Coning clay on the pottery wheel is a technique used to align the clay particles, making the clay more pliable and easier to shape.
Understanding Coning: Coning involves shaping the clay into a cone by moving it up and down between your palms. This process is akin to wedging the clay but is done on the wheel. The purpose of coning is to align the clay particles (platelets), making the clay more uniform and easier to work with.
The Process: Start with centred clay on the wheel. Begin coning by placing your hands around the clay and gently squeezing as you move your hands upward, forming a cone shape. To cone the clay down, apply slight pressure from the top of the cone, leaning it slightly forward as you push down. This forward and downward motion helps maintain control of the clay, preventing it from becoming too wide at the base.
Coning Technique: When coning up, ensure the clay moves smoothly between your hands, forming a neat cone shape. As you cone down, tilt the clay slightly towards you, applying pressure in a forward and downward direction. This encourages the clay to bulge slightly at the base, keeping it manageable.
Avoiding Common Mistakes: If you push the clay directly down without a forward motion, a bulge may form in your hands, making the clay difficult to control. Always lean the clay slightly forward as you apply downward pressure.
The Benefits of Coning: Coning helps to smooth out any irregularities within the clay, even if it has been thoroughly wedged. After several coning cycles, the clay should feel smoother and be easier to open and shape. While not necessary for every piece, coning is particularly beneficial when working with larger amounts of clay or more complex shapes.
Practice and Application: Coning is a skill worth practising, especially for pieces that require a high degree of uniformity and smoothness. It's particularly useful for larger projects or more intricate designs.