First of all, the students had to be taught the correct way to handle clay. It is crucial to use the right type. As different types of clay have different chamottes, they are more or less suitable for different techniques. For example, clay with a high fireclay content cannot be used for working with the turntable, as there is a natural risk of injury to the hands.

To prepare the clay, it is first separated from the hubel (block of clay) using the string wire. It is then tapped with force into a round shape. The tapping ensures that no air penetrates the clay, which could cause it to crack during the subsequent firing. This step is carried out with all types of clay.

Working with a clay that has a higher fireclay coating allows you to work with your hands and shape without a wheel. This means that these vessels do not have the turning grooves of those formed on a wheel. To remove fingerprints or other marks on the ceramic, it can be smoothed with either water or a tool.

Additional decorations or vessel parts, such as handles, are added after the basic shape has been formed. To do this, the points where the objects are joined are scored and then pressed together and moved slightly. In this way, the clay interlocks and the objects are firmly anchored.

Another important aspect of ceramic production is the use of manual and electric pottery Wheels. Both are available in the training workshop. We have several manual pottery wheels, both small ones for the table and a large foot-operated one, as well as four electric ones.

It is crucial that electric pottery Wheels are being used with clay that has a low percentage of chamotting. The prepared clay ball is placed centered on the wheel and pressed down firmly so that a vacuum is created and the clay cannot simply slip off the wheel as soon as you start shaping it.

Two other important instruments are a sponge and water. The clay should be constantly wetted, as this breaks up the individual elements in the clay and makes it more malleable. Nevertheless, it takes some force to finally shape the clay the way you want.

The processing of clay on the electric pottery wheel has various steps:

1.     The clay, which has been separated from the hub, is beaten into shape
    
2.     The clay is placed with force on the center of the wheel
    
3.     The wheel is started with the foot pedal and the lump of clay is centered with force. To do this, place your hands around it and work by feel. Water is already used in this step
    
4.     Once the clay has been centered, a finger can be used to make a notch from the middle to the outside - this creates the hollow space of the vessel
    
5.     Now you can slowly change the walls of the vessel, pull them up, pull them apart or press them together. There are no limits to your imagination here.
    
6.     As soon as the vessel is satisfactory, it can be carefully separated from the disk with the wire
    
7.     After a drying time of approx. 2 weeks, the vessel is leather-hard and ready for further processing
    
8.     Now it can either be worked on by hand or it can be attached to the wheel again and clay can be removed from the underside using scrapers. This creates the base or foot of the vessel. Changes can also be made to the outside.

Finally, the formed vessels have to dry properly, which can take up to several weeks, depending on the storage location, weather and temperature. They are then fired in the institute's kiln and handed out to the students.