About Clay Impressions Who We Are My name is Pam Angelo, and I am the artist behind Clay Impressions. My love affair with clay began about 10 years ago when I took my first ceramics class at a local college. After the first week of classes, I was "hooked", and went on to complete 9 semesters of course work. My husband Dave helps out around the studio, goes on supply runs, lends a hand at my studio sales, and frequently cooks dinner when I'm up to my elbows in clay! Our Process All my work is handbuilt, primarily using the slab method. I roll out the clay with a large wooden rolling pin until it is smooth and an even thickness. I then impress images, designs and textures into the damp clay, using a variety of objects such as rubber stamps, leather tools, buttons, doilies, lace and more. When the design is complete, I place the slab into (or over) various molds to achieve the desired shape. The piece is trimmed and cleaned up, then set aside to dry. Drying must go slowly to avoid cracks and warping; a week or more is typical. After drying, I lightly sand each piece to smooth all the edges. The piece is now ready for the bisque firing, which takes about 12 hours and reaches a temperature of 1944 degrees (cone 04). The next step is the glazing, the most labor intensive stage of the process. I apply the glaze by brush, painting each design element individually. This attention to detail takes a lot of time, but I think the results are well worth it! After glazing, each piece is returned to the kiln for a glaze firing, which takes about 7 hours and reaches a temperature of 1819 degrees (cone 06). Some pieces are fired a third time to achieve particular glaze effects, and some receive additional detailing with overglazes and china paints. Our Products All the clays and glazes I use are non-toxic, although some of the glazes are not recommended for "wet" foods or the dishwasher due to their texture, which may trap moisture or bacteria. The firing process I use is considered "low fire". Even though the pieces are fully mature, they tend to be more porous and less rugged than stoneware. With reasonable care, they can be used as functional ware, but I think of them as primarily decorative. Availability I attempt to keep the web site up to date with photos of in-stock merchandise only, but all items are subject to prior sale. If you want particular colors or designs, please contact me. There is never an extra charge for special orders, and you won't pay until the order is complete and you've seen a photo of the piece. However, delivery could take up to 6 weeks, so please be patient! | 
