Handbuilt jars.

Here is a short process video of the construction of a large slab jar. Soft slabs of clay are thrown out and stacked while revolving around the vessel.

Hand-forming a chawan.

Chawan are traditionally built using a hand forming process. Many different styles of hand building were utilized, this video highlights my preferred method of shaping the interior space of a chawan. A wooden paddle is used to manipulate a solid piece of clay into a rough bowl that will then be later carved into it’s final shape.

Carving the final shape.

After the initial form has set up, a variety of hand tools are used to carve the final shape. The tools used in the process can drastically alter the character of the bowl.

Throwing tokkuri.

Tokkuri are called such due to the sound sake makes when being poured from the bottle, a gentle “tok tok tok” noise. This particular hourglass shape is based on hyotan, or calabash gourd.

Throwing guinomi.

Guinomi, or sake cups, being made on the potter’s wheel. This technique of throwing multiple forms off of one piece of clay is known as throwing off the hump. They are left to dry until they have set up appropriately, when the final foot shape is carved out on the potter’s wheel.

Turning the foot.

After guinomi or any other form with a raised foot have set up from their initial making, they are placed back on the potter’s wheel where the final foot shape is carved out of the still wet clay. This process is referred to as trimming, or turning the foot.

Common Mug.

I enjoy a simple, utilitarian mug shape for my coffee, and so that is the form I base my own mugs upon. This is a short video showing the simple strait walled cylinder that I used to start my mugs from. After the cylinder has set up, a handle and decorative surface pattern will be added to the final piece before firing.