜

[@natalielobo]

Thanks! From the Beginner :)

[@TariHuffaker]

I love your videos. Thanks for all the good tips and treasures from your experiences with clay.

[@PamSpaulding-vg9rh]

Love it.. learned just from watching you

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Thanks for watching!

[@incilakay2303]

thanks a lot Karan you are very special for us for you being so giving and good scholor. Know that it is highly appreciated by myself and my friends. Please have the pations to share your videoes.👍🌹🙏🤗❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@dawnfrappollo]

Lovely

[@KateMcElwee]

You are such an amazing teacher. Thank you for putting out such great videos. I really love your channel and teaching style.

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Awww, Thanks, Kate! :)

[@marciasilviajohnson6461]

Karan the foot maker you can make very easy with the corn holder from dollar store and they come in a set of 4, so you can have 3 extras for your kids at school. Jessica Putman Willians has a video how it is done. Maybe by now you know about it. I love to watch your videos and I learned so much, you’re a very good teacher 🤗🥰

[@clarewhitmore7155]

Really helpful video! Thanks. Can you expand on how you would stick handles onto piece after firing please?

[@vnagallery861]

You are amazing and so very well explained. I'm beginner and I'm happy to have seen your video to start with. Can you help me with tools that you are using esp to shape them

[@Lisy8002]

Firstly, you are one awesome teacher. You share all the little things that no one else does. I do have a question, why is the foot maker angled on one side and which side of pot do you put the angle? Does it matter if it is round or straight? Thanks

[@julietcutler7697]

Your videos are such a great resource! Thank you. I'm working with molds for the first time and I have a few questions for you: One, do you let the clay harden slightly once you roll it out but before you put it on the mold? Two, what is the tool you are using to remove the little bits of clay. It looks almost like a needle tool but with a brush on the end. The video is moving so fast there I can't really se it. Three, how do you attach the handles to the platter if you glaze and fire them separate?

[@Lisy8002]

Great video. How do you put a foot on a curved bottom without it rocking? I have oval pieces and if I put a coil or cut foot on, the outside edges of the new foot don’t touch the surface it is sitting on. Any help would be so appreciated... thank you

[@virginiacajueiro8716]

👏👏👏

[@Lisy8002]

Oops, one other question. I have been trying to make conical tumblers without tracing a paper cup etc. They all seem to end up lopsided. Do you have any templates you share or links to help me. I am also trying to make a conical shaped rounded rectangle shape like the GR form. Any, any, ANY Sort of help will be very much appreciated.

[@victoriabailey1958]

Karen, I was wondering if you use high fire or low fire clay? Thank you, I appreciate you explaining clearly the steps.

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Hi Victoria! This video is showing Stoneware - Standard Brand 153. You can certainly use lowfire clay for these too. I have chosen stoneware simply because when I made this for my Ceramics II students, they are utilizing these techniques on their Textured Slab Sets project which they are doing out of stoneware! For my personal pottery at home, I typically use Laguna B mix with grog- which is a white stoneware! :)

[@victoriabailey1958]

@@KaransPotsAndGlass thank you so much. So when you fire the stoneware .. Is it fire to cone 6 ? Thanks

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

My stoneware is cone 6... you just need to make sure you get the right cone. There’s also cone 10- and you don’t want to mix those up!

[@carolespake2350]

Hello! Loved this video- I am wondering whether you could direct me as to where to find a rubber pad such as the one you used to press your oval mold? Thanks!

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Any fabric store would have them! It’s just upholstery foam! :)

[@carolrthomas1360]

Great tutorial, nice job making your own foot tool. Narrating versus live filming seems to work very well for you. Thanks for the lesson.

[@carolrthomas1360]

Lesson

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Thanks so much! I'm going to experiement with a few other designs too- and I'll show in future videos!

[@osamamohaned5229]

ممتاز جدا وجميل

[@KK-nj8nb]

Is it easy to take the slabs off the moulds?

[@Lulu-xz9xz]

how long should the porter stay in the mold

[@deborahdallatore1438]

Great video. Approximately how long does it take to get to leather hard?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

It depends on the porosity of the mold and the environment in which you have it stored! I can store them on the molds in a damp cabinet overnight uncovered and those can become leatherhard. Controlled even drying is the most important thing.

[@shivaranjinimn436]

Where can I get this clay?

[@lorirogers1911]

Fantastic video, I really learned a lot! Sorry for the beginner question, but how thick are the slabs that you are draping? Will thickness differ based on the type of Clay--brown or white stoneware? Thanks so much for your help!

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Slabs differ on the size you need it to be - smaller slabs can be thinner- larger slabs thicker. Whether a clay has grog is another consideration along with the moisture of the clay when rolling. The slabs for those in the video ranged from 1/4” to 3/8”! You have to experiment with your clay!

[@marynigro9271]

I have used the GR forms and love them. Do you have any advice for drying? I find most of the issues I have with these to be warping.

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

I get the clay off the molds at the earliest stage possible! As soon as I have my footring on, and it begins to stiffen and not warp I remove to avoid over-wetting the molds! They also go moldy and the particles expand- which I’m afraid will ruin them with repeated exposure to it!

[@kiddywriter]

How wet should the slab be for the “push mold”

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

It needs to be a plastic to a slightly stiffer plastic. It should be able to bend easily without cracking. Does that explain enough?

[@lindatortorice9356]

What slab thickness do you like to use?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Hi Linda- it depends on how big the form is! For the two larger ones on the circular molds, I used 3/8" slabs, and for the elongated oval platter, I just used 1/4". That is my recommendation for my students, based on their experience and our clay that we use! :)

[@nehirtukenmez7942]

hello! how long did you wait before you took the plates out of the “mold”? i use a plate covered with stretch film and i never know when to take it out, i feel like if i leave it too long i won’t be able to get it out so i take it out too early and it wraps the shape :(

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

When it is a stiff leatherhard. How long depends upon your conditions as it dries.

[@sueannro]

I usually use old t-shirts that I have cut flat....back or front. Clay dries evenly and then I can pull it out of form easily.

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Nice idea!

[@cindylatter3997]

Do ou prefer a plaster mold over the Gr? Which is your favorite?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

It truly depends on the forms. I love the GR forms for the tray type of forms... and love the plaster molds when I want a dome!!! :) Sorry to be indecisive- but I love them both! :)

[@katona01]

Where can I buy a large sponge board like the one in the video?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

From a fabric store in the upholstery section! Or take one out of a discarded chair or couch cushion!

[@markaimerito5244]

Approximately how thick do you make the slabs?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Good question!! So, if the pieces are smaller than a dinner plate, I often recommend 1/4"! But, since all of these are slightly larger, I recommend 3/8". That being said, that is based on my cone 6 claybodies. Some people may find the large ones can be thinner. But, I find that thinner than 3/8" may warp with the clay we use in my classroom!

[@dancingstarlets5637]

What kind of clay is this? Also it is low or high fire?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

That information is normally in my video description- in this video, I am using standard 153, a nice midrange firing stoneware

[@ImperialistRunningDo]

How do frog potters remove the canvas texture from clay? Ribbit. Ribbit. Ribbit.

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Haaaahaaaahaaa!

[@lindagoldberg2325]

How thick do you roll the slabs?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Depends on the size of the forms. In this video, I did 3/8".

[@bellaandgrace1]

What clay are you using?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Standard 225 is a forgiving stoneware I use in my classroom with my kids. It has a nice light toasty color at cone 6. www.standardclay.com/products/225-brown-clay

[@jenniferwade727]

Can someone help me, please? I'm using the oval mold to make a tray, and they are warping as they dry. The first one I took off the mold & set it on the foot ring. The second one, I left on the mold as it died. Am I doing something wrong?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

How thick is your clay slab, and what kind of clay are you using?

[@jenniferwade727]

@@KaransPotsAndGlass B mix w grog, 1/4‐inch slab

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Well, depending on how big an oval you’re making, you may want to go to a thicker slab. Also- be very careful to only allow EVEN drying. If one edge dries more quickly then another area you will get warping! Try using a heavy towel over the pieces as they dry!

[@jenniferwade727]

@@KaransPotsAndGlass it's the same oval you used in this video. I'll try to slow the drying process next time. Thanks!

[@gouharshabana3195]

Ingredients name show me

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

I don't know what ingredients you mean. Check the video description for more detailed information. If you are on a DESKTOP- you will find the video description underneath the video and title. If you are on a MOBILE DEVICE, you will see the title below the video, then look to the right for a little ‘arrow’ which becomes a drop-down menu. Open that drop down menu, and the video description will be visible. In both cases, your video cannot be playing full screen while viewing the video description.

[@user-oc4is2pz9d]

תפסיקו לשלוח פרסומות!!! לא מתכוונת לקנות מכם

[@Lisy8002]

Oops, one other question. I have been trying to make conical tumblers without tracing a paper cup etc. They all seem to end up lopsided. Do you have any templates you share or links to help me. I am also trying to make a conical shaped rounded rectangle shape like the GR form. Any, any, ANY Sort of help will be very much appreciated.