Ceramic Clay Work Surface

Every potter needs a surface to wedge clay on and there are many different types.

Ceramic clay work surface.

Or you can use the smooth surface to give a glossy surface to your clay after baking. A ceramic is any of the various hard brittle heat resistant and corrosion resistant materials made by shaping and then firing a nonmetallic mineral such as clay at a high temperature. Though it is possible to work from a taped down sheet of wax paper or plastic wrap if you plan to work with polymer clay extensively you ll probably want to find a more permanent work surface. Common examples are earthenware porcelain and brick.

The crystallinity of ceramic materials ranges from highly oriented to semi crystalline vitrified and often completely amorphous e g glasses. The most common are plaster plaster covered in canvas and plywood covered in canvas. For this reason it is best to work on a piece of sturdy canvas such as a mid to heavyweight cotton duck. The closed cell foam is about 1 8 inch thick and doesn t leave a texture on clay so the larger sheets are great for rolling small slabs on a slab roller.

A ceramic tile not an acrylic tile is a common choice for this purpose. Clay will stick to or leave vast smears on most surfaces. Sculptors often stick their wad of clay to the work surface so that it stays in one place. Other possibilities are concrete granite masonite concrete board and hardibacker board.

The brightly colored flat craft foam that has become so popular for children s toys puzzles and crafts makes a wonderful work surface for handbuilding.