Organizing youk work

Good organization is essential to any production work. It is necessary to plan your work and working area so that the maximum amount of work is achieved in a minimum amount of time. This can be done in many ways. The first step is to arrange your shop or studio into efficient working areas. A general plan is as follows: the molds and slip in one area; next, the glazing equipment; then, the kiln and storage space for bisque ware; and, finally, the decorating and packaging area. This plan will have to be worked out according to the size and shape of your building and will require a great deal of careful thought. It may be necessary to rearrange your shop several times before arriving at the most practical plan for your individual needs.

After the working space has been arranged, the actual production methods must be planned. Since you are interested in quantity, you will want to pour as many pieces as possible in the shortest time. This can be accomplished by pouring a quantity of identical molds at one time, rather than a variety

Illustration 159
The line design can be eliminated and several black and sgraffito strokes added.

of molds. If it is not possible to pour identical molds, at least try to pour molds of approximately the same size so that the setting time of the slip will be about the same in each mold, thus enabling you to open the molds one right after another.

The decorating process can be speeded up by dividing the work into definite stages; that is, do each step of the decorating on many pieces instead of completing a single item at a time.

Glazing should be done by either dipping or spraying, depending upon the particular item. Fairly heavy pieces can be dipped safely in a green or bisque state, but fragile pieces, such as figurines and very thin-walled ware, should be sprayed.

You will find it much cheaper to buy materials in large quantities. Slip, glazes,

Illustration 160
A crackle glaze with color accents on the beak and wings is a simpler decoration.

underglazes, oxides and stains all are available in quantity form at a considerable saving and your dealer will be happy to cooperate with you.

Keywords: Ceramic Decorations, Ceramics Decor, Ceramics, Painting

Tags: ceramics

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