How to Process Raw Clay for Pottery
Naturally you wouldn't want to make pottery from clay you dug out of the ground yourself, filled with rocks and organic matter. But even when you buy it from a supplier who does dig it from the ground and refine it for artisan use, you still must prepare it for the wheel. Some clays are "pugged" in a pug mill before wedging, but all clay must be wedged before use, to make the clay consistent and ensure there are no air pockets which may shatter the clay while firing. The simpler wedging method is called "Cow Head Wedging."
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Instructions
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Cut a piece of your clay, about the size of a cantaloupe, or a double-handful. Set it onto your work table, firmly so one side is flattened, and hold it by its sides, in both hands.
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Shove down firmly on the clay, pressing it onto the surface of your work table with the heels of your hands so that it flattens some. But not too much. It's called "Cow's Head Wedging" because the shape of the slightly flattened lump looks somewhat like an animal head with large, thick ears.
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Draw the flattened sides of the clay lump up and over the lump, and press them back into the lump. Repeat, turning the lump regularly to keep it a more or less round shape, until the clay is a smooth consistency and any air has been pressed out.
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Shape the clay into a loaf and divide the piece according to your project.
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Tips & Warnings
Know what you're going to make before you begin the process. It's helpful in achieving the goal of your finished project. Deciding after you've begun can result in errors that are hard to fix.
Take care not to create new air bubbles by flattening the clay too much before folding back onto the lump.
