Ceramic Mixing Bowls

Every fine kitchen deserves a quality set of ceramic mixing bowls. See how they are made from raw clay to the kitchen counter.

The key to making a quality set is getting the size and shape right so they stack together well.

Size

To get the size just right, begin by measuring out three balls of clay.

Before

After

In the photos above you can see how I divided the clay into progressively larger pieces to create each bowl.

I know the balls of clay look kind of huge. Keep in mind the photos of the balls of clay are not to scale with the photos of the bowls.

I typically divide the clay by size rather than weight.

If you are going by weight and the first ball is one and a half pounds, the second should be two pounds and the third should be two and a half pounds.

Shape

To get consistent shapes for the whole set, the key is good comparison. You have to look at the pots from different angles to match up the shapes well.

Tip: Place a mirror across from you so that you can see the shape of the pot from the side without having to lean over every time.

As you throw the second and third bowls, compare them often to the first bowl to create matching shapes.

They should grow progressively wider and taller so that the smaller ones will fit inside the larger ones.

Lift the pot off the wheel on it's bat and hold it up to the other pots for comparison.

Tip: You can cut out a cardboard template for each size beforehand.

Compare the template to the outside of the pot from time to time as you refine the shape.

Throwing Tips

Here is a great trick to forming a strong, attractive, large bowl.

First, throw a slightly thicker- than- normal cylinder.



Make sure it is on center and you have trimmed any wobble off the rim.

Then, pull the cylinder slowly open into your bowl shape. Start at the bottom and work your way up to the rim. Use plenty of water.

You can refine the shape a little bit at this point, but try not to make drastic changes as this compromises the strength of the walls.

Finishing

Leave a nice solid rim to give it increased strength.

Tip: This is my favorite trick in all of pottery making! Use a small one by three inch strip cut from a plastic grocery bag to finish your rim.

Wrap it gently over the rim while your pot is spinning and it will polish the rim to a perfectly smooth rounded finish. Words can hardly express the incredible results you can achieve with such a simple technique.

That's all there is to it. You'll often want to throw four or five pots to get the perfect set of three ceramic mixing bowls. The extras can be discarded or used as individual pasta bowls.

See the section on painting clay pots with glaze and also check out the section about firing pottery for help finishing your pots.

I hope you enjoyed this lesson and Happy Potting.

Return From Ceramic Mixing Bowls
To Intermediate Projects

Return From Ceramic Mixing Bowls
To Home