GOURDS AND PUMPKINS

You will need:

■ Clay of choice – earthenware or stoneware – colour of choice although a white body will take colour better
■ General forming tools – wooden type, ribs and kidneys
■ Pin
■ Texturing tools like pen tops (felt-tip pens have the star-shaped tops – look out for a cheap set in a bargain store)
■ Glazes of choice to fit clay type – including a green for stalks and detailing
■ Brushes for glaze application

PUMPKIN FORM

Before you begin:

This first form is gourd-sized but pumpkin-shaped. You can make these forms in sizes to suit – using larger or smaller weights of clay than those given but always begin with the same weight for each half of the basic form, no matter how much that may be.

Weigh out 2 x 86g amounts of clay and form each into a ball.

Holding the first ball in your hand, press your thumb down through the centre of the clay until you can