We have lots of posts on Ceramic Arts Network on making bisque stamps for pottery. But I am not sure we have one on making spherical bisque stamps. Making round, rolling stamps is a great way to get texture on a slab that is continuous and doesn't have a sharp edge.
First, flatten a bit of clay and try out your texture tools. This practice run gives you an idea of how much pressure to apply and how much the clay spreads when making impressions close together.
When you are happy with the test it’s time for the fun part! Roll your clay into a sphere. It doesn’t have to be perfect but try to make it as sphere-like and smooth as you can. Start pressing texture tools onto the sphere (1). Try to press
straight in and pull out on an angle. Be gentle—you don’t want to distort the shape. I start with bigger tools and then use smaller ones in the gaps. Keep turning the ball to get an even distribution of the texture. For the bigger holes,
I will hold the sphere in my hand to add the pattern. If you apply too much pressure while it sits on your work surface your ball will flatten. The soft curve of your palm can help keep it round as you work. Regardless of whether or not I have it
in my hand or on my work surface, I regularly stop and reshape the sphere as I add texture.
Keep going until you are happy with the pattern on the ball (2). You can’t really test how the pattern will come out until after it’s fired, so I recommend making a couple of spheres. There might be one that you prefer.
Drying and Firing
As any potter knows, putting anything that damp in the kiln could result in an exploded piece. Someone commented on my Instagram reel, “Did you make it hollow so it doesn’t explode?” I didn’t, as you don’t want to have a
cavity full of air inside it. The only way to fire these spheres is to allow them to dry completely. The way I tell if a piece is dry is by checking its weight and temperature. When the ball feels light and is room temperature to the touch, then it’s
safe to fire, as these attributes usually indicate the water has fully evaporated from the clay (3). Once you do put them in the kiln, I recommend giving them some exploding space, just to be safe.
You can find Emma Jackson on Instagram at @thesilverspot.
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Published Jul 29, 2024
PS. For more tips on using round bisque stamps, check out the full article in the July/August 2024 issue of Pottery Making Illustrated. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today!
Creating the Spheres
First, flatten a bit of clay and try out your texture tools. This practice run gives you an idea of how much pressure to apply and how much the clay spreads when making impressions close together.
When you are happy with the test it’s time for the fun part! Roll your clay into a sphere. It doesn’t have to be perfect but try to make it as sphere-like and smooth as you can. Start pressing texture tools onto the sphere (1). Try to press straight in and pull out on an angle. Be gentle—you don’t want to distort the shape. I start with bigger tools and then use smaller ones in the gaps. Keep turning the ball to get an even distribution of the texture. For the bigger holes, I will hold the sphere in my hand to add the pattern. If you apply too much pressure while it sits on your work surface your ball will flatten. The soft curve of your palm can help keep it round as you work. Regardless of whether or not I have it in my hand or on my work surface, I regularly stop and reshape the sphere as I add texture.
Keep going until you are happy with the pattern on the ball (2). You can’t really test how the pattern will come out until after it’s fired, so I recommend making a couple of spheres. There might be one that you prefer.
Drying and Firing
As any potter knows, putting anything that damp in the kiln could result in an exploded piece. Someone commented on my Instagram reel, “Did you make it hollow so it doesn’t explode?” I didn’t, as you don’t want to have a cavity full of air inside it. The only way to fire these spheres is to allow them to dry completely. The way I tell if a piece is dry is by checking its weight and temperature. When the ball feels light and is room temperature to the touch, then it’s safe to fire, as these attributes usually indicate the water has fully evaporated from the clay (3). Once you do put them in the kiln, I recommend giving them some exploding space, just to be safe.
You can find Emma Jackson on Instagram at @thesilverspot.
Unfamiliar with any terms in this article? Browse our glossary of pottery terms!
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