Lots to do

Today I started work early so that I could get a lot done before the garden is filled with visitors. It is lovely being in the workshop this early, the birds are singing and the light is lovely. Now that the piece is built, i have a lot to do to create the surface and manipulate the form, before the clay dries out.

Using my thumb I smooth out all the finger marks that I made  when I was coiling.  I start at the bottom because that is the driest and in most need if my attention. You have to be careful not to create tiny pockets of air when doing this as that would result in the surface blistering or exploding!  I like the fact that the inside of these pieces still bear all the making marks and fingerprints.Smoother now. The view from the top shows an oval shape.