Celina on Ceramics: Kneading the Clay part III E-mail


Kneading the Clay Part III
 
Rough mixing in Japan for quantities up to more or less 15 pounds is made as follows: the clay is formed as a cylinder and placed parallel to the border of the table in front of the kneader who will knead only the central part, in an evolving movement toward himself for, let us say, 5 to ten times. Then, a turn forward, on its axis, of let us say 45˚C is done to the clay and again the central part is kneaded another equal number of times.
By this time, the clay has elongated in the extremes so both are folded toward the center and again the central part is kneaded in the same way. This process is repeated three, four or more times ensure that the clay is thoroughly mixed.
Prof. Takahata of the Shigaraki Ceramics Training Institute, (see photos above), begins by placing one foot near the table and the other backward, and  discharges all the body weight on the clay in a rhythmic balance back and forward, so the kneader wisely uses the dynamic of the movement more than the body strength; the feet will support the body weight with the tips when it goes forward, and with the heels when it recedes. 

 
Celina would be pleased to  try to answer any comments & questions 
related with her blog text, and when not able to do so, she gladly 
would go in quest for an answer among clay-people around
 
Remember if you want to buy Celina's book about the Japanese techniques of crefting the ceramics please send an e-mail at info@forumartistico.com or visit www.e-bay.com.
 
 

Copyright©Celina Clavijo Kashu2010 for Forum Artistico

Celina's Past Blogs:

Celina on Ceramics: "Kneading the Clay Part II"

Celina on Ceramics: "Kneading the Clay Part I"

Celina on ceramics:"Iron content in clays"

Celina on Ceramics: "Clay"

Celina On Ceramics

 
 

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Comments (3)
  • 2010-08-09 14:24:09 |207.10.93.xxx| Tnick  - Great

    Very interesting! How we can learn more about tgese techniques?
    Thank you

  • 2010-09-29 12:19:10 |Registered| Celina  - Great


    "It seems to me that the "cut & slap" technique has never been published yet; I suspect I am the first one in doing so. As this is a Shigaraki traditional technique, at the moment, I can think only in two ways, the first one could be to come to our school where the making of big pieces is one school year specialty or, the second one, to have a shorter stay at the Institute of Ceramic Studies at the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, where they have all facilities, a dormitory included and welcome clay artists from all over the world.
    You might like to visit their site:
    http://sccp.main.jp/modules/tinyd1/
    They do not have teaching programs but it should be easy for you, once you are here, to find somebody who can teach you.

  • 2010-09-29 12:18:59 |Registered| Celina  - Great

    The second technique for smaller quantities of clay, called "ara neri" is much more known, if you can contact any Japanese ceramicist, who has studied ceramics in Japan, I am quite sure that he or she will not mind to demonstrate it for you.
    Thanks for your interest.

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