Ceramics & Pottery: Attaching a Coffee Mug Handle

Video Transcript

" Hi! My name is Vincent Sansone. I am the Head of the Ceramics Department here at Crealde School of Art here in Winter Park. Today for Expert Village I am going to show you how to apply a handle to a coffee mug. So first I mix some softer clay and I take a little piece of it and I am going to shape this into a carrot shape. Next I am going to flatten it out because I want to make the shape of the piece end up being a strap handle with a thick end and a thin end. So I am going to try and get it as close to that kind of shape before I attach this piece of clay. Take the excess clay off and then I score the area where I am going to attach the handle using this needle tool. Okay. Now with some slip I will make the surface sticky and then I am going to push the handle on to the surface pushing the clay up to the pot, making sure all of it is attached well, top and bottom, okay. Everything appears to be attached properly. Now, I am going to hold this at the most comfortable possible position I can. Get my hand wet and wet the surface of the handle, so that is nice and slippery and then I will begin to pull the handle into the shape that I want and keep moving my hand position. Keep trying to thin it out, till I get it just right. Okay, now I would like put a groove in the middle of my handle. So, I use my knuckle to do that and then I run my thumbnail down to the center just because I like that line and then make sure I have enough room to get my hand in there and I push it down in the center, 1, 2, 3 and then I will shape it and make sure my finger fit in there."