Make a Clay Pumpkin
Using basic tools and stoneware clay, make an enclosed form pumpkin.
Materials:
1 tennis ball-sized ball of clay, plus a pinch of clay for making stem
Needle tool
Wooden smoothing tool
serrated metal rib
smooth metal rib
blue rib
Water or slip
How to:
Divide your tennis ball-sized piece of clay into 2 clay balls and make 2 pinch pots. Make sure the edges will line up when you go to attach them. The 2 halves should be equal thickness (about 1/4”) but they don’t necessarily have to be equal size or shape, as long as the edges line up.
Score these flattened edges on both halves and paint them with slip.
Now, press the two halves together, stitching the seam with your wooden smoothing tool.
Next go over the seam with the serrated metal rib.
Smooth the surface with the metal rib, and paddle the form with your blue rib to change the shape if desired.
Compress the bottom of the form onto the table so that it doesn roll. Use your finger to depress the top where you will apply the stem.
Using the wooden smoothing tool, create channels at even spaces around the form, compressing the sides of each channel to give the pumpkin sections their form.
Next, make a stem from the smaller piece of clay. Keep it nice and thick so it will be strong! Tamp one end on the table to flatten it and make it a little wider than the other end.
Score both the bottom of the stem and top of your pumpkin where the stem will go and use slip to attach the two pieces, blending the seam well.
Take a small slice off the end of your stem with a wooden smoothing tool to make it look like it was just harvested from the field!
Now, use a pencil or wooden smoothing tool to ‘draw’ vertical lines on your pumpkin. Keep dividing the surface of your pumpkin in half until you’ve created eight sections.
You can use your finger to press in slightly along these lines and smooth the edges. Then press in a little on the bottom of your pumpkin, where the lines intersect. This will help it to rest firmly on the table without wobbling!
Very important!! Use your needle tool to poke at least one hole in your pumpkin in an inconspicuous place. This hole allows steam (from the moisture in your clay) to escape as your pumpkin is being fired. Your pumpkin could explode in the kiln if you forget this step!
Make a clay pumpkin, enclosed form with vent hole.
