How to Make a Coil Pot from a Mold

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Pottery Clay
Round Bowl
Newspaper
Rolling Pin
Needle Tool
Plastic Fork
Small paint brush
access to a potter's wheel (optional)
Small Rubber Rib

Step 1

Use an even side to side motion with your hands to lengthen the snakes.

ROLL CLAY SNAKES.
On a pourous surface such as a canvas covered work area or a taped down pastry mat, begin to roll pottery clay into 1/2 inch diameter snakes. The length does not matter at this point. The number of snakes depends on the size of the desired piece. Once the snakes are made, cover them with plastic to prevent them from drying out too quickly.
Step 2

The round form in this picture is the top to a resealable container.

USE A BOWL AS A MOLD.
To create the base of your piece, begin by finding a round form big enough that when traced onto a clay slab, the slab will be large enough to fit into the bowl and 1 to 2 inches up the side. ( You might use a cooking pot lid or the bottom of a flower pot, etc...) With a rolling pin, roll out a slab of clay approximately 1/2 inch deep and large enough to accomodate the round form. Using a needle tool trace the form onto the slab and cut the shape out.
Step 3

Try to make the top rim as even as possible between each coil.

FIT A SLAB OF CLAY INTO THE MOLD TO CREATE A BASE.
Line the bowl (mold) with one sheet of newspaper cut down to fit the inside of the bowl. When placed in the bowl the newspaper will fold over itself. With your fingers, crease these folds in order to get them to fit as flatly to the sides of the bowl as possible. Gently place your slab inside of the bowl. The slab will fold over itself. Use your fingers to work these folds flat against the sides of the bowl. Horizontally flatten down the rim of the base in order to create a flat surface for the clay snakes.
Step 4

If the coil is not long enough to stretch around the circumference of the rim, slip and score another snake to it.

SCORE AND SLIP THE SNAKES TO THE BASE TO BUILD UP SIDES.
Using the plastic fork, mark and score the rim completely around the base. Using the paint brush, spread the slip over the score marks. Place one of the rolled snakes on top of the slip. Gently press the snake down and into the clay base below so that it is secure. Continue this process until the piece reaches the desired height and shape.
Step 5

This piece was smoothed and evened using the potter's wheel.

TRIM THE RIM.
To create an even rim, one method is to use a ruler and make marks to specific height all the way around the rim. Then trim the excess clay off using your needle tool. Run a wet finger all the way around the rim to soften the clay and create a nice surface.
Another method can be used if you have access to a potter's wheel. Place the piece, while still inside the mold, onto the wheel head. Center the bowl and secure it using scrap clay attached at the base of the bowl. Now you can spin the wheel and sure up the sides of the piece with a small rubber rib then use the needle tool to cut off any excess clay from the rim. Dont forget to soften the edges of the rim to create a smooth surface.
Step 6

SLOWLY DRY THE PIECE.
Cover the piece with a plastic until the piece firms a bit. It will feel like a slab of cheese. Gently take the piece out of the mold and use a rubber rib to smooth the sides and correct any creases that the newspaper may have made. When you are satisfied, cover the piece back up to prevent uneven drying which causes cracks. Fire and glaze as your specific clay requires.