The CLAY Book, Its Technology, Handling, and Application In An Art Studio, As It Was Used At Studios West.

We owe our success and survival as an art studio for twenty years largely to what we knew about clay. This book recounts all we knew and understood about the ceramist’s media. Most of our work was functional ceramic sculpture; that is what sold. In a livelihood situation, you make what sells.

These books on various aspects of ceramics are our efforts to transfer the experience and knowledge of a lifetime to those coming after us. It is full of stories that recount what we did and what we encountered.

If you claim to be a Master Ceramist, you should already know the contents of this book. Otherwise, it is required reading for the ceramist.

The book concludes with a color photo gallery of our works. It is offered as proof for the clay formulation presented in this book. That's what caused the price increase.

Table of Contents:

Foreword.

Preface. Acknowledgments.

Illustrations and Tables Are In Italics.

About Clay And the Studio. Making The Cut. Definition Of Clay.What’s In The Book.

Studios West. Outside. Main Studio. What We Did. Studio South Wall. Studio West Wall. Main Studio. Main Studio From Weaving Loft. View Of Main Studio And 16 Foot Bench.

Chapter 1: The Basics. Clay Body Requirements. Clay Body Selection. Firing Maturity. Economics Of Ceramics. Clays For Different Applications. General Purpose Clay. SW-1A Clay Body. Clay For Sculpture And Large Works. Grog Content In Clay For Large Pieces. Color Plugs. Tesserae. Flameware Clay. Glaze Fitting. Clay Colorants. Application. Direct Working. Modeling. Covering. Clay Storage. Mold Form Making. Mold Making As Insurance. Press Molds And Duplication. Moisture Content. Progressive Drying. Drying.Test Tile.

Chapter 2. Basic Clay Minerals. Composition Of A Clay Body. Plastic And Non-Plastic Clays. Ball Clays. Kaolins. Plastic Vitrox. Fluxes. Feldspars. Clay Colorants. Grog. Manufactured Grog. Plaster. Storage. Spent Plaster. Wax. Mold Soap. Replication Of An Antique Tile. Composition Of A Clay Body. Hydrated Sheet Structure Minerals. Thermal Changes In Kaolin. Feldspars. Colorants For Studios West Basic Clay.

Chapter 3: Making A Clay Body. Processing Clay. Mixing Clay. White Clay. Moisture Control. Homogeneity In A Mass Of Clay. Moisture. Chemistry. Description Of The Analysis Chart. Hardness. Carbon. To Use The Table. Mixing Time. Clay For Extrusion And Pressing. Press Molding. Clay Extruding. Pugging, Wedging, And Rolling Clay. Drying Clay. Clay Density And Specific Gravity. Compatibility Of Clay Bodies. Firing. The Act Of Vitrification. Reclaiming Clay. Quality Control. Safety Concerns. Plaster. Review Of Clay Properties. Clay Analysis Chart, First And Second Halves; Formula Side, First And Second Halves. Clay Boat For Dewatering Mixed Clay. Clay Water Content. Studios West K-3 Car Kiln, 28 Cubic Foot Volume. Kiln Area - Kiln Furniture Storage. Mechanical Factors That Affect A Clay Body.

Chapter 4: Testing. Important Characteristics. Moisture Content. Shrinkage. To Make A Shrink Ruler. Draw Test. Safety Note. The Plasticity Of Clay. Porosity And Vitrification. The Measurement Sample. Hardness. Gravimetrics. Measurement. Microscope. Test Piece For Shrink And Absorption Tests. Shrink Rule. Draw Test Pieces. Plasticity Test Piece. Porosity By Firing Type. Mho’s Scale Of Hardness.

Chapter 5: Clay Processing Equipment What To Do. Equipment For The Studio. Material Handling. Sources. Clay Mixer. Brick Cutting. Forge And Welding. Woodworking Tools. Crushing And Milling Machines. Ball Mills. Ball Milling. Screens. Mixing A Batch Of Clay. Non-Plastic Ingredients. Ball Clay Slip. Timing. Dewatering. Cleaning The Mixer. Water Removal - Dewatering. What To Do. Grain Patterns In The Clay. Pug Mills. Wedging. Materials Handling. Raw Materials. Handling Finished Works. Clay Mixer, A Design Montage. Milling Machine And Jaw Crusher. Ball Mills. Clay Mixing Area 1, 2, 3. Clay Working Area. Glaze Area.

Chapter 6: Safety In The Studio. General Safety Considerations. Written Safety Test. Lifting, Moving, And Hauling. Dust Considerations. Poisons. Explosions. Cleanliness In The Studio. Cleanliness. Air Dust Content And Breathing. Ceramic Materials Poison Chart.

Chapter 7: Economy And Ecology Economize Or Perish. Conservation. Reclaiming Clay. Plaster. Sewer And Drain Considerations. Single Firing. Cost Reduction. Safety For The Piece. Ecology. Making Grog. Manufactured Grog. Business Practices. Another Proof. Drain Trap For Sewer Protection.

Chapter 8: Results And Conclusion. Results and Conclusion. The Beginning. Choice Of Location. Art Fairs And Malls. The Studios West Gallery. The Farm. Examples Of Our Work. An Assembly Of Pictures Of Our Work. A description of each photograph appears below or after each set. White Wall Fountain. Wall Fountain. Extruded Clay As Tile. Fishing Bear, A Pond Sculpture. Lizard Walk . Entry Light Fixture. Baptismal Font. Pew Tile. Altar Candlesticks. Table And Stools. Snake Wall Sculpture. Fireplace. Dragon. Wall Hanging. Wall Decoration. Screen. Fountain. Scrapbook Of Sketches. Fern and Ralph, 1970.

Further Reading.

ISBN: 0-939656-49-3, $41.95

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Ceramics Series Page

December 13, 2008