I find great joy in hand-building ceramic flutter bowls, especially in the process of shaping the bowl and creating the flutter design. This involves carefully pulling the edges of the clay to form a delicate flutter shape. This technique can take some practice, but after a while you get better at it, and be able to apply this technique to many different forms. Below is a high-level overview of the steps I follow to create these ceramic bowls.
The first step in creating a flutter bowl is to evenly roll out the clay, ensuring a smooth and consistent surface.
Next, I cut the clay into a circular shape, which will form the base of the bowl.
Once the shape is ready, I carefully drape the clay over the mold, making sure it is perfectly centered.
From there, I begin pulling the edges of the clay gently. This thins the edges and allows me to craft the signature fluttery design that gives the bowl its organic look. Tip:Â I wet my hands slightly during this step to help prevent tearing and to maintain control while shaping the bowl.
Once the flutter bowl is shaped, it needs to dry slowly over a period of about two weeks to ensure it doesn't crack.
After it has fully dried, the bowl is bisque fired in a kiln, which prepares it for glazing. I then apply multiple coats of glaze to achieve the desired finish. Once glazed, the bowl is ready for the final firing, which brings out the custom colors and completes the piece. Each ceramic flutter bowl is a unique piece of art, with no two ever being exactly the same.
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