At its simplest a bowl will need to have a foot (something to stand on), a body (the bottom and walls) and a rim (the visual and physical endpoint at the top edge). The volume, or interior dimensions, of the bowl will not only determine how much it can hold but also, how practical the bowl will be to use. These items are common to all bowls, so how can you, as a potter, play with them when it comes to designing a bowl?
Here are five key things to consider before you head into the studio.
Decorative or Functional?
If you want the bowl to be used for a specific purpose then take the time to find out all the things that you want the bowl to do. For example, will it be an everyday bowl for noodles or cereal? Then it should fit comfortably in the user’s hand, be lightweight and durable.
If you want something purely decorative then think in terms of how it will be displayed. Will you want the patron to walk around it or should it be mounted on a wall? Taking the time to determine how you expect the bowl to be used will help target your design to get the most out it.
Size
Different uses have optimal sizes. A serving bowl can also be a display piece. However, a 20” bowl is not going to fit into the average apartment comfortably and certainly won’t be used to serve breakfast. Aside from utilitarian value, scale is important for visual presence. Your 6” bowl will simply vanish in a grand hotel lobby. Try to imagine where you want the piece to end up and size your piece to that.
Deep or Shallow
Wide bowls are great for presentation while deep bowls are great for mixing and keeping items hot. Wide bowls, since you really only see the inside, tend to be only decorated on the inside and rim. Deeper bowls should be treated with a bit more attention to the outside, as the inside will be covered by what is filling the bowl when in use. Deeper bowls tend to be more three dimensional and so more sculptural. Shallow bowls tend to be more two-dimensional and so can be treated more as a flat canvas.
Something to Stand On
How practical and stable your bowl is will depend on the relationship of the foot to the width of the rim. A small, or narrow, foot may look more elegant but will make the bowl ‘tippy’ and hard to use. A wide foot will make the bowl more stable and appear ‘grounded’. Experiment with this element to find what best suits your intent.
The Rim
In some ways the rim is the final statement and the visual endpoint of your design. It is the visual and practical finish to your design. Will the rim be large and flat, affording opportunities for a dramatic glaze treatment, or just a slight flaring to keep wet hands from slipping off the bowl? Take time and care on the rim to ensure that your bowl looks and feels finished. In a practical sense, the rim is also the area most often damaged, so make sure a practical bowl has a sturdy rim.
Any bowl can "just happen" when a potter sits down to a wheel. However, really great bowls actually start well before heading into the studio. Take the time to think about the purpose and interplay of the various elements of your design. You never know, you just might surprise both yourself and your patrons for the next sale.
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