Stroke & Coat Cat Cylinder

Designer: Bailie Benson

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Instructions

  1. Create a cylindrical vessel with the Broomstick Method using a set of dowel rods with graduating thicknesses. Wedge 2 pounds of clay and slap it into a rough cylinder shape about the size of a soda can. Skewer the center of the cylinder with the smallest dowel. To establish a straight channel through the clay, it may be easier to poke through both sides and meet in the middle.
  2. Holding both sides of the dowel, roll the clay like a rolling pin. As the hole widens, swap the dowel rod for a thicker one and continue rolling. Repeat this step until a cylinder with ¼” walls have taken shape.
  3. Augment the cylinder using gentle pressure with a damp sponge, pressing in from the outside and pressing out from the inside to close the top. When satisfied with the shape, set the piece on top of a slab to mark the floor. Cut the floor shape and attach it to the augmented cylinder using the slip and score method. Compress the underside with a rib to prevent cracking and weld the seam upwards. Cut an optional hole in the top.
  4. After cutting cat ears from the top of the cylinder, carve the cat pattern using a carving tool or dull pencil. Clay carving is best done in the leather-hard stage. Allow clay scraps to dry and sweep away with a fan brush.
  5. Allow to dry thoroughly and fire to cone 04.
  6. Using the sponge, apply SC006 Sunkissed to the top half of the cat.
  7. Using the sponge, apply SC074 Hot Tamale to the bottom half of the cat.
  8. Mix a 1 to 1 ratio of SC074 Hot Tamale and SC006 Sunkissed and sponge mixture in the center of the cat where the two previous colors meet.
  9. Mix a 1 to 1 ratio of SP245 Specked My Blue Heaven and SC013 Grapel and use the Script Liner brush to apply three coats to the tail.
  10. Using the back of the brush, apply dots of the same mixture randomly around the whole cat, avoiding the eyes and tail. Using the Detail liner, go around each dot with a thin one coat band of SC013 Grapel. Using the Script Liner brush, apply SP245 Specked My Blue Heaven in three coats around the previous circles of glaze. Using the Detail liner, go around each ring with a thin coat band of SC013 Grapel.
  11. Mix a 1 to 1 ratio of SC016 Cotton Tail and SC012 Moody Blue. Using the Script liner brush apply three coats of the mixture in a ring around the previous rings of glaze. Using the back end of the brush, apply dots of SC013 Grapel over top of the second ring of SC013.
  12. Apply three coats of SC016 Cotton Tail to the corners of the eye. Apply 2 coats of SC012 Moody Blue to the center of the eyes. In equal parts, mix a small amount of SC016 Cotton Tail, SC012 Moody Blue, SC006 Sunkissed, and SP245 Speckled My Blue Heaven and apply three coats of the mixture to the iris of the eyes.
  13. Fill the designer bottle and writer tip with SC012 Moody Blue. Fill in the carved lines of the cat using the designer bottle of color.
  14. Glaze the inside of the cat with SC012 Moody Blue.
  15. Stilt and fire to cone 06.

Supplies

Form

  • 3 lbs of clay of choice

Colors

  • SC006 Sunkissed
  • SC011 Blue Yonder
  • SC012 Moody Blue
  • SC013 Grapel
  • SC016 Cotton Tail
  • SC023 Jack O’Lantern
  • SC074 Hot Tamale
  • SP245 Specked My Blue Heaven

Decorating Accessories

  • Assorted round brushes
  • Script liner
  • Detail liner
  • Clay cutter
  • Various carving tools
  • AC219 Writer bottle or squeeze bottle with tip

Miscellaneous Accessories

  • Toothpick
  • Dowel rods (24”) of graduating thickness (1/4”, 1/2”, and 1”)
  • Sponge
  • Pencil
  • Water based marker

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