Create a sculpture with pinched forms. Cut off a slice of clay about ¾ inches thick. Divide it into three pieces. Form a sphere from one of the pieces of clay. Smooth the sphere by rolling it between the palms of two hands or between the palm of one hand and a table surface. The sphere should be about two inches in diameter.
Press your thumb into the center of the sphere. Take care not to press all the way through to the other side.
Next, use your thumb to smooth the top edge of the pot. Make three to six small pots. Join the pots by scoring each piece in the place that it is to be joined. Add slip to the scored surface of the pot as shown on page 34. Press each piece firmly together. When finished, drape a plastic grocery bag over the top of the pot, allowing it to remain open at the bottom. This slows the drying time so that the clay will not dry too quickly and crack. Allow it to dry for two to three days until it reaches a leather-hard state. See page 23 under Basic Instructions. Uncover and leave the pot in the open air until it is completely dry.
Gently begin to pinch the clay up and out between the thumb and the fingers. Turn the pot in the palm of one hand as you pinch so that the sides remain even at all times. Take care to work at the base of the pot to keep the sides and bottom even in thickness. The wall should be squeezed thinner a little at a time. For this type of clay it is best to stop working when sides are still at least ¼ inch thick. If clay is pressed too thin, it will break easily.
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