Ardmore Ceramics

Ardmore Ceramics
South African Designers and Group

¢  Definition: Grog (noun) is clay which has been fired then ground up. It is used to reduce shrinkage in clay bodies.

¢  Examples: For handbuilding, grog in a clay body reduces the shrinkage and makes it less likely that a piece will crack during drying and firing.

¢  Grog is used in pottery and sculpture to add a gritty, rustic texture called "tooth"; it also reduces shrinkage and aids even drying. This prevents defects such as cracking, crow feet patterning, and lamination. The coarse particles open the green clay body to allow gases to escape. It also adds structural strength to hand-built and thrown pottery during shaping although it can diminish fired strength

¢  A slip is a suspension in water of clay and/or other materials used in the production of ceramic ware

¢  A slip may be made for various reasons:

¢  As a means of mixing the constituents of a body; in which case it is subsequently dewatered.

¢  Used decoratively when placed onto a leather-dry clay body surface by dipping, painting or splashing, this is often described as slipware. Slipware may be carved or burnished to change the surface appearance of the ware.

¢  To join unfired pieces such as handles and spouts. This is a common, but not universal, method.

¢  The slip may be a different color than the underlying clay body or offer other decorative qualities.

¢  1. Begin with a ball of clay. 

¢  Push your thumb into the centre

¢  2. Turn the piece as you pinch. 

¢  This will help you to keep

¢  an even thickness in the walls

¢  of the piece

¢  3. Gently pat the bottom on a flat

¢  surface to create a flat spot on the

¢  bottom of the piece