Handbuild for Dummies

Hey there! Let's talk about the word "handbuild." Have you ever wondered what it means? Well, don't worry, I've got you covered! Handbuild is a term often used in the world of art and pottery. It refers to the process of creating something - like a sculpture or a ceramic piece - using your hands and simple tools, without the use of a potter's wheel or any other machinery.

Imagine you're playing with a big ball of clay. You take a small piece and begin shaping it with your hands. You add some clay here, pinch it there, and smooth it out with your fingers. Voila! You've just handbuilt something. It's like crafting a unique artwork or pottery piece with your very own hands, similar to how a painter uses a brush to create a beautiful painting.

Now, let me go into more depth and describe the process of handbuilding.

When you handbuild, you start by taking a block of clay, which is soft and malleable. You can roll it into a ball, like you would a lump of Play-Doh. Then, you can shape it into various forms like coils, slabs, or pinch pots. Coils are long, snake-like shapes made by rolling the clay between your hands. Slabs are flat pieces of clay that you can cut into different shapes and join together. Pinch pots are made by pinching and shaping the clay using just your fingers. These are some of the basic handbuilding techniques.

Once you have your clay in the desired form, you can start adding details and textures to make it more interesting. You can use your fingers or various tools like wooden spatulas, toothpicks, or even seashells to create patterns or carve designs into the clay surface. This is where you get to unleash your creativity and make your handbuilt piece truly unique!

After you have finished shaping and decorating your handbuilt creation, it needs to dry before it's ready for the next step. This process is called the drying or leather hard stage. During this stage, the clay slowly loses moisture and becomes firm but still has some flexibility. It's like a piece of bread that has been left out for a while and has become crusty on the outside but still soft on the inside.

Once your handbuilt piece is thoroughly dry, it's ready to be fired in a kiln. Firing is a process of heating the clay at high temperatures, which makes it hard and durable. It's like when you bake a cake in the oven - the heat transforms the raw ingredients into a delicious, solid cake!

After the first firing called the bisque firing, you can choose to glaze your handbuilt piece. Glaze is a special type of liquid that contains minerals and colors. It's like putting paint on your clay creation. The glaze adds a beautiful finish and can make your piece glossy, matte, or even add texture.

Finally, your handbuilt piece is ready for its final firing, also known as the glaze firing. This second firing melts the glaze and fuses it with the clay, giving your piece its final appearance. It's like when you put the cake back in the oven after you've frosted it - the heat helps the frosting solidify and become even more tasty!

So, to sum it all up, "handbuild" means creating something with your hands using clay or other materials, without the use of machinery. It involves shaping, decorating, drying, and firing the clay to transform it into a unique piece of art or pottery. It's a hands-on and creative process that allows you to express yourself and make something amazing right in the palm of your hands!