Every wheel thrown pot comes from a cylinder. Vases are tall thin ones and plates are short fat ones but they all begin as a cylinder, and bowls are no exception.

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The cylinder is drawn to the desired height and then shaping begins.Cindy demonstrates throwing a bowl with the Perfect Profile Rib..

Here's a video of the Perfect Profile Rib being used on a large plate.

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Excess water is removed from the bowl with a sponge which also smoothes the surface and contributes to the strength of the finished bowl when it is in your kitchen environment.

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The freshly thrown bowl is then removed from the wheel and allowed to dry to a "leather hard" state at which point it can be trimmed to remove excess clay from the bottom and establish a foot.

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Cindy demonstrates trimming a bowl on the wheel.

Once the pot is trimmed it is again set on the shelf to dry. This will take several days for a bowl this size as the drying rate must be carefully controlled to prevent cracking. We have found these bakers racks are ideal for drying as they allow a uniform air flow around the pieces. Plastic sheets enclose the shelves and are adjusted to control the drying rate.

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