Here's a quick look into a potter's circle.

Each piece begins as a lump of clay, either mined from the earth or (more likely) purchased from a supplier.  A session on the wedging table gets all the clay particles going the same direction and ready to be centered on the wheel or manipulated by hand.  After the piece is partially dry, it is trimmed and given a final shape. When the work is totally dry it is fired to the bisque stage.  Now it can be handled and glazed with less chance of breakage.   Next the piece is high fired to about 2300o F.  - a process that takes about 2-3 days.

I love every aspect of pottery making....except perhaps the exhausting routine of stocking supplies and kiln maintainance. (Thanks, Dan....couldn't do it without you!)  After the clay is prepared, the processes of centering, designing, trimming, signing, drying, bisque firing, glazing, and high firing are done in turn.

A variety of glazed bisque pieces waiting to be fired.