Bowl with Soul Using Blackjack Low Fire Clay By Karen Lowrey

21-Jan-16

Craft Tutorials, Blackjack Clay, Kiln Fire Clay

ACTÍVA Products

blackjack low fire kiln dry clay

This could be a fun classroom project to educate children about world hunger

and promote the “Empty Bowl” project. You could even play the game, “Simon says”,

and let each child roll out their own ball of clay and press it on the texture of the bottom

of their shoes. That’s why it is called a “Bowl with Soul”! While you are blending the

pieces of clay together, talk to the children about other people who go to bed hungry

every night. The bowls could be raffled off to raise money to donate to a local food bank!

I love using art to give back to the community!!
black jack low fire clay project

Materials needed:
2 lbs of ACTÍVA Products low fire clay
Buttons, stamps, texture on bottom of shoe or handmade stamps

(see Stampin in Style) to press into clay
Paper towel
Potter’s rib or plastic credit card
Sponge
Cornstarch (optional)
Plastic bowl that is smooth on bottom
Access to a kiln
Low fire glaze

Instructions:

Pull off wads of clay and roll into small balls.

working with low fire earthenware clay

blackjack low fire clay bowl tutorial

Take the paper towel and drape it over the plastic bowl so the clay will not stick

to the bowl. Take a ball of clay and pat it gently in the palm of your hand flattening slightly.

low fired kiln clay bowl tutorial

Take a stamp or button and press into the disc of clay. You can even use the

texture on the bottom of your shoe! You might need to dust the stamp with

cornstarch to avoid sticking. Try not to get the clay too thin when you press the

texture in. The clay should be about 3/8” thick.

stamp the low fire clay for texture

Place each disc of clay one by one textured side down on top of the paper

towel covered plastic bowl.

round earthenware clay for bowl

Blend the clay in a horizontal direction to keep the texture intact. Try not to

press into the bowl but gently blending from side to side.

make a clay bowl ceramics

When you have completely covered the bowl with clay discs, take a rubber

rib or a plastic credit card and gently smooth out the surface blending horizontally

shaping the low kiln fire clay to make the bowl

Keeping the bowl turned upside down, roll out a coil of clay and press around

the mouth of the bowl. If clay has become dry, you may need to spray lightly with

water and take a wooden skewer and score each piece (make crosshatch marks)

and slightly moisten to have the pieces adhere to each other.

make the rim of the earthenware bowl

adhere the rim of bowl for low fired clay bowl

Take a sponge and lightly smooth the bottom and sides of the bowl.

smooth the blackjack clay bowl

Gently flip the bowl over, leaving the plastic bowl inside and smooth and flute

the mouth of the bowl.

bowl made with earthenware clay tutorial

If you are very careful, you can get a sneak peek of your beautiful textured bowl

by gently removing the plastic bowl.

clay bowl before kiln firing

Place the clay bowl back on the paper towel covered plastic bowl and allow the

clay to begin to harden. Make sure to remove the plastic bowl when the clay bowl

is able to maintain its shape. The clay will shrink and if left on the plastic form too

long it may crack if not monitored closely. Let the bowl dry completely. Bisque fire

to 04 and glaze fire to 06 according to manufacturer’s directions. Only use food

safe glazes if this bowl is to come in contact with food.

low fire clay tutorial

Artwork and photography by Karen Lowrey

Download in PDF

2016-01-21